Bike loop and other detectors

[KLizotte]

Hi all, this message comes from a co-worker based out in OR. Any insights from the civil engineers on the forum out there would be appreciated. I’ll point Bruce to this thread.

Bike loop and other detectors

I’ve been on a Technical Advisory Committee working with Oregon DOT to research the use ped and bike counting and one of the things we’re​ researching are bike counting loops, tubes and cameras. The final report will come out sometime in mid January but for now I thought I would post here to start a discussion on bike loops and other detectors.

Draft results on the loops seem to me to indicate there are problems with proper settings of the sensitivity of the controllers for the loops. Too sensitive and you get many false positives, too unsensitive and it won’t detect riders.

Placement and marking and public awareness on loops are also problematic in some respects. For instance if the loops are located to near a right turn it will detect cars driving over it when they go into the bike lane. As indicated in this link Riders don’t know how to trigger green lights many riders don’t know how to correctly place their bikes.

Here’s another link on the topic 2008 FHWA research study.

It seems to me that somehow there’s got to be a better way for counting and / or triggering traffic lights when riding a bicycle than loops?

Thoughts?

Bruce M

This is a follow-up from another co-worker:

I think there are pressure-actuated sensors as well, but maybe that’s just for cars…

Of little help to your current effort, but I think roadside capture of smartphone signals (ie bluetooth) has some potential. I sat in on a briefing from a researcher at UC Berkeley, who has a smartphone app that automatically determines, through use of the GPS, accelerometer, & signal change what mode of travel a person is taking. Passively collecting similar data at the roadside should be possible.

[though i hope such an effort would be restricted to counting, rather than actuating signals, as i wouldn’t want to be required by the transportation system to have to carry a phone simply to get my fair chance to cross the street]

Darren

Topic

[Tim Kelley]

FYI–

http://www.sensysnetworks.com/ has excellent sensors that can be used for many uses, ranging from counting vehicle and bike traffic to triggering signals.

[KLizotte]

@Tim Kelley 69132 wrote:

FYI–

http://www.sensysnetworks.com/ has excellent sensors that can be used for many uses, ranging from counting vehicle and bike traffic to triggering signals.

Forwarded. Thanks.

[ShawnoftheDread]

As indicated in this link Riders don’t know how to trigger green lights <http://bikeportland.org/2013/11/13/study-half-of-portland-riders-dont-know-how-to-trigger-green-lights-97021> many riders don’t know how to correctly place their bikes.

I had no idea. Do we have any of those around here?

[KLizotte]

@ShawnoftheDread 69137 wrote:

I had no idea. Do we have any of those around here?

There is a new one at the intersection of Commonwealth Ave and Mt Vernon Ave in Alexandria next to Anthony’s auto center. There is a sign explaining where a cyclist should stand and works as advertised though I suspect most cyclists don’t see the directions.

[Kolohe]

@KLizotte 69139 wrote:

There is a new one at the intersection of Commonwealth Ave and Mt Vernon Ave in Alexandria next to Anthony’s auto center. There is a sign explaining where a cyclist should stand and works as advertised though I suspect most cyclists don’t see the directions.

I think there’s one now on Veitch at the intersection of Lee Highway (on the courthouse side). (there’s green paint all around it, with a gap where that symbol is inserted, iirc) There’s also a more clearly labelled ‘place bike here’ marking (on the pavement) on New Hampshire Ave (for a dedicated bike signal) at combined intersection with U-street and 16th.

[Tim Kelley]

@Kolohe 69141 wrote:

I think there’s one now on Veitch at the intersection of Lee Highway (on the courthouse side). (there’s green paint all around it, with a gap where that symbol is inserted, iirc) There’s also a more clearly labelled ‘place bike here’ marking (on the pavement) on New Hampshire Ave (for a dedicated bike signal) at combined intersection with U-street and 16th.

The Veitch St bike box is just a bike box to help position bikes in the safest manner. I don’t think it triggers anything.

[Kolohe]

oh ok, thanks. It does look a little bit different than most of the recent bike boxes I’ve seen in all the jurisdictions inside the diamond.

[consularrider]

I just did a number of rides in the Bloomington, In area and they have very complex loops (some circle chains, some a chain of hexagons) with no information as to where a cyclist needs to position him/herself to trigger the light. To make matters worse, many were in areas with no pedestrian demand buttons as alternative. I have much more luck with the box loops we have in this area.

[Author]

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