Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site varian.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!umcp-cs!gymble!lll-crg!dual!qantel!vlsvax1!zehntel!varian!fred From: fred@varian.UUCP (Fred Klink) Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Re: left turns Message-ID: <331@varian.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 12:47:03 EDT Article-I.D.: varian.331 Posted: Thu Jun 27 12:47:03 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 04:28:53 EDT References: <605@intelca.UUCP> <1636@reed.UUCP> <328@varian.UUCP> <2@uw-june> Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA Lines: 20 > In fact, these sensors are adjustable, but if the sensitivity is made > too high, a really massive piece of metal (like a truck) > can activate the one in the adjacent lane. This can cause problems > like a left-turn signal going on when no one is waiting to make a left > turn! So you see, it's not quite as simple as it seems at first. > Obviously, any device of this type can be misadjusted. My point is that if the device cannot be adjusted to accomadate the opera- tion of all vehicles-- trucks, cars, motorcycles and bicycles-- that legally use the road then the device is inadequate and a more reasonable system should be adopted. Also, I can't quite believe that the sensitivity required to sense a bicycle directly over the loop is even close to that required to sense a truck in the adjacent lane. Even if it is, to occasionally set off a left turn arrow when no one is there seems more desirable than not setting it off at all for motorcycles and bicycles. Fred Klink Varian Walnut Creek, CA