The AJC article mentioned the weight and the rough ride. I'd guess that yet another disadvantage of a wooden bicycle, at least when sharing the road with motor vehicles, is that it's impossible to trigger a green traffic signal [pineight.com] without enough metal surface to disturb the flux in the induction loop beneath the approach to the intersection. At some intersections, even a metal bicycle has a problem with that.
The AJC article mentioned the weight and the rough ride. I'd guess that yet another disadvantage of a wooden bicycle, at least when sharing the road with motor vehicles, is that it's impossible to trigger a green traffic signal [pineight.com] without enough metal surface to disturb the flux in the induction loop beneath the approach to the intersection. At some intersections, even a metal bicycle has a problem with that.
While an all wooden bike (including wheels)might have problems tripping lights, I almost always can trip the lights with my Carbon Fiber bike with aluminum wheels, I just have to careful where I stop. I don't think an all-wooden bike (including wooden wheels) would be practical enough for much riding around town - the road vibrations noted in the article would make long rides unpleasant.
Even with my metal recumbent trike, position is a huge thing when tripping stop lights. This is one of the "discussed to death" topics on sites like http://www.bentrideronline.com... [bentrideronline.com]. A lot depends on the sensitivity of the loop and the circuitry it triggers, and a lot of the detectors are specifically set to be triggered only by a metal mass lots larger than a baby stroller, wheelchair or bicycle.
"I'd guess that yet another disadvantage of a wooden bicycle, at least when sharing the road with motor vehicles, is that it's impossible to trigger a green traffic signal without enough metal surface to disturb the flux in the induction loop beneath the approach to the intersection."
1)Inductive loop sensors are much better than they used to be, and many can detect aluminum bike frames, metal in the wheels (almost all spokes are metal - carbon fiber spokes are very rare; many rims are still aluminum), or t
Inductive loop sensors are much better than they used to be
And a lot of cities lack the funds to replace old sensors with better ones. Or they intentionally turn down the sensitivity so as to reject a tractor-trailer in the adjacent lane.
Many traffic lights now use camera-bases systems.
I was under the impression that a lot of cities shied away from these for two reasons. One is cost; though they may be cheaper than an induction loop under certain circumstances, it's still greater than zero. Another is confusion with the red light cameras that have led to increased rear-end collisions as motorists attempt to compl
I have issues with traffic lights seeing me on my motorcycle. Not often admittedly but still often enough to be noticeable. It tends to be on 2 lane roads which have been subjected to heavy traffic. I'm not sure if the loops have been damaged or if it is me using a different position due to the damaged surface but they cant sense me. (Bike is a Honda CBR1000rr)
One of the tricks I've heard for that is to put your kickstand (usually steel) down near the sensor loop. Of course, some bikes will have kill switches that are triggered by kickstand down switch, so it may be worth a test.
My bike will cut the ignition instantly if it is in gear and the side stand is put down. That is pretty much standard on every modern motorcycle. The only variation I have seen recently is the one that kills the ignition when you start to let the clutch out. I prefer the one that cuts as soon as you put the bike in gear as you aren't expecting the bike to move forward when it happens so you aren't shifting your weight around.
I'm fairly sure that here in the UK traffic lights are just on a set timing sequence.
Is it different in the US because you have a lot more infrequently used roads that require manual triggering?
That rather prompts the question of why you bother having lights at all at junctions where traffic is so infrequent.
"There are things that are so serious that you can only joke about them"
- Heisenberg
Traffic signals (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
The AJC article mentioned the weight and the rough ride. I'd guess that yet another disadvantage of a wooden bicycle, at least when sharing the road with motor vehicles, is that it's impossible to trigger a green traffic signal [pineight.com] without enough metal surface to disturb the flux in the induction loop beneath the approach to the intersection. At some intersections, even a metal bicycle has a problem with that.
While an all wooden bike (including wheels)might have problems tripping lights, I almost always can trip the lights with my Carbon Fiber bike with aluminum wheels, I just have to careful where I stop. I don't think an all-wooden bike (including wooden wheels) would be practical enough for much riding around town - the road vibrations noted in the article would make long rides unpleasant.
Re: Traffic signals (Score:2)
Even with my metal recumbent trike, position is a huge thing when tripping stop lights. This is one of the "discussed to death" topics on sites like http://www.bentrideronline.com... [bentrideronline.com]. A lot depends on the sensitivity of the loop and the circuitry it triggers, and a lot of the detectors are specifically set to be triggered only by a metal mass lots larger than a baby stroller, wheelchair or bicycle.
Irrelevant (Score:1)
"I'd guess that yet another disadvantage of a wooden bicycle, at least when sharing the road with motor vehicles, is that it's impossible to trigger a green traffic signal without enough metal surface to disturb the flux in the induction loop beneath the approach to the intersection."
1)Inductive loop sensors are much better than they used to be, and many can detect aluminum bike frames, metal in the wheels (almost all spokes are metal - carbon fiber spokes are very rare; many rims are still aluminum), or t
Re: (Score:2)
Inductive loop sensors are much better than they used to be
And a lot of cities lack the funds to replace old sensors with better ones. Or they intentionally turn down the sensitivity so as to reject a tractor-trailer in the adjacent lane.
Many traffic lights now use camera-bases systems.
I was under the impression that a lot of cities shied away from these for two reasons. One is cost; though they may be cheaper than an induction loop under certain circumstances, it's still greater than zero. Another is confusion with the red light cameras that have led to increased rear-end collisions as motorists attempt to compl
Re: (Score:2)
I have issues with traffic lights seeing me on my motorcycle. Not often admittedly but still often enough to be noticeable. It tends to be on 2 lane roads which have been subjected to heavy traffic. I'm not sure if the loops have been damaged or if it is me using a different position due to the damaged surface but they cant sense me. (Bike is a Honda CBR1000rr)
Re: (Score:2)
One of the tricks I've heard for that is to put your kickstand (usually steel) down near the sensor loop. Of course, some bikes will have kill switches that are triggered by kickstand down switch, so it may be worth a test.
Re: (Score:2)
My bike will cut the ignition instantly if it is in gear and the side stand is put down. That is pretty much standard on every modern motorcycle. The only variation I have seen recently is the one that kills the ignition when you start to let the clutch out. I prefer the one that cuts as soon as you put the bike in gear as you aren't expecting the bike to move forward when it happens so you aren't shifting your weight around.
Re: (Score:2)
Is it different in the US because you have a lot more infrequently used roads that require manual triggering?
That rather prompts the question of why you bother having lights at all at junctions where traffic is so infrequent.