HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-09-14; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Request to adopt the City of San Diego bicycle detection studyCITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
COMMISSION REPORT OF: September 14, 1987 ITEM NO. GC
LOCATION: city Wide
INITIATED BY: Gordon Shields, 1955 Willis Road, El Cajon,
California, 92020
BACKGROUND:
DATA:
The City of San Diego commissioned a bicycle detection
study that was completed in 1985. Purposes of the
report were to evaluate various bicycle detection schemes
and to select a scheme to fit the needs of the city of
San Diego for retrofitting existing signals and for
adoption to new signal construction. A request has been
received' by the City of Carlsbad to adopt the program as
recommended in the report.
At existing traffic signals in the City of Carlsbad,
CALTRANS standard signal detection loops are utilized.
However, several different configurations of vehicle
loops have been used, such as Type A or quadrupole. No
bicycle detection loops have been installed in bike lanes
in the City of Carlsbad.
Carlsbad has designated bike routes on a Bicycle Route
map as part of the Circulation Element of the General
Plan. It is recommended that the standard policy of the
City of Carlsbad continue to be to recognize bicyclists
in accordance with provisions of the California Vehicle
Code and to provide for maximum detection of bicycles at
traffic signals, wherever possible. Due to the hazard
of additional poles being placed in the right of way, it
is not recommended that poles with push buttons be
installed in advance of an intersection adjacent to the
bike lane.
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
COMMISSION REPORT OF: September 14, 1987
(Continued)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the following:
ITEM NO. 6C
1. Adopt, in principal, the recommendation contained
in the city of San Diego Traffic Signal Bicycle
Detection study Final Report.
2. Apply for a TOA (Transportation Development Act)
Article 3 funds to provide detector loops in bike
lanes on heavy use bike routes in the City of
Carlsbad.
3. Provide bicycle sensitive detector loops for all new
traffic signal installations, locations undergoing
modifications and location where loops are being
replaced.
4. Continue to identify bike routes of highest use in
order to provide a priority for funding requests.
NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
The report will be discussed at a future City Council
meeting with Council asked to adopt the above recommend-
ations or additional recommendations of the Traffic
Safety Coordinating Committee and Traffic Safety
Commission.
CALIFOt .A Assoc1Ar10N oF
HEADQUARTERS: P.O. BOX 2684
81c'tc~ \JG 0RGAN1ZAr10Ns
DUBLIN, CA!,.IFORNIA 94568
Please reply to: Gordy Shiald~ Dist, 11 Representative
Frank Aleshire, City Ma
City of Carlsbad
1200 31m Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Dear Mr. Aleshire:
CAB.O
1955 Willis Rd.
El Cajon, Ca. 92020
(619)-444-6425
In April of 1986 a copy of the City of San Diego Traffic
Signal Bicycle Detection Study Final Report was mailed to your
city 'with a cover letter by John C, Tsiknas, Senior Traffic
Engineer of the City of San Diego, In the letter he states that
the City has adopted the program as recommended in the study,
I would like to know if your city has adopted the program
and, if so, what steps are being taken to implement it. If
your city has not adopted the program I would appreciate knowing
why not and also the steps it would take to do so.
It is my feeling and the feelings of the bicycle organizations
I represent that each government agency in any way connected with
traffic signal control has an obligation to put the program into
effect. I base my assumpt~ons on these facts.
1. Bicycles now are part of the Vehicle Code of the State
of California (Section 21200). They therefore have all
the rights and responsibilities of motorists.
' 2, Traffic signals are an integral part of the management of
the flow of traffic. Motorists,bicyclists, and
pedestrians have the right to expect that traffic signals
will be located, installed, and activated in such a way
as to provide the safest passage through every
inter section where they exist,
3. Under present circumstances most signals can be activated_
by motorized vehicles and by curbside pedestrian pushbuttons.
Only the needs of the bicyclist are, in many cases, ignored,
Yet, as the bicycle detection study showed, all· present
signals can be sensitized enough to. be activated by
a bicycle,
~. It is my feeling as previously stated that cities are
obligated to follow this program, not only to sensitize
-Present signals, bY-t to install a special bicycle loop
detector in all new traffic signal installations, Failure
to do so would appear to deliberately discriminate aga~nst
a legitimate vehicle. The Traffic 9?J!llllissi?n o~_the City
...... , .. --~-· ;.:: . . ·.:.I-
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CALIFORNIA Assoc1AT10N. OF
HEADQUARTERS: P.O. BOX 2684
8 I CYCLING Q RGANIZATIONS
DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA 94568
Please reply to: Gordy Shi@ldfl
Dist. ll Representative
·cABO ••
( 2. ) 1955 Willis Rd.
El Cajon, Ca. 92020
(619)-444-6425
. of El Cajon accepted this as a valid argument and on
November 12, 1986 forwarded to the El Cajon City Council
the following recommendation which, in turn, the
council members unanimously passed,
"Adopt the detector loop configurations as recommended
by the City of San Diego Traffic Signal Bicycle .
Detection Study for all new projects, for all locations
undergoing maintenance (where rewiring of the intersection
is required), modification and for all loops that
require replacement as the result of damage, except
those at recalled intersections, whether or not the
locations are on the bicycle network"
Inability to activate a traffic signal is one of the most
frustrating experiences for a bicyclist. Unfortunately, they
will sometimes ignore the: law and ride through the red light. It
is my feeling that if, like motorists and pedestrians, they knew
that eventually the signal would change for them that ·it would be
a real step forward in the interest of bicycle safety ..
It is my sincere hope that your city will, in the near
future, take action similar to that by.the City of San Diego
the City of El Cajon. If I can be of any assistance in this
matter please feel free to call upon me.
I would appreciate a written reply to this letter.
Yours truly
///My ci, /?/4o-1
Gordon A. Shields
and