BIKE: traffic signal bike detection

[Art]

I’m assuming this is well known but I’ve noticed at a
few signals recently that the traffic signal does not
change to green on the bike side when only a bike is
present.  I’ve sat at a few signals recently where the
cars on the other side are given a green and my side
stays red indefinitely (until a car pulls up or a walk
signal is pushed).

I would like to contact someone to provide a comment
on this setup.  Is there a specific person I should
call at the numbers listed below?

As far as what to do in this situation I’m assuming:
It is not legal in Texas to go through the red light. 

It is not legally required to dismount the bike and
become a pedestrian to walk up on the curb and push
the walk button.  I’ve had some close calls with cars
speeding up to or through the light as I try to get
back into the lane again.
Hence the biker is required to wait for a car to come
along to trigger the light (as long as necessary).

I had recently read the section “Traffic Signal
Detector Loops” in the Austin Bicycle Map.  It states
“Traffic detector loops will detect any form of metal
or other material that will conduct electricity, but
they work best with steel and iron.  Some older loops
[don’t detect bikes but they are being replaced].”  

“When you stop at an intersection with a detector
loop, place the steel parts of your bicycle directly
over the detector loop wires to insure that the light
will change for you
.Even carbon fiber and aluminum
bikes have enough detectable parts to trigger the
loops.”  

This seems incorrect as I rode my steel frame bike
(with aluminum rims) all over the top of long strip
and it didn’t work.  Another steel bike was next to me
also.  Would laying the steel frame down help?

The lights I’ve noticed this happening on are on
bicycle route #47 at Speedway and 38, and the cross
streets on the north end of Guadalupe (such as St.
Johns).   

The BicycleAustin.info website has some excellent
information.  Thanks Michael!  

Some of the information on the signal triggering page
was unclear to me however.  Are aluminum wheels
considered metal?  I think there are few steel wheels
left anymore.  I also tuned out to the idea of
wrapping metal wires around my wheel or putting coils
of wire or magnets under my bike.  

It seems like a more sensitive detector should be
technically possible.  At least have both sides of the
traffic signal go green.  I don’t see the advantage of
having one side stay red.  Is this a new change in
signal operation or have I always had a car next to me
at these lights?  Or had the random luck that
sometimes they do detect bikes as Michael notes.


Information from BicycleAustin.info below

Laws
http://bicycleaustin.info/laws/

Info on traffic trigger and loops

http://bicycleuniverse.info/transpo/triggering-signals.html

Reporting problems with Signals, Signs, and Roadways 
>From the Bicycle Program office:
All traffic signal related questions, including ped
signals, and sensor loops with bicycle detection
conflicts can be directed to 457-4850. 
  
For traffic engineering, traffic signs, striping,
parking, speed limit, and bicycle related issues, call
the main number for Traffic Engineering, 974-7129, and
make an official request for the situation to be
reviewed. All requests are entered into a computer, a
"blue form" is then generated and handed over to the
traffic engineer supervisor who then gives the request
to one of his 3 engineer technicians. The tech is
trained to make the initial decision on whether or not
the request warrants a change to be made. If so, the
change is made and either way the citizen receives a
letter back explaining why or why not the change was
made. 




		
__________________________________ 
Discover Yahoo! 
Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it out! 
http://discover.yahoo.com/weekend.html