Awesome. LED Lights sense bicyclist and warn drivers wanting to make right turns of bicycle traffic priority.
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/12/led-lane-lights-for-cyclists-and.html
Awesome. LED Lights sense bicyclist and warn drivers wanting to make right turns of bicycle traffic priority.
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/12/led-lane-lights-for-cyclists-and.html
I love the Fall. Perfect operating temperature and beautfiul colors. But I digress…..
John Putcher (Rutgers University), Jennifer Dill(Portland State University), and Susan Handy (University Of California at Davis) have published “Infrastructure, Programs and Policies to Increase Bicycling: An International Review,” prepared for the Active Living Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Preventive Medicine, Vol. 48, No. 2, February 2010. [Download paper – pdf]
The 54 pages are worth reading. It describes the wide range of bicycle promotion interventions (infrastructure, program, and/or policies) and their impact on levels of bicycling.
The paper points out what interventions have the biggest impact. First as individual interventions and then when taking into consideration the interventions in an integrated package. An important point this paper makes is that it is risky to generalize about the effectivness of certian measures and that every context brings different challenges. Importing models from abroad without paying attention to local habits could reduce the effectiveness those same programs had elsewhere.
A summary of different bicycle programs around the world can be found at the end of the document. Bogota, Colombia is now in my list of cities to visit.
Happy reading
Cheers!
All the talk about Boston traffic, cyclists, and bike sharing program got me wondering what would a traffic signaling system that takes into account bicyclists look like. Boston Bikes is attempting to make the city of Boston inviting to bicyclists. The latest bike sharing initiative (to be implemented in 2010) coupled with the bike lane plan might encourage people to ride bicycles. However, if the aim is to bring all types of people and their bicycles to the streets, the bicycle has to be an attractive, feasible and safe mean of transportation. Statements like “You are at no greater risk than driving a car. Obey traffic signs, ride on the right, signal turns, stop at lights, wear bright clothing, and wear a helmet every time you ride.” (go to original quote) do nothing to encourage folks. It would seem to me that a good traffic system is key to help people feel more comfortable with the idea of using bicycles as a mean of transportation in the City of Boston and immediate vicinities.
Before going any further I do realize that no traffic system is perfect. No matter how well road intersections are designed, it will take drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to work together and make the city streets safe and enjoyable for everybody.
So let’s put aside culture and attitudes and focus on the traffic system. It does not take long to realize that traffic lights are designed to manage cars and pedestrians. Bicycles do not enter into the equation at all. The scheduling of the lights is designed to optimize flow of motor vehicles. Other aspects of intersections are also designed just for cars and pedestrians. Let’s then set a few objectives for a system that includes bicycles:
Let’s take a look at a few real world examples of systems designed with cyclists in mind. You can read about the following examples and many other case studies at the Centre of expertise on bicycle policy > Examples Bank
All Directions Green
One of the main artifacts used is the concept of All Directions Green or ADG for bicycles. When motorized vehicles get a red light in all directions, then a green light for bikes is displayed. A green light for bikes means that all directions have green lights and cyclists will simply figure out a safe way through amongst themselves. This method adds another cycle to the intersection (1 for cars, 1 for pedestrians, and 1 for bicycles).
It is interesting how this system helps bicyclists make left turns starting on the far right of the road. It also avoids conflicts with right turning cars and cyclists going straight (as long as a “No Turn On Red” is displayed – more on that later)
Green Wave
For commuting this idea would be incredible useful. If you bike 12 mph you would hit green lights all the way. This has been implemented in Copenhagen in 3 main bike routes used for inbound/outbound commuting. Check out Copenhagenize.com article on this.
Copenhagen Left Turn
In this configuration bicyclists get off to the right of the bike lane into a waiting area in front of cars and other bicyclists. These cyclists can go straight (thus completing their left turn) on the next green signal phase (which can be for cars and bicycles or just bicycles).
The following video shows many aspects of Copenhagen’s bicycle system (e.g. Cycle Track). At minute 3:48 you will see cyclists getting off the bike lane into the waiting area for the next green cycle to complete their left turn. It is worth watching all 5 episodes.
Copenhagen: City of Cyclists, Part 3 of 5 (ABB101)
Also, check out “Copenhagen on Two Wheels – Part 1” blog entry for a good explanation and diagram of how a Copenhagen Left works.
May be we will never see cycle tracks implemented in the City of Boston. However, in conjunction with the bike lanes, implementing traffic lights and signaling for a Copenhagen Left Turn and All Direction Greens could work at certain intersections throughout the city and they don’t seem to require massive investments in infrastructure. I for one have started doing the Copenhagen left at certain intersections when I know merging onto the left lane is just not worth my life.
Improving the Traffic Light
Here are a few examples that show how traffic lights could be improved to benefit all parties:
On a final note I think bike path signals throughout the city could help cyclists circumvent high traffic areas and follow routes that are parallel to busy streets and that have been retrofitted with bicycle paths and signals. – E.g., Kenmore Square. Show bicyclists different ways to get to Commonwealth Ave., Beacon Ave., and Brookline Ave. without going through the main intersection of all 3 Avenues. This should help bicyclists avoid the heart of that intersection which is a complete mess of cars, taxis, and buses. In addition the side streets used to circumvent major intersections or avenues can be given higher priority to bikes. I believe they implemented something like this in Portland.
Cheers and be safe!
Update – Somebody sent me a link to Copenhagen’s current plan to expand their existing network of bike lanes. You can read the full article.