From Cycleliciousness (the “Copenhagen Bicycle Culture Blog”), comes word of two interesting bike safety measures.
Given that we are in the midst of making some major bike safety improvements at dangerous intersections, I thought it might be useful to take a look at new technology being considered by the Danes.
The first is being tested in Copenhagen to reduce the number of right-hook collisions between bikes and trucks. It’s what the blog’s author calls, “a new system of diode lights” (similar the one in their photo at right) that would potentially reduce bike/car conflicts at dangerous intersections. Here’s more:
“Blinking diodes [similar to the photo above on a Copenhagen bike lane] are placed in the asphalt on the final stretch towards the intersection and, when a cyclist passes a sensor, the lights start to blink and warn motorists to the fact that a cycle is present.”
Imagine what these lights must look like at night!
The other technology is being tested in the Danish town of Grenaa. Also hoping to reduce right-hook collisions, Cycleliciousness tells us 300 bikes were installed with a tiny radio frequency infrared device identification (RFID) chip on the handlebars; “When the bikes approach an intersection, the RFID triggers a warning sign for cars and trucks.”
For a better sense of how this works, check out the animation below:
For more photos and information on the bike scene in Copenhagen, I highly recommend two blogs: Cycleliciousness and Copenhagen Girls on Bikes.