howsteepisit

Saw this new thing on the west edge of the University of Oregon Campus. Not sure what its real purpose is, but I think its to show how many people enter campus by bike daily

dynodonn 

Yep, that is what it is, I've seen one in a bicycle related video of Copenhagen.

Korina

Hunh. Interesting. We could use some of those around 'bicycle friendly' Arcata.

B. Carfree

I suspect the city is trying to encourage people to use that (not very well-done) route in order to keep them off of routes to campus that have led to deaths. The deaths have all been caused by defective traffic engineering/planning, so the two or three people in the public works department who are capable of feeling shame probably feel bad about them.

It's quite sad that since the city decided to experiment with odd implementations, ostensibly in the hopes of encouraging more cycling, the exact opposite has occurred. From 2009-14, Eugene uniquely saw a loss of 37% of its cyclists back to cars. Our traffic planning/engineering units are disasters. The last traffic engineer went over a decade without his required license. In fact, he lost his license three separate times and his supervisors never noticed. On the last go-round, the state levied a nice little fine on him for both practicing while unlicensed and lying about it during the investigation. The interim replacement isn't looking much better.

How bad is it? Two weeks ago I got a green light to cross an eight-lane high speed road that borders the UO campus. Unfortunately, the cross-traffic also got a green light owing to a green-demand by the bus. It seems they haven't engaged all the detector systems into the signal unit, so this supposedly impossible occurrence is quite possible. In fact, an acquaintance saw it happen a block away from where it happened to me. Engineering staff insists it didn't happen and refuses to conduct a proper investigation and correct the defect.

Chris0516

I hope they count more than just those who drive to the campus. Also those who walk, take the bus, or bike.

kickstart

Now who do you suppose they're counting with a bike counter?

Chris0516

It didn't look like a bike counter, at first.

italktocats

i wish we had those, instead of digital speedos, inducing small races among whoever sees the sign..

enigmaT120

We have those too, though they're probably intended to get motorists to comply with speed limits without actually having to give them tickets or have a real cop there. My max at the bottom of a good downhill was 36 in a 35, not enough to make the light flash warningly at me.