A new camera technology can detect when vehicles pass too close to people on bikes.
A handlebar-mounted camera technology developed at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University could help keep cyclists safer on the road by collecting data about close-passing drivers, reports Kea Wilson for Streetsblog USA.
The camera is paired with a sensor that detects when a vehicle passes dangerously close to a cyclist and collects information that can be used for legal evidence and, collectively, inform planners and policymakers about close-passing “hot spots” and where safe bike infrastructure is lacking.
According to Wilson, “One Australian study estimates that up to 38 percent of motor vehicle drivers who hit cyclists were either overtaking or close-passing the vulnerable road user. But similar stats are hard to come by in most U.S. jurisdictions.” Now, advocates hope that technology like CycleSafe, as the sensor is dubbed, will help change that.
Robert Heinrichs, associate professor at Arizona State's School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, says “it's not impossible that the CycleSafe software could someday be programmed to automatically notify EMS when a serious crash is detected, potentially saving lives in hit-and-runs; it could also generate video footage for educational campaigns aimed at showing drivers just how terrifying a close pass really is for a person in the saddle.”
FULL STORY: New Camera Tech Hopes to Stop Drivers From Close-Passing Cyclists
Sharrows Are Ineffective, Potentially Counterproductive
Research shows there’s no substitute for protected bike lanes, and sharrows may make roads more dangerous for cyclists.
Research Affirms Safety of ‘Idaho Stop’
Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs does not negatively impact safety and can help people on bikes more effectively navigate roadways.
The Most Bike-Friendly States in the Nation
The League of American Bicyclists ranks states based on bike infrastructure and safety efforts.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service