Washington County debuts thermal video detection of bike riders at signals

Two questions:

Is there a detection indicator or do we simply trust that it will work? People need that kind of feedback unless it’s everywhere.

Is FLIR capable of differentiating motorcycles from motorized pedal bicycles? You have to wonder how much consideration they give to self-powered human vehicles any time we reap the “peace dividend” of military technology.

This is awesome! I will go and test one of these out!

Do we know how it works on hot days?

Not that induction loops and other technologies don’t have their issues.

There’s one being used at SE César Chávez Blvd and Lincoln.

I’m guessing this is just a test than as after going through this intersection very often for the last couple years it is undoubtedly on a timer. Which always makes people smashing those walk buttons a little bit comical to me.

This is great news for people on skateboards. I’ve never found an induction loop detector that will pick up my board. I could stand there all day and the light will never change.
Hopefully, this technology gets widely adopted.

It is always exciting to see the bike related innovation coming out of Washington County’s public works!

As an advocate for better cycling conditions in WashCo, I’d say kudos to staff for trying to deal with the very real issue of cyclists not being detected when trying to cross large roads.

That said, let’s not forget that WashCo’s large roads are, themselves, the larger problem.

How will it work when the ambient temperature is 98F?

I just tried out the intersection (Sat. 19/19/2020) at NW 185th (where NW Park View Blvd crosses 185th and turns into NW Rock Creek Blvd). If these signals are there… it’s hard to tell. There are no signs or indicators that anything is different. I saw several cyclists “take the lane” to turn left or go straight, but there were cars behind them. Did the cars trigger the signal? Or the bikes? Who knows? I wish the nice little “New Bicycle Detection System Active” icon was actually visible anywhere. I tried it (taking the lane, going straight across) but two other cyclists came up behind me, and one pushed the “beg” button. So I don’t really know how or why the signal worked.

The bigger issue for me as a Slow Moving Suburban Mom Carrying Groceries On A Bike (TM), is I really hate having to take a lane. I don’t feel safe out in the middle of traffic with the SUVs, TriMet buses, dump trucks, and distracted drivers. Approaching 185th from Park View Blvd or from Rock Creek Blvd, there are no indications of where I’m supposed to be on a bike. All bike lanes just kinda disappear at the intersection. Which is disconcerting.

I’m of the opinion that if we had cycling infrastructure that is suitable to send a responsible 12-year-old on, unaccompanied, then a whole lot more people of all ages and abilities would bike. Requiring cyclists to take a lane in the traffic to activate a signal means a whole lot of people will never even try, and will drive instead.

Now if we could just get bike lanes and sidewalks to make alternative transportation safer. Wouldn’t hurt to have driver education public service announcement about sharing the road in Washington County either since we literally 90% of the time are in traffic lanes. I’ve never ridden anywhere I’ve lived where it’s so hostile to cyclists by motorists as Washington County Oregon. HELP!!!

You can buy consumer grade Flir for around $250 now. Maybe $500 for contractor grade.

If every road agency bought this system in bulk I wonder if they could be cheaper than burring the induction loops? Less so in Portland, but there are still places where they have trouble picking up 500lb motorcycles full of steel.

I’d have liked that back when I was commuting on SW Park Way crossing at SW Cedar Hills every day. That’s a big commuter route, so a real improvement.

I’ve had problems a number of times at that intersection with 185th. Let’s hope it works better.