http://www.bikealameda.org/cgi-bin/blosxom_bikealameda.cgi News and happenings for bicyclists in Alameda en http://www.bikealameda.org/cgi-bin/blosxom_bikealameda.cgi/Advocacy/loop.html <p><a href="http://www.bikealameda.org/advocacy/detectors.pdf">Current list of Loop detector intersections</a> in adobe Acrobat format. <p>Have you ever been at an intersection with a stoplight wondering if you should: <p> 1) Get off the bicycle and press the pedestrian walk signal. <p> 2) Wait around and hope that a car traveling in a parallel direction appears in short order. <p> 3) Run the light (an oftentimes dangerous act). <br wp="br1"><br wp="br2"> <p>Well, so have many other cyclists. The three options are certainly not ideal. We don't expect automobile drivers to exit their vehicles to press the pedestrian walk signal before being allowed to cross an intersection so why must bicyclists suffer that fate? Also, we don't expect automobile drivers to wait around and hope that another automobile traveling in a parallel direction happens along soon. <br wp="br1"> <p>There is a common solution that is slowly (and I do mean slooooowwwlllly) solving this problem. <br wp="br1"> <p>The recommended solution to signalized intersections (according to the <a href = http://www.accma.ca.gov/pages/taskforce.shtml> Alameda Countywide Bicycle Plan (page 6-14)</a>) is to install <strong>loop detectors that are sensitive to bicycles. </strong> It is also important that loop detectors be installed not only in the right lane of the affected intersections but also in the left lane, left-turning lane, or left-half of the travel lane (whichever is most appropriate). Right-lane-only installations do not benefit those bicyclists turning left from the left lane (or a left turning lane or the left half of a single lane) as both sanity and the law require. Along with this change, is a bicycle stencil painted on the spot<strong> </strong>that a bicycle should stand on in order to be detected. <br wp="br1"> <p>Alameda already has many automobile signal loop detectors installed, that are NOT sensitive to bicycles. <br wp="br1"><br wp="br2"> <p>We have accumulated <a href="http://www.bikealameda.org/advocacy/detectors.pdf"> a list </a> of intersections that we feel need to be modified to accommodate bicycles. If you have any more suggestions or find errors, please email <a href="mailto:lucy&#64;bikealameda&#46;org">lucy&#64;bikealameda&#46;org</a> <p>The City of Alameda has completed installing and modifying some intersection to add bicycle loop detection capability. They are working on receiving more grant money to complete installations on those intersections on the list.