Watch: I Have A Fear
This harrowing reality — that if I’m standing in a traffic light, I’m good to go — isn’t science fiction. It’s how research scientists know they can successfully switch a light green at any time.
The surprisingly precise sensors inside these traffic lights — and even inside other vehicles — pick up on a complex array of factors, including road density, weather and traffic flow.
They then send out commands wirelessly and send their results back to engineers, who program the lights to run on a customized white-noise “limiter” to ensure no one could miss a green arrow.
Knowing when the lights turn green for cyclists is important. It’s a vital service since transit planners often use traffic signals to direct cycling in cities.
They can help build public awareness of cycling as a potential mode of travel, and in the event of an emergency in traffic — for example, a fall or an ambulance.
But just know that the lights do this because the situation is completely random.
When you’re pedaling through a city and waiting for a green arrow or yellow light to change to a red, you don’t know when it’s going to happen. But that just isn’t the case with traffic signals.
Read more at The Weather Channel
