I observed these stencils yesterday on SB Rose Place at its intersection with
University Ave (Rose Pl becomes Midvale south of this point). I had no idea
what it was as I rode by on the right side of it and then proceeded to sit
there for a while. Good to know more about them!
On Monday, November 11, 2013 3:45 PM, "Ross, Arthur" <[email protected]>
wrote:
Mitch wrote <Riding to work this morning, I noticed a new stencil on the Vilas
Ave. pavement, right before it crosses Park St. It doesn't look like a sharrow.
Could it be a marker to show cyclists where to go to activate a green light? If
so, I'd like to thank whoever is responsible; I've wanted something like that
for a long time at that intersection.>
I will pass your thanks on to the Traffic Engineers, Electricians and TE Shop
Crew that worked on this. Most of the signals in Madison that work via
detection are sensitive to bicycles. Without going into the science too
deeply, there are loops of wire in or below the pavement with energy running
through them that are sensitive to the movement of metal over them. Do a web
search on induction loop detection if you are interested in how this works. We
tested all of these locations with a bike with a carbon fiber frame and fork
(alloy wheels, handlebar, stem, seat post). The area of the loop that is
sensitive might not always be in line with where a bicyclist is generally
operating, however. When we receive complaints that a bicyclist was not
detected at a traffic signal we go out to test the loop, adjust the sensitivity
if necessary, and mark the location of greatest sensitivity. We recently did
this at a number of near west side locations
where we had received complaints. Loops should have been marked at Wilson &
Broom, Doty & Broom, Bedford & W Washington, Parr & Park, Erin & Park, Vilas &
Park. All you need to do is ride over the stencil, you do not need to wait on
the stencil. If anyone has other locations where they feel they have not been
detected, please report these on the City’s Report-A-Problem website or call
Traffic Engineering at 266-4761, and we will check them.
Steve Arnold asked < Was it the Bicycle Detector pavement marking?
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part9/fig9c_07_longdesc.htm >
I haven’t been out to check these yet, but yes, this is what the stencil should
look like.
Paul O’Leary wrote <One (well, two) of these detectors would be perfect for the
HAWK signal at N. Blair / E. Mifflin.>
The problem is, if we installed loops here then cars would trigger the Ped/Bike
Hybrid Beacon as well. While we can set the sensitivity for a loop to detect
bigger vehicles but not smaller vehicles, we can’t do the reverse. For
example, there is a loop on Jenifer Street to detect a bus turning from the
Jenifer Street cul-de-sac onto Williamson Street, but there is a push button
for bicycles to trigger this signal. We can set the sensitivity to detect a
bus, but not a car or bicycle. Another issue with a loop at Mifflin/Blair for
bicyclists is that the Ped/Bike Hybrid Beacon would be triggered every time a
bicyclist approached Blair on Mifflin. I ride this regularly and rarely find I
need to use this beacon at the times of day I am ride through there.
Grant Foster wrote <Parr/Park desperately needs this>
This should be marked, in both lanes.
Arthur Ross, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator
City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division
215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite 100
PO Box 2986
Madison, WI 53701-2986
608/266-6225
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