Stop with the Video

What Happens When you Import Video into Blogger Via the "Picture" Button

Apparently, Blogger isn't ready for our full multimedia world. Just for jollys, I tried importing a video directly, instead of publishing one on Youtube, and then embedding it. The results may be seen above in a screenshot of the result.

The actual video is shown below.

The video was an attempt to take shots showing how few if any motorists actually stop for stop signs. Such a video requires at least minimal videography skills, so I gave up. Still, even the short clip illustrates how motorists often run stop signs at speeds similar to a cyclist who doesn't even bother to interrupt his/her cadence.

Indeed...

Reconciliation

Traffic Signals CAN be Tricky Even Under Good Circumstances
Usually, The CENTER Pavement Cut Would be the Place to Stop Here
The Induction Signal from the Bike Wheel Rim Would be Strongest There

Last week and this, I've acquired a traffic issue to reconcile and I've had an unexpected opportunity to observe motorist behavior in the wild.

The traffic issue is pretty straightforward - at least in theory. You see, the induction sensor that triggers a traffic light leaving work has stopped working. This occurred at PRECISELY the same time as a street resurface project has been underway. How do I know this? Well, the pedestrian button does not appear to do anything. My usual "sweet spot" has stopped working. The final straw is that my four-wheeled companions do not trigger the signal. Well, unless one stops coming from the opposite driveway in which case the signal changes normally. NORMALLY, I'd call to complain to the traffic department of the city in question, but THIS is a sensor on private property. Our guards simply give me a dumb look - clearly none of them have the corporate bullet on the day I talk to them. So I have adopted a new red light policy. If I stop behind other vehicles, I wait until all the motorists in front of me have run the red light. Then I follow my motorists' example when it is safe to do so. If, on the other hand, I happen to be the first to stop, I wait until at least TWO motorists are backed up behind me, and it has clearly been a really LONG time, in which case I lead by example after shrugging and doing some "what else should I do?" signals. Note to self - must bring in stop watch to collect data on how long motorists wait before running a red light. This is really a not "in the mainstream" data collection opportunity. Mostly, signals change quick enough that motorists really aren't sorely tempted to run red lights. In that way, they DO behave better than the typical dweeb on a bike. Still, in the last week, I have observed four motorist red light runnings. I suspect that some motorists are MUCH more patient than others.



Here's WHY I stopped on the Left Pavement Cut at that Intersection
A Traffic Camera that Was Blown a Bit to the Left by the Wind Was the REAL Signal Changer...
Stopping Where I did in the TOP Photo Registered My Pixels and Triggered the Left Turn Signal as Nice as You'd Want
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET HANDSHAKE

I also had, what for me is an unusual experience - a "dooring" opportunity. I was inbound to work. It was after dawn. A motorist passed me, pulled over to the curb and opened his door as I was about 20 feet behind him. Conveniently, I was able to observe that there was absolutely NO sign of malice in his face. He simply didn't register he'd safely passed a cyclist only seconds before and that swinging his door wide open without looking might not be considered appropriate and MIGHT actually hurt one of his fellow humans. Luckily for him, I was riding about eight feet off his port beam or I might have had to apologize for putting a dent in the back side of his door with my body. Speaking of which, there's been a "dooring" in a commercial lately where a lady opens up her door and a truck simply whacks it off. My sympathy for her is pretty limited. For my loyal reader, simply STAY OUT OF DOOR ZONES! IMO, motorists simply "forget" there are others out there once they have done the appropriate thing. If that makes ANY sense at all to y'all.

Lane Position Depends

Not Long Ago, an Email Threatened Pedestrians With FELONY Charges For Crossing Against This Light
In Response to my Inquiry, the FELONY Would Have Been "Attempted Suicide." Sheesh! Well, This IS Texas...

Lately, partly based on prompts from the LCI List, sponsored by the Bike League, I've been considering my lane position in various situations. Today, I'll talk about why, sometimes I sit near the right side of a left turn lane, while other times I wait for the light to change at the LEFT side of a similar lane. Purely by coincidence, I also relate two similar, but different types of scofflawry that are prompted by a municipal bias in favor of "traffic flow."

STOP TO THE RIGHT
In the photo above, and immediately below, I almost invariably stop for a LONG red light at the right side of the left turn lane. Why might this be? Well, considering, there are two factors that cause me to do so. First, there is an induction sensor that gives me a choice between stopping at the left side of the lane in order to trigger the signal or at the right side of the lane. This is a LEFT TURN ONLY lane that turns onto a six lane highway. Since I'm going to the right lane of this highway in order to turn right into a parking lot before long, the "destination positioning" principle of where to choose lane position causes me to choose the right side at this particular intersection light. DESPITE my "right side" preference, following motorists HAVE tried to pass me ON THE RIGHT as we turn left, as documented HERE. Mostly, however, they simply bear left and we don't have a lot to talk about that's very interesting afterwards. More notable are the ones that pass me on the road leading up to this light that I catch back up to. I never SAID my motorists were rocket scientists. Actually, I prefer my commutes to be fairly boring. Safety pyramid and all...

INTERESTING DIVERSION
Also, in the photo above - and below, we see two different types of road user that simply ignore the traffic light on this highway and cross against the red light. Circled in the photo above is a pedestrian that just isn't willing to wait. IMO, he crossed entirely safely, if illegally against a light set to favor traffic speed and throughput over people waiting. I'm simply a bit more patient than this guy. He is, however, an exemplar of a threatening email we received against such behavior. The author of the email apparently didn't consider why a pedestrian might not really WANT to wait "halfway until forever" on a highway that's not occupied when he/she wants to cross.
Less excusable is the second photo. In THIS photo, a guy on a bike with no front light, but with a rear light, comes along the sidewalk from behind me, stops briefly, and then runs the red. He COULDA been Fred, except we're in Texas. I felt proud, however, realizing it wasn't a "teachable moment," I simply took the photo and waited my turn to cross legally. Even OLD dogs do sometimes learn new tricks.

I've Got a LOT LESS Sympathy for a "Guy on a Bike" Pulling the Same Stunt a Couple of Days Later

STOP TO THE LEFT
In the final photo, I stop at the far LEFT side of a lane that looks much like the one above. Why do I stop at the far LEFT side instead of the far RIGHT side? Well, it is pretty simple, actually. As in the photo above, there's an induction sensor that gives me a choice of stopping at one side of the lane or the other in order to do my part to trigger a light change. In THIS case, the lane offers a choice of a left turn or straight through. I pick the LEFT side to add emphasis that I intend to turn left rather than to go straight (this IS a left lane, but I like to keep things simple for my motorists). As traffic comes up behind, I'll periodically stick my left arm out straight to re-emphasize my intent. I like to think it helps keep traffic from stacking up behind me. The motorists that WANT to turn left simply choose the lane to my left (which is "left turn only"), while those that want to go straight split between my lane and the one to my right. Everyone gets where they're going and conflict is very rare at this signal. Like I can't think of any, ever. Which is about as rare as conflict gets.

CRIMENY - KILLER "B"
You'll note that in the photos above (and ESPECIALLY notable in the top one), a "Killer B" appears - the infamous "Bott's Dot." Those devils are always on the lookout for a cyclist to toss down on the pavement. But y'all have been warned!

To Explain My Lane Position, Look DOWN, and UP. The Black Stripe is an Induction Signal Sensor, and the Sign Says
You Turn Left from Either of the Two Left Lanes. The Guy Ahead of Me Went Straight. I Went Left

The Price of Stopping

Has anyone out there really added up the time cost of stopping at a stop sign compared to nonchalantly riding through same? Five seconds? Less or more? I have an ulterior motive for asking.

In the meantime, do a little investigation and ponder why a five second delay is unacceptable to most people that ride bikes...

Hit It!

We've turned a corner in North Texas. Two days short of setting a new, all-time record for 100F days in a year, the wind has shifted from South to North and dropped the temperatures nearly 20F. This morning, I was almost wishing I'd worn a long-sleeve t shirt. Instead, I turned up the speed a little to generate extra heat from inside. The official NOAA report is HERE, for those that want to see why I feel cheated once again. Still, there remains hope we might see a couple more 100F days, so I'm not giving up quite yet. There is a chance we can beat 1980 yet and become a truly EPIC hardcore year.

The turning of the weather means the wrap-up of a lot of road construction as well. One that wrapped up just this last week is a stretch of one of my favorite roads, called Martin Drive in Bedford, Texas. It is a comfy, four lane road with moderate traffic. Four lane roads, while they might look scary to inexperienced cyclists, are nice because you can simply ride down the middle of the right lane (or, better yet, ride in the line of sweetness) and motorists pass with no delay or conflict, simply by making an obvious full lane change. Two lane roads with double yellow lines are a lot more stressful, or, as in the photo below, four lane roads with cones galore. As I told my mom, in Texas, most places, we have 12 foot wide bike lanes that the motorists are allowed to use when no cyclists are present. She was a little dubious, no doubt due to the liberal Seattle training. Anyway, during the construction, that started back last March, it looked like the photo below.

Martin Drive - From Last March Through the End of August, 2011. Not Real Cycling Friendly

There is ONE feature of the new construction that I find FASCINATING. Specifically, it is a pedestrian light at the north end of the former construction zone. In the first photo below, as you can see, it's telling the pedestrians to walk, much as most such signs do. In the second photo below, it gives useful information to cyclists, namely that they probably don't want to dally excessively before crossing the intersection. The BOTTOM photo will tell you why this post is titled as it is. When that sign hits 0, the light turns yellow. HIT IT! This is the first of these useful signals that I've seen. It is almost worth all the disruption the Martin construction caused me. In total, over six months, this construction has caused me AT LEAST a half hour of lost commute time, but I LOVE THIS SIGNAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apparently Innocent Pedestrian Signal

This Signal is a Little Different

Time to POUR ON THE COAL!

Hoping for Better

MAC said; "I think you overestimate the ability of most motorists to interpret - and appropriately react to - hand signals."

MAC's comment applied to far more people than just motorists. I've often noticed that pedestrians fail to interpret and react properly to hand signals. For example, here, I related my experiences with school kids that waved back to me when I signaled for a right turn. In that experience, their misinterpretation became part of the fun. After a few speed runs, those kids all knew EXACTLY where I was going to turn.

Left Turn Signal - The Stodgy, Conventional Approach

Still, in a vain attempt to signal clearer, I've evolved from signalling as shown above, to signaling as shown below. I hope that actually POINTING will help get the point across. You can consider it a variation on the mythical teachable moment, as I still get people waving back despite my "pointy" turn signals. MAC caused me to realize that the honk in my previous post might just as likely have been a "friendly response back" to a perceived wave as anything else. MAC is, of course, correct that most people (not just motorists) are clueless about signals other than they realize the signals are supposed to mean SOMETHING and THAT catches their attention almost every time. It is why I am always careful before I hang one arm or the other out. I'd hate to cause a traffic pile-up through careless signal timing!

The "Expressive" Left Turn Signal - Hoping for a Better Response

Lest ye think I'm simply doing what everyone else does, look at the diagram of the signals at the bottom of this post. You'll not see any pointing on going on with any of those signals.

No Pointing in THESE Signals

Bicycle Bill's Problem

This is a Tough Traffic Light to Trigger. It gets Easier if a Motorist Comes Up Behind Me When I'm in the #2 Lane

In response to "Waddle Waddle," Bill noted:

"I'd be interested in reading how you handle an intersection when there is a traffic light, the traffic behind you wants to go straight, and your bike won't activate the signal. Some motorist don't understand when I try to wave them up over the activation loop..."

Those Cameras Aren't Real Easy to Gage and the Sensitivity
Seems Turned Down to Avoid False Triggers From Hwy 26

Bill's query put me into a dilemma. You see, I frequently encounter a similar situation, though I am rarely unable to activate induction loops. The dilemma concerned the title of this post, prompted by my most frequent encounter of this type. I WANTED to call it "Waddle to the Left, Waddle to the Right, Lay Down, Stand Up, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT." But that's inaccurate because no fighting is needed. The title is also WAY too long for Blogger.

The solution is actually pretty simple, but it can get more complex if you're a dramatic type. Most frequently, for me, it involves the specific intersection shown above. This is the intersection of Church Street and Highway 26 in Colleyville. The problem almost always occurs when I'm headed east in the afternoon and the sun is a bit low. The traffic sensing camera's sensitivity is adjusted to avoid getting triggered by the combination of traffic on Highway 26 and by the sun. As a result, I find it necessary to move over into the #2 lane to help things along. On occasion, a motorist will come up behind me in lane 2 while I'm waiting. At this point, I'll waddle waddle rightward to the left edge of the right lane and make an encouraging wave.

So, with the last post we had waddle to the left; now we have waddle to the right. If the motorist DOESN'T get the hint and move forward (this is more common than you might guess, with the numbers of cell phones around nowadays), then we get to "lay down and stand up." I lay my bike down and walk back to ask the motorist to move up and please help trigger the signal. At this point, there's always been a wave and the helpful motorist pulls forward in lane #2, adding the large number of pixels of his/her auto to my meager few.

You might wonder what I'd do if actually ASKING doesn't work? Well, I've thought that one through as well. In such a case, with my bike already laid down, I'd RUN (not walk) to push the pedestrian signal and then RUN back to my bike. I DO enjoy a little drama from time to time and might even limp a little along the way. If there's a policeman headed the other direction, I have been know to do the "lay it down and run to push the signal" when it wasn't strictly necessary. Bicycling is fun in many different ways. Still, I think the basic principle would apply to Bill or other cyclists having trouble triggering an induction loop when a motorist comes up behind. Actually ASKING your motoring buddy for help is a lot better than "eye contact."

Institute for Practical Bicycle Video Detection Research

ENOUGH of all this Bike School stuff for the moment. Let's do something pretentious. Hence the post title. Any of you are welcome to purchase the rights to it from me if we agree to suitable financial terms.

In English, this post is about how to get traffic signals to change for you when you are on a bike, and not those namby pamby induction ones, but the big video cameras. This is a tough one. HERE, I talked about induction loop signals. Amusingly, Rantwick, HERE, tested that tired old theory that magnets will help and found they don't.

Today, I delve further into a more mysterious area of traffic signals, the Video Imaging Vehicle Detection System (VIVDS in traffic speak). If you search around on the internet, you'll find two classes of information about VIVDS and cyclists. The first, epitomized HERE (regrettably, since it is usually FULL of good stuff), HERE, HERE, and HERE (among dozens of others), basically give no useful information at all about what the traveling cyclist needs to know to trigger such a system. All they say is "these are great for cyclists." Well, it ain't necessarily so. What these articles don't tell you is that cameras only work well when properly installed and calibrated, and presuming that the windstorm that hit last night didn't swing the camera around 79 degrees (which I have seen happen). Fortunately, there is also a second kind of information, which completely ignores bicycles, but which DOES give solid information. As it turns out, those "these are great for bikes" articles didn't LOOK at the second articles. Which is why you are fortunate to be reading this. Consider yourself "cutting edge."

FUNDAMENTALS

If you aren't the type of person who simply is highly trusting of the traffic types that do stuff like create door zone bike lanes, or stop signs just for the heck of it, read on. The first two photos are from a Texas A&M study on VIVDS system effectiveness, and the third is from a Purdue study. You can read these for yourself HERE and HERE. In truth, I forgot to copy the link when I pinched the pictures, but you'll see them in various forms in the links, along with all kinds of trivia it didn't occur to me might apply to cyclists.

Anyway, a VIVDS system works by detecting pixel changes in a "zone" that is programmed into the system when the camera is installed. You may notice that the cameras are usually installed fairly high in the air. This is so they can get a good view of the area leading up to the intersection stop line without also capturing clutter such as the horizon. As you can see in the first photo, the camera is aimed at the stop line and the roadway leading up to the stop line.  The horizon is purposely out of view. IF you happen to favor riding shoulders in such a situation, you may also notice that the shoulder disappears out of the view of the camera. Thus, we learn our first lesson. WHEN YOU WANT TO TRIGGER A CAMERA SIGNAL TO CHANGE, MOVE INTO A TRAFFIC LANE WELL BEFORE COMING UPON THE STOP LINE. This way you will be detected. Few cameras will be set to detect things on the shoulder, sidewalk, or median. More often than not, they are puposely set to AVOID detecting such areas. These things create false signals. Don't be a false signal unless you like waiting forever.

As you may see in the second photo, the camera is not simply set to just read a big blob waiting patiently for the light. It is broken into zones, so the camera can detect traffic approaching the intersection as well as traffic waiting for the light. This is another reason you want to move into the traffic lane well in advance of the intersection. However, take a good look at the Stop-Line Detection zones and imagine the situation of a cyclist that stops where the nose of the gray car stopped. That cyclist has given up at least half his/her pixels to the zone boundary. What's more, if the vagaries of weather have tilted that camera up just a smidge, the cyclist will be outside the detection zone altogether. This leads us to the second lesson. WHEN STOPPING FOR A CAMERA, STOP A BIT BACK FROM THE STOP LINE SO THE CAMERA SEES YOU. This also brings up the third lesson. WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO STOP, LOOK AT WHERE THE CAMERA POINTS. I have seen cameras spun by the wind around North Texas. The zones will move the way the camera has shifted. You want to be IN that detection zone. If the camera is pointed towards Oklahoma, it won't see you unless you are on your way south FROM Okalahoma. God LOVE those OKIES, except for the ones that drive red pickups with OU stickers on them.

You may also encounter one of these cameras at night. Well, they do not work by magic and they don't have IR or some special night vision. They get triggered by what they see. One more reason you don't want to depend only on a reflector at night. I do not know definitely if it helps to point your light at the camera, but it seems to me that pointing a blinky headlight at a camera at night ought to catch its attention. I've tried it and the light triggered, but it might have changed anyway. Still, I often check to see how far I can lift my front wheel when I am stopped at these types of light in the dark. Which brings up the final rule, AT NIGHT, NINJA CAN WAIT FOREVER! You KNEW there was some reason you needed to ride with lights at night. Now you know at least one reason why that you never read in the bike books. For all you know, there MIGHT be a ninja in that middle lane.

PS: As a duly designated remote tester, I EXPECT that you all will journey to some video signal camera you've never been able to trigger and give all this high tech stuff a go. I hope to hear of success, but these can be tricky devils. Unlike the induction units, there are not cuts in the pavement to clue you in. AND, if you can get me in touch with Eli Mowbray, of the Santa Cruz Public Works Department, you get double points. I suspect that guy can fill in the gaps a casual internet search leaves behind.

Cell Phones Can Really Make Your Ride Pass Faster

One of the more difficult traffic lights for me to trigger when riding has historically been the one, described here, at the intersection of Church Street and Highway 26, in Colleyville. It's triggered by video detection cameras, and I often have to use the middle lane to get sensed, just as described in that post. Last week, even that failed me, so I decided that biking and cell phone chatting go hand in hand like wine and cheese. After FINALLY getting across the intersection, I whipped over to the curb and speed dialed the first number on the list in the photo. The very nice man explained that Colleyville doesn't own that signal, but he'd be happy to relay my complaint to TXDOT (the owners of Hwy 26) so they could fix it. He collected added details and I figured maybe I'd be able to tell the difference and maybe not.

Well, somebody appears to have done SOMETHING because now this is one of the easiest traffic lights to trigger along my route. It's gotten so nice that on the way home, I triggered it all by myself before I even had to stop and the same thing happened on the way in to work. I could learn to like those video cameras and it's good to see the Colleyville Public Works guys getting their State brethren to fix things. I almost feel guilty for my lame humor about the sign being the name of the traffic engineer. I'm feeling very "Civil" today (pun intended). Next time I feel especially daring, I may take the chance of staying in the right lane just to see if the traffic light triggers from there. While I'm at it, I may add some more city traffic department numbers to my list, in case I encounter a rogue traffic signal during a recreational ride.

Who says these cell phones are bad? I didn't even run into anything as I talked, though I was certainly highly distracted. As compensation, I was careful not to walk in any direction. After all, I have been known to fall over while just standing in one spot when I have skis on. Hmm, do ya think if I called, they could fix bad weather, too?

Passing on Your RIGHT

Click on picture for a larger view

A bicycle commuter advantage is route familiarity far beyond what automobile drivers learn. For example, cycle commuters learn how to trigger balky traffic signal cameras, while most motorists simply drive up and get irritated if the light doesn’t change quickly. In bicycle school, I was weak on my "passing on your left." Some out there are weak on the "passing on your RIGHT."

Route knowledge can lead the bike commuter into danger. Some traffic cameras along my route require me to be in very specific locations in order to trigger them. The light in Colleyville at the intersection of Church Street, where it crosses Highway 26, will only trigger if I am positioned towards the right side of the #2 Lane. It will not trigger if I’m on the left side of the #3 Lane, which would normally be the proper place for a cyclist intending to cross the intersection. Under Texas FTR law, there’s no excuse for me being in that #2 Lane for any reason whatsoever, since I can’t turn left from that lane and there’s a through lane to its right. I have complained about this light, but even if the city fixed it, would I really be able to tell? It’s not like they put up a sign saying they fixed the insensitive signal camera. Instead, they posted the name of the traffic engineer.

On Thursday afternoon, I made a stop at Starbucks (coincidentally at this very intersection). Coming up to the light, there were no cars to trigger the light for me, so I used my knowledge and stopped in the #2 Lane “Sweet Spot.” When the light turned green, I proceeded. As I start across this intersection, if I’ve started from the #2 Lane, I do a lateral drift to the right of about four feet, which places me in the left tire track of the #3 Lane. I do this because most drivers prefer the #2 Lane, which leads them to the shopping locales on the north side of Church Street, and it allows them to not get stuck behind those turning right onto 26. The drift avoids encouraging an overtaking motorist into swerving around to the right lane and then back left. It also discourages motorists on Highway 26 from taking a free right turn until after I’ve cleared the intersection. This time, an Escalade, making a dash for the green light I’d triggered, suddenly appeared off my Starboard Beam, passing on the right at a goodly clip, about where I’d normally drift right. I expect they saw me up ahead and went right, not thinking about why the cyclist was in the wrong lane and what he’d probably do next. It’s a short light. Supposing I’d not seen the Escalade and executed the “drift right,” my commute might have made the Star Telegram, which is not my goal since I'd not be around to read the ugly comments. As it was, I got treated to a “fast pass on your RIGHT,” which certainly grabs MY attention.

Who do you think would have been blamed had a collision occurred? I don’t imagine they’d interview the traffic department about their cameras. I think a lane change in an intersection, directly in front of a moving vehicle, from an illegal lane position would have provided easy closure. Be careful out there.

PS: I’m programming the traffic departments for all the jurisdictions along my route into my cell phone. While police will usually take a complaint, it’s not really their job to get traffic light signals adjusted. Calling the traffic people while at a nonfunctioning light seems somehow extra satisfying. As for the “drift,” probably the best corrective action is to add another head check as the light changes to green, before moving forward. It's actually easiest to see the right lane with a head check to the left due to the street curve. Either way, I’d have seen that Escalade a half block back. While I wouldn’t have known the driver’s intent, it would have registered as a potential hazard and a possible “pass on the right.” My extra head check would add about a half second delay to anyone coming up behind me in the #2 Lane. It's a good use of a half second...