Most bicycles contain enough
metal to trigger the light, but
you should know where the most
sensitive spots are. Look for cut
lines in the pavement, filled with
tar. Depending on the shape, the
most sensitive spots are:
1. Diamonds: just inside one
of the points.
2. Rectangles: up front, in the middle.
3. Circles: about
1
/
4
of the way in.
If you can’t trigger the light, either move
forward to leave room for a car to place itself
over the loop, or go to the sidewalk and press
the pedestrian push-button (unless you’re
turning left). You can also lean your bicycle over
the loop so more metal is closer to the wires.
Riding on sidewalks
In general, you shouldn’t ride a bicycle on sidewalks. Many crashes
between bikes and cars occur on sidewalks, especially when bicyclists
ride against the flow of car traffic. If you do ride on a sidewalk, try to
ride in the same direction as
traffic next to you, and adjust
your riding habits for the safety of
all sidewalk users by following
these guidelines:
Slow down at driveways and
s t r e e t c r o s s i n g s if a car is
coming. If you go too fast, drivers
will not see you (they are looking
for pedestrians nearby, not a fast-
moving cyclist further away). If
you crash, you may be found at
fault if you were going too fast.
Yield to pedestrians: sidewalks are for walkers, not bicyclists. Be
courteous and ride cautiously. When passing a pedestrian, slow down,
give an audible warning, and wait for the pedestrian to move over. A
bicycle bell works best. If you must say something, make your inten-
tions clear. For example, “Passing on your left.”
14
How to trigger loop detectors
Lean your bike
to trigger light
building
Motorist crossing a sidewalk
may not see you on a bicycle
