Skip to main content

City of Liverpool relies on thermal imaging to boost cycling

In an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage cycling, the city of Liverpool in the UK has installed Flir’s thermal imaging technology to give cyclists a head start at two busy intersections and make cycling safer. The City is keen to make cycling easier and more convenient in the city and plans to invest in the creation of a network of safe cycle routes, improvements in safety training and enforcement, and ensuring that cycling is included in council policies.
April 22, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

In an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage cycling, the city of Liverpool in the UK has installed 6778 Flir’s thermal imaging technology to give cyclists a head start at two busy intersections and make cycling safer.

The City is keen to make cycling easier and more convenient in the city and plans to invest in the creation of a network of safe cycle routes, improvements in safety training and enforcement, and ensuring that cycling is included in council policies.

The city developed a dedicated cycle scheme for Leeds Street, which links directly with The Strand, where the historic Waterfront and Three Graces are located. The scheme is funded by the Regional Growth Fund via the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and includes road resurfacing, innovative traffic signals, LED street lighting, public realm regeneration, cycle and pedestrian facilities and capacity improvements.

On completion, the scheme should improve transport links by removing pinch points at junctions. It will also increase the capacity of the Leeds Street route, which links North Liverpool with the city’s commercial district.

Traffic signals at the two junctions display a green bike before the full green for other traffic, allowing cyclists a five second head start on other vehicles. The signal expires when the full green light comes on. The signals are powered by Flir ThermiCam sensors, which detect cyclists and distinguish them from other vehicles, meaning the advance lights are not used when there are no cyclists, avoiding delays to other road users.

ThermiCam uses the thermal energy emitted from vehicles and cyclists and is able sensor to detect vehicles and cycles in both daylight and darkness, over a long range and in difficult weather conditions. In Liverpool, the sensor transmits its cycle detection information to the traffic light controller to provide a more dynamic control of traffic lights, resulting in reduced vehicle idling time, improved traffic flow and improved safety and mobility for cyclists.

“The two junctions on Leeds Street were designed to make cyclists more confident in our city traffic and at the same time, increase awareness with motorists about the presence of cyclists,” says James Leeming, senior project manager at Liverpool City Council.

UTC

Related Content

  • August 25, 2015
    New junction on London’s Cycle Superhighway offers safety measures for cyclists
    Britain’s first junction designed to avoid cyclists being hit by left-turning traffic is unveiled today, the beginning of a new wave of such junctions on London’s busiest main roads. Cyclists and turning motor traffic will move in separate phases, with left-turning vehicles held back to allow cyclists to move without risk, and cyclists held when vehicles are turning left. There will also be a new ‘two-stage right turn’ to let cyclists make right turns in safety. For straight-ahead traffic, early-release
  • March 30, 2017
    Connected citizens boosts Boston’s traffic management
    Data-derived traffic management is starting to show benefits as David Crawford discovers. The city of Boston has been facing growing congestion problems in its Seaport regeneration district, with the rate of commercial and residential growth threatening to overtake the capacity of the road network to respond.
  • March 22, 2022
    Cities get road priorities right
    Cities including Paris, Milan and London have all announced serious expansions to their bicycling infrastructure over the last few years. The era of active travel is here, finds Alan Dron
  • August 13, 2015
    Syracuse models post-industrial revival for US cities
    A connective corridor in Syracuse, New York State, could be a model for other post-industrial cities, as David Crawford discovers. The aim of the city of Syracuse’ 5.6km-long Connective Corridor in Onandaga County in upstate New York is to create a model ‘complete street’ for use in wider regeneration schemes. Key transport-sector components are traffic calming, high-quality transit with accessible passenger information, plus walkability and bike-friendliness.