This week, we follow up on a recent column about vehicle activated traffic signals. Dave Wheeler, a bicycle rider from Gig Harbor, wrote in expressing frustration that sensors under the pavement at some lights werent sensitive enough to detect his bike. Bicycle advocates suggested reporting problem intersections to the jurisdictions in charge of them.
We also asked readers to suggest other measures he might take to trip the light. Here are some of the pieces of advice from both bicyclists and motorcycle riders sent in via e-mails and story comments:
Several readers suggested affixing strong magnets to the bottom of a bike, scooter or motorcycle. You can get a special one, ready made, to attach to the bike from motorcycle shops, wrote chillnout in a story comment. There is a You Tube video that shows this method: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GAacxGiV4A.
Bicyclist Steve Brown suggested three tricks: 1) Know where the sensor is; 2) Lay the bike flat on the ground to trigger sensor; 3) The more steel your bike has the better the odds.
Scoatesw offered this solution in a story comment: As a bicyclist who commutes at 5 a.m. from the North End, there is very little traffic. I generally pull up to a red light intersection, look all ways, and continue on my merry way. It is ridiculous to continue waiting for sensors to recognize me with no traffic in sight.
Got a question about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues? Send it to traffic@thenewstribune.com. Include your name, hometown and daytime telephone number. Well answer as many as we can. Find an archive of previous answers at www.thenewstribune.com/news/traffic/qa.
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