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Cyclist's request for help with traffic light sensors results in village resolution to DOT

Posted 7/18/18

By CRAIG FREILICH POTSDAM -- The Board of Trustees is asking the state Department of Transportation to help cyclists by making the traffic signal sensors that are able to pick up the presence of …

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Cyclist's request for help with traffic light sensors results in village resolution to DOT

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- The Board of Trustees is asking the state Department of Transportation to help cyclists by making the traffic signal sensors that are able to pick up the presence of bikes more apparent.

The issue is that bicyclists are often caught at intersections with traffic lights that have sensors that easily detect larger vehicles and change the signals to accommodate traffic movement. But bikes are not easily detected.

Bill Griffin of Pennsylvania, who lives at 2 Elderkin St. when he comes up to Potsdam each summer, brought the issue to the attention of trustees.

He says bicycling in the North Country is the reason he comes up every year.

Griffin said cyclists don’t want to violate traffic laws by going against a red light or by jaywalking with their bikes. Most intersections don’t have sensors that detect bikes, and those that might do not show the location of the sensor so a cyclist can maneuver over it to be detected.

So he asked the board to appeal to the DOT to install markers on state roads over detectors that can sense bicycles so they don’t get stranded at a light, forced to disobey a red signal and face a possible citation.

The resolution approved by trustees at their July 16 meeting notes that Vehicle and Traffic Law “does not contain a provision allowing bicyclists to treat a non-responsive signal as malfunctioning...”

“Such marking is approved by NYSDOT and has been used in other jurisdictions within the State,” the resolution said.

The board approved the resolution unanimously.