Motion Sensors Adjust Pleasanton Traffic Signals For Bicyclists

August 2, 2011 10:53 AM

(AP)

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PLEASANTON (CBS SF) – The City of Pleasanton has mounted a device that resembles a large hand held flashlight mounted on poles at a half a dozen intersections so that traffic signals can be adjusted in real time to accommodate bicyclists.

Bike riders know how tough it can be to judge the timing on traffic lights at large, busy intersections. Nothing can be more frightening than an unexpected yellow then red as several lanes of traffic rev up to go.

Enter a device with a name that sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, the Intersector. Senior transportation engineer Joshua Pack said the microwave motion sensor wasn’t originally intended to promote bicycle safety.

“Light bulbs went off and we had that ‘a-ha’ moment,” he said.

Besides providing other data about traffic behavior, the Intersector can also distinguish between cars and bikes regardless of lane, and then extend a green signal about 13 to 15 seconds so the cyclist can clear the intersection.

KCBS’ Susan Kennedy Reports:

Motion Sensors Adjust Pleasanton Traffic Signals To Accommodate Bicyclists

Pack said bike riders have given the Intersector rave reviews since the first one was installed at Foothill Road and Stoneridge Drive in January, 2010.

The city has since installed 6 more, and 4 additional devices have been ordered that will replace the existing video and sensor systems as that equipment reaches the end of its useful life.

Pack said the first intersection that will use the device exclusively to promote bike safety is at West Los Positas and Muirwood Drive just west of Interstate 680.

CleanFun

As long as they’re paying to register their bicycles to help fund the roads …

Conservative Cyclist

surface streets used by bicycles and cars alike are generally funded by taxes that are paid indiscriminately of whether you’re on a bicycle or a car already (general funds that are paid with property tax, sales tax, etc). your car registration fee mostly covers DMV operational costs, while your auto sales tax is treated no differently than a bicycle’s sales tax. gasoline taxes fund federal roads (freeways) that are not typically used by cyclists. you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Theo

While I do not disagree with this treatment (Ithink it is a great idea) and am fine with spending gas tax money on it, you should be aware that gas tax moneies are used on many roads in addition to freeways. The federal aid system includes state routes as well.
etienne

I have no problem with extending the lights to bicyclists. But I also have no problem with bicyclists being creamed when they run red lights and stop signs, zig-zap across traffic, ride in the middle of a lane going 20 mph under the speed limit.
Marc M

It’s you who do not know what you are talking about.

The percentage of money spent on non auto related projects but collected from taxes put on cars, gasoline, etc is ridiculous.
Brian

Cyclists and motorists are not on the same level by a long shot. Motorists pay high insurance fees, must satisfy licensing requirements, and much more frequently suffer the due consequences of traffic infractions. The idea of changing our roads to accommodate such a small minority of commuters makes no sense whatsoever. More bikes on the road makes the road more dangerous, and if it wasn’t for politicians using the fabrication that CO2 causes climate change (see link: http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-data-blow-gaping-hold-global-warming-alarmism-192334971.html), more people would rationally reconsider these changes. And even if we subscribe to the undue notion that cyclists should have the same rights to the road as motorists, then this technology should apply equally to automobiles.
TheTRUTH

Actually, CONMAN Cyclist, your tag fees in this state pay for the DMV, the air board, the highway patrol (which incidentally operates over 40% of the time OFF the highway, local road improvement bond fees, crime fund fees, etc. and on and on. . Likewise, Federal gas taxes pay for those pet projects that you see around town that are from the “putting America back to work” program. Additionally, motorists pay impact fees, community improvement fees, and general fund fees that pay for things like, you know….bike paths. Frankly, I’m all for it, but factually YOU don’t know what you’re talking about. Please STFU unless you actually have anything even remotely intelligent to say. Kthxbye!
NJ MIke

So, the %7 I pay on my $2,000 bike(and I actualy spent FAR les than that) is equitable to the tax I pay on my $35,000 car?
Gas is taxed at both the State AND Federal level.
Get off the pipe buddy and use your brain.

victory pilsner

So everybody go ahead and criticize the cyclist. I am a cyclist (and actually also a republican for what its worth). I do my best to respect the traffic rules and also use common sense. Traffic lights can be a problem. Here’s the issue. Our country is going broke, in large part because of healthcare which in turn is being driven by obesity which in turn is because peope don’t exercise. So next time you’re parked on your rear in your car (or on your riding lawn mower for that matter) and see a biker, at least realize they are making a contribution to trying to be a bit more fit. If everybody did it, I dare say we would be a lot better off.

Stan Kinder

Guess what? Riding a bicycle through traffic is probably a wash as far as staying out of the hospital. The fat guy in the SUV isn’t going to get creamed at the next intersection by a VW Bug.
tax_payer

Although I agree we all need to be healthy, I disagree with your premise.

Our country is broke due to out of control spending based on the governments intrusion into our daily lives. The federal, state and local government has no business intruding into our lives in so many ways.
Peach

No. For one thing, it’s not like there are two categories of people – bikers and non-exercisers. There are many other forms of exercise. That person “parked on their rear” in their car may actually be more fit than you. They just might choose different forms of exercise. So get off your high horse about that.
Second, the biggest hit my sister’s health insurance took was when she was in an off-road bicycle accident 2 years ago. But, hey, those are the chances you take. It didn’t help make the country “go broke” though. What nonsense. That doesn’t sound like something a Republican would say. She paid into her health insurance and needed to use it because of her bike! So your argument that non-bikers don’t need healthcare is just plain silly.
klesb

I also doubt you are a Republican (and not just because you didn’t capitalize is name. Oh, sorry, you might be a RINO, and they may not know the rules of grammar either. Republicans know that the HHSA statistics show that a mile travelled by bicycle is14,7 times more likely to result in a fatality than one travelled in a passenger car. But, as in the abortion issue, do we care ll that much? Have at it, bicyclers!

Drivers are hypocrites

Gasoline taxes aren’t “user fees and highways don’t pay for themselves anyway.
Gasoline taxes don’t come close to paying for roads. Anyone who pays sales tax, property tax or any of the many other taxes is paying for the roads.

I find it amusing when car drivers complain about cyclists violating traffic laws. Look in your car’s mirror if you want to see the biggest traffic violators of all.

Stan Kinder

The roads are for big boys in automobiles. Keep your bike on the sidewalk junior.
lorenzolarue

Stan, don’t call me ‘junior’, and it’s illegal in most states to ride on the sidewalk….And it would seem that no ‘big girls’ are allowed on ‘your’ road either. You need to share the road whether you like it or not…And, blow it out your bippie.
Bikers are hypocrites

Just about every biker I see ignores stop signs and red lights. I think it is unliketly that car drivers are worse traffic law violators than bike riders.

And highways and streets are mostly paid for with fees and taxes related to driving. If you want to say that this common knowledge is untrue, you need to provide a citation to a credible source for your assertion. And no, any group with “public interest,” “environment,” “citizens,” “bicycle”, etc, etc, etc, is not credible on the subject.

BTW, jr (lorenzolarue) have a nice day.

mimo

i say we should impose a tax on men’s spandex to pay for this. particularly the kind that peddlers pay for to look like they are sponsored. i should take my 40 yo ass to whistler on a board with a car dealerships name on my jacket, please…
Hyde

News flash…most cyclists also own and operate cars. I know its hard to believe, but they already are contributing to maintain roads.
James

Our budget in Oregon is already stretched to far. The bicyclists need to start paying there share for the road improvements made for them.
wyrdless

Funny, I thought there was a budget crisis

Do-Gooders are such a pain in the but. If you think this is a good idea, why don’t you donate some money for it instead of forcing me to pay for your stupid and unnecessary gadgets.

These idiots get in charge, spend twice as much money as is taxed and then get a holier-than-thou attitude because they are so “compassionate” as they rob me at the point of a gun (taxes) and spend my money
Arno S

Automobile transportation is very heavily subsidized by general taxation. |t is the cyclist who is subsidizing the driver..

Will Hartman

I see the bike worshippers are out again.

bigtex40

We have to be since our glorious president is destroying the lower and middle class by driving up gas prices with his ludicrous policies. raise the price of carbon fuels so we can in turn use wind and Solar. the only consistant source of wind is from our glorious overlord and his demonic minions.
Mr. Bill

I see the bike haters are out again.

Massimo Deportado

Bikers blow!

Why don’t all you “couriers” put your big boy pants on a get a real job?

And take a bath while you’re at it!

Rupert

I want a sensor to give my Hummer a few extra bike-crushing seconds . . .
Rick

Bike worshippers vs. car/truck worshippers vs. motorcycle worshippers vs. walking worshippers vs. bus/mass transit worshippers….

Your lame attempt at some cogent point is lost in your empty labeling.

Roadways are in existence to move people and things. Does it matter what type of mechanical device the person is on or in?

Until the governmental agencies that collect the myriad motor vehicle taxes and fees publish an accurate breakout of how/where those monies are collected and allocated, no one has a valid claim that “vehicle taxes support roadways and bicycles don’t.”

ban bikers and make them wear real pants

Actually, except for neighborhood streets, the roads are in existence for motor vehicles and not for any “mechanical device” you might want to ride. Common sense would tell you that if a bike can’t get close to the speed limit, then the roadway is not for bicycles. Get a clue…
Live closer to work

Speed “LIMIT”. Get a clue…
Roads; how do they work?

Actually, roads existed well before the existence of motorized vehicles.
ban bikers and make them wear real pants

Yes, I realize roads existed before motorized vehicles. But there were far fewer and they were very different than the roads we have today. The modern roads of asphalt, concrete, etc, that have been built in the last 80 years (I’d bet the vast majority of the roads) were built with motorized vehicles in mind. Try to stay on topic. Nobody ever said there were no roads before motorized vehicles.

And I realize it is a “LIMIT”. But if a bike cannot come close to the “LIMIT”, or can only come close for a very short period of time, then it isn’t safe for them to be on the road. You cyclists would deny that the earth was round if it fit your narcissistic agenda.

I feel like I’m debating a 12 year olds.

Andrew Buckles

As long as the law of the land requires bikes to ride on the street, make left turns in the left turn lane, etc., it’s the responsibility of lawmakers to ensure the safety of the cyclists. This is a good idea.

MaD dOG

WRONG! It’s the responsibility of cyclists to ensure their own safety!

In our group, we have a name for cyclists that want to rely on others for their safety… “ROAD KILL”

What A Tool

You’re an idiot.
Mr. Bill

So as a motorist you don’t rely on others for your safety: you don’t rely on them to obey traffic signals, not ram you from behind at 90 mph, not to hit you head on while driving in the wrong lane, right? A measly fifteen seconds to allow cyclists to safely get through an intersection – gasp! – how outrageous! We motorists have a God given right to go as fast as a possible at all times while threatening the lives of any other road user who slows us down! Thanks for perpetuating the elite Left’s notion that all Conservatives are ignorant, selfish hicks.
anon

@Mr. Bill

No I don’t rely on others for my safety. I would have died a long time ago if I did. There are some crazy drivers out there, and if you aren’t actively looking for them and driving defensively, then you’ll definitely have a run in someday.

It would be great if I could just trust lawmakers to keep me safe. Unfortunately that just doesn’t work.
Jewfromhell

I love to hear the sound of plastic helments as they go crunch under my wheels!!
Andrew Buckles

@anon Yes, you are reliant on others (including lawmakers) to keep you safe while driving. Let us say a bike rider is being careful, but obeying the law. There is no way to not get stuck in some intersections, and the capacity to avoid problems is severely diminished.

Nobody here has said so far that traffic lights in general should not exist. I have no doubt you use them, I have no doubt you benefit from them. And I have no doubt you benefit from the people who blow through them being corrected by the police.

So long as bikes are required by law to operate in traffic, as they are in the state of california where these devices are being installed, riders should be extended the same courtesies as other vehicles. They should suffer same penalties for disobeying the law (blowing through lights, riding on the sidewalk) as well.

Simon

I agree. It’s additional cost for maintenance and installation. Also, extending green light time also increases red light time for opposing traffic lanes, increasing vehicle idle time; therefore increasing the amount of greenhouse gases expelled into the atmosphere.

Jive Dadson

That is the nature of traffic lights. When traffic lights are removed completely, along with traffic signs, and pedestrians and cyclists are allowed to go where ever they please, accidents and injuries decline (including fatal injuries), congestion declines, commute times decline, and fuel consumption declines.

Traffic lights are bad news. Amazing to think that prior to the 21st century, no one even thought to question their usefulness.

bike police

The dumbest comment ever. What will we do at intersections if there are no traffic lights and traffic signals? All stop? Play chicken? Or will we build an overpass/underpass at every intersection to accomodate the biket@rds? That sounds like a good use of taxpayer money.

Get off the roads Jive Turkey.

Jon

Cyclists are T.O.O.’s, (Targets of Opportunity) for a car that has the right of way normally on a road before this insanity has been enabled. Utilizing that microwave those microwave signals to extend the bikes time for their benefit is really stupid. When we were kids we “IKNEW HOW” to ride a bike and watch for traffic. Now these elitists want more time in the crosswalk? Seems like more time to take them out then.
yiddishlion

This is an indicator of things to come people. Soon we will all be on bikes as only the wealthy elite will be able to afford to own and drive cars…..
John Fox

I guess bicycle riders aren’t smart enough to watch the walk/don’t walk signals and prepare for it. I’ve been doing that for years as I lead groups of motorcycles out and about. It’s really simple .. they start to flash yellow before the light changes yellow. Many even have a count down next to them. Most turn a solid yellow a few seconds before the traffic signal also turns yellow. You learn pretty quickly what intersections follow what rules.

Maybe all that riding depletes their brain of oxygen. Heaven forbid we ask people to actually think for themselves.

MaD dOG

They’re probably looking down while they’re pedaling, or getting that drink of water, or checking that stupid looking helmet mounted mirror…

Rick

Yes, unlike the driver of the car who is drunk, or high, or texting, or getting that drink of water, or putting on their makeup, or yelling into their cell phone, or watching the latest DVD on their cool DVD player, or arguing with the kids in the back seat, or having sex at some unreasonable speed to prove they are the Biggest Baddest MaD dOG around….

Matt

This is on Drudge report! expect the flame war.

Anyways, this is a long time coming. More Bay Area cities should do this.

Massimo Deportado

IDIOT LIB

Go watch MSLSD and leave the adults alone…..

buggy

Gawd…don’t encourage them.

No more offensive language, please

Afraid to use the word God or are you just a really bad speller? BTW, even when you misspell it, you are still using the Lord’s name in vain.

lorenzolarue

Jeez if yur Honkus!
comment police

hey jr, I have no idea what “Jeez if yur Honkus!” means, but I have a feeling it is something hateful. Please don’t hate people because they think differently than you do. Respect diversity.

jeff b

It would be nice to see cyclist actually follow the law, like come to a stop, signal turns, ride single file..

Bikes aren’t better, just equal

It would be nice to see a motorist follow the law. Like staying to the speed limit, not running red lights, doing a full non rolling stop at Stop signs, signal turns, not texting while driving, not driving under the influence, not driving aggressively, etc.

RTC

It’s hard to stay at the speed limit when you have a dumb a$$ bicycle only doing 1/4 of the limit obstructing the flow of traffic and wasting everyone’s gas.
Bikes aren’t better, just equal

So driving the speed limit = gas consumption optimization? I know idling wastes a lot more gas I just wasn’t sure the faster you drove the better the efficiency this is interesting. And if you drive smart you can easily go right around us, we tend to stay to the right unless necessary for our safety to stay out of the way from parked car doors being opened up into us.

WhoIsJohnGalt

San Fran, at the very top of the list of the most fracked up cities in the country. Thank you so much for Nancy Pelosi. Now if one of those bikers would run her over, it would be worth it.
Robert MacDonald

Don’t know why they need this, they never stop at red lights anyway.
Loren

Waste… Of…. Money….
MaD dOG

I wonder how much fuel is being wasted in all the cars waiting for the lights to change? I wonder if the irregular light changes will result in more accidents?

Loren

Probably, its not the results that matter but only the intentions
Jive Dadson

Answers: Lots and count on it. It will not be long before some cyclist becomes part of the paving slurry because he expected the device to give him more yellow but it failed to.

Here are two more questions I know the answers to:

I wonder how much research went into the decision.
I wonder what kind of moron can think making traffic lights less predictable could be beneficial.

Loren

Guarantee you the amount of money spent on truly implementing these from start to finish is astounding…..

RTC

Bicycles WASTE GAS! Every time a motor vehicle has to slow down, then accelerate to get around the rolling roadblock it wastes gas. Multiply that times hundreds or thousands of motorist being inconvenienced by these menaces and it gets to be a considerable amount. If a vehicle cannot flow with traffic doing the speed limit it shouldn’t be on the road.

Not RTC

Road laws say otherwise so stuff it RTC. Deal with us, we have as much right to the road as you do. Sorry to slightly inconvenience you so you can’t speed with the rest of the auto traffic, but me riding at 15-20 miles an hour on the far right of the road, unless turning left of course. Maybe if a car speeds ahead of traffic like most cars do in a rush they shouldn’t be on the road. So unless you drive and follow all rules of the road to the letter of the law you are banned. I bet within 1 week we can pin most motorists for some infraction of not following the rules of the road.

Jive Dadson

H. L. Mencken was my kind of libertarian. No mincing words for old H.L..

Gibbs Bentley

Yes he was and he would have one hell of a radio show if he was alive today.

“No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” ~ H. L. Mencken http://911essentials.com

Robert MacDonald

I guess I am smarter than I thought. I moved out of Pleasanton years ago due to the idoits running the city.

Rick

It sounds like you were one of the “smart” voters who elected the idiots of whom you complain….

CunnyLips

Hippies stink and they should all be eliminated! That is all!
Scott

Quite right, Mr. MacDonald…cylists routinely ingnore all traffice laws, then scream bloody murder if they get hurt…My personal favorite is when they ride at night in dark clothing & no light & reflector…

Mikey

Indeed. If the city is going to change lights to accomodate cyclists then they must be held accountable for the laws on the books regarding legal cycling on the roadways.

They can’t have it both ways.

Mikey

“Spamming is posting a useless quote in a comment area while linking to a nutjob website.” ~ Mikey

Comment Reported.

Mikey

Way to hurt my feelings with a cut and paste comment. Instead you could simply contribute to the comments section instead of spamming.

kevin

I like how they got the idea once the light went off.
kevin

I like how they got the idea once the light bulb went “off.”
Marc M

Why can a car stop at a yellow and red light but the bicyclist somehow is entitled to judge when the light will be changing so they can fly through?

Start forcing them to get bicycle licenses, license plates, registration and also follow the same rules.

Such as YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME TO THE FRONT EVERY SINGLE LIGHT.

Liberalism is a disease.

John

Typical conservative. Talks about freedom and rugged individualism, but then wants more regulation and taxes and fees placed on anyone not exactly like him. Cars must be registered because they’re heavy, fast, dangerous and kill lots of people. When bicycles kill 30,000 people a year then let’s talk registration. Until then, emigrate your Statist authoritarian ass to North Korea where it belongs.

Bicyclists, being slower, can enter an intersection on green, and still have it change to red before they’ve cleared it. But being a typical conservative and therefore lacking the ability to walk a mile in another’s shoes, that never occurred to you.

no more biket@rds

If you can enter an intersection on green and not clear the intersection by the time it turns red, you are moving too slow for the road and shouldn’t be on it. You are a hazard to others.

And if wanting to regulate bicycles makes a person a statist authoritarian belonging in north korea, then what does that make the typical liberal democrat who wants massive government taxation and regulation in fine detail on everything except, sex, drugs, and pornography? I’d say you are the kettle calling the pot black to the worst degree.

Also, why should somebody leave the country just because they disagree with your views? Not respecting diversity are we bicycle-man? And then you make broad sweeping generalizations about “typical conservatives.” No very “progressive”. Maybe you need to have a time-out to sit in the corner and think about how you aren’t living up to your “liberal” ideals?

Massimo Deportado

This is insanity.

If liberals do indeed breathe, then they must exhale CO2.

Why don’t all of you noble liberals go and do the right thing for the planet?

This country is too weak and perverted to survive.
tom

Bicycles are a nuisance to drivers and are not the solution to tomorrows transportation. ideas like this only serve to mess up traffic and cause more accidents. We need more cars not more bikes.
Massimo Deportado

Oh yeah and the brakes on bicycles are soooo bad that they can’t stop???

I’d expect this kind of nonsense from Kalifornika.