New Signal Detectors Better Spot Bicyclists

RIO RANCHO INTERSECTIONS SENSE CYCLISTS: As Albuquerque scooter drivers and cyclists deal with signal detectors that can’t sense their small amount of metal, and the safety questions of when/how to cross, Rio Rancho has installed a “smart sensor matrix system” at three busy intersections.

A little homework by Bernalillo County Public Works engineering associate Joseph Romero turned up that in Boulder, Colo., traffic signals had problems detecting bicycles with the traditional loop detectors (electrical wires embedded in the pavement that act as metal detector antennae) and camera detectors (self explanatory).

“They would set the loops more sensitive and stripe a symbol where the bike is most likely to be detected. They had trouble educating the cyclists to stop on the symbol.”

So Boulder switched to radar.

“They’ve tried them on their most problematic intersections,” Romero says, “and they’ve worked better. They install this detection system on all new intersections in Boulder.” And they are doing the same in Rio Rancho.

Peter Wells, city communications officer, says “city traffic engineers include Wavetronix specifications on all new city signals and are replacing other detection as budgets permit.”

The system isn’t cheap. It runs $15,000 to $25,000 per intersection, “depending on the size of the intersection,” Wells says.

By comparison, traditional loop detection systems, which the city of Albuquerque uses on its 600-or-so signalized intersections, cost around $1,500 per intersection; video detection systems, which Bernalillo County uses at 24 of its 55 signalized intersections, cost around $15,000.

“Currently,” Wells says, “the city has radar operational at the intersection of Unser/Cherry, Unser/Wellspring and Unser/King.”

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.