Skip to main content

GTT aids cyclist safety in Minneapolis

In a bid to improve conditions for cyclists in Minneapolis, Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) using existing infrastructure and its Canoga 9004 system to detect and react to bikes at intersections. The traffic detection system is now able to recognise both vehicle and bicycles and the Canoga card reacts quickly enough to give cyclists a green light without needing to slow down or wait at the intersection or navigate a red light. Previously, only vehicles would trigger green traffic signals at intersectio
July 14, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
In a bid to improve conditions for cyclists in Minneapolis, 542 Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) using existing infrastructure and its Canoga 9004 system to detect and react to bikes at intersections. The traffic detection system is now able to recognise both vehicle and bicycles and the Canoga card reacts quickly enough to give cyclists a green light without needing to slow down or wait at the intersection or navigate a red light.

Previously, only vehicles would trigger green traffic signals at intersections, which meant that a cyclist halt at an intersection undetected, waiting for a car to approach to activate the signal.

Where possible, the city wanted to implement bicycle detection at key signalised intersections, without investing in expensive detection technologies and leveraging the existing infrastructure, avoiding cutting new loops or mounting new pole-based detection technologies.

Using the existing advanced detector loops and the Canoga 9004 traffic sensing technology in the traffic cabinet, the traffic department was able to detect and classify bicycles with enough time to trigger the intersection green lights before the cyclist has arrived. This information is also calculated, recorded and stored for subsequent data retrieval through an Ethernet-enabled connection.

Related Content

  • Developing new detection and monitoring technologies
    November 21, 2012
    Established detection and monitoring technologies continue to evolve, but is it time to challenge their supremacy and take a serious look at less conventional ITS? Andy Graham considers the options with Jason Barnes. For ITS system providers, the most potentially lucrative markets over the next few years are going to be the BRIC (Brazil Russia India and China) group of countries, all of which are building many miles of new roads, applying tolling to existing ones (8,000km in China alone) and implementing w
  • Rhode Island city upgrades emergency vehicle pre-emption
    May 11, 2017
    Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) has provided the city of Warwick, Rhode Island with an upgrade to its Opticom traffic pre-emption solution, which works alongside intersection controllers to help ensure emergency vehicles can move through intersections rapidly and safely. The system has been upgraded to incorporate next-generation GPS-based technology alongside its infrared detectors. Opticom enables emergency vehicles equipped with the Opticom emergency vehicle pre-emption (EVP) system to send a request t
  • Connecting DoTs with IoT for secure, connected transportation systems
    January 11, 2022
    Michelle Maggiore of Cisco outlines how connected roadways and intersections can help improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, and minimise our carbon footprint
  • Priority management saves time, money and lives
    November 10, 2015
    Emergency vehicle preemption systems can offer benefits to more than just first responders: mass transit and maintenance departments can also benefit from the technology. It is difficult to over-emphasise how critical response times are to the outcomes of medical emergencies or to reduce property loss.