Bicycle Driving Demonstrations

Traffic Signals

Obeying traffic signals and signs makes you predictable to other drivers, and is the safest way to ride. Having an equal right to roads means also having equivalent responsibilities.

Stop for red lights: These cyclists don't mind waiting their turn to use the intersection. They stay behind the crosswalk to keep it clear for pedestrians, and stay far enough from the curb to avoid being cut off by right-turning drivers.

Proceed on green: Once the cyclists have proceeded ahead on a green light, the following driver can turn right safely.

Sometimes, when no other vehicles are in the cyclist's lane, a demand-activated traffic signal will not turn green for the cyclist. These intersections use inductive loop sensors--loops of buried wire--that detect conductive objects, but may not be properly designed or adjusted to detect bicycles. The pavement cuts for these wires are often visible in the surface of the asphalt. By positioning your bike in the most sensitive part of the loop, you may be able to trip the sensor. For a loop shaped like a figure-8, the most sensitive spot is above the wires in the center part of the '8'. Single loop detectors are harder to trip, but the most sensitive spot to position your bike rims is near the wire on either side of the loop. Leaning the bike frame toward the ground in the center of the loop with the wheels touching the ground just above the wire cut may help.  If the traffic signal cannot detect you and no other vehicles are in sight, treat it like you would normally a broken traffic light by stopping and waiting until it is safe to proceed by yielding to all other traffic. Be sure to report the signal to the town's engineering department so they know that it does not work properly for bicycle drivers.

Next: Nighttime Equipment