Cycle path/lane counters spotted

[Thoglette]

Spotted two bike counters this last week (2016W24)
One on Curtin ave, southbound just north of Eric St, Cottesloe. Weird to see such short "tails" - I'm too used to seeing them stretch across the road

The other was on the shared path just south of South Beach, Freo

[citywomble]

It would be interesting to see how many long wheelbase bikes (aka left wheels of cars) there are in the Curtin Ave bike lanes. Probably more cars than bikes to be counted, assuming the software can identify them properly.

[Thoglette]

Probably more cars than bikes to be counted

While Curtin Ave is notorious for drivers ignoring the white line, the counter has been positioned in a fairly protected spot.

The MRD could certainly do with some ripple-strip paint or some of the yellow lane edges that the Freo council has found. A little enforcement of the law wouldn't go astray, either!

[softy]

I like the rumble strip things they have in the country. Also the lanes are not really classed as anything under the law as yet, unless of course it has a sign "bike lane" or a bike symbol with lane written underneath.

The bike symbol by itself is only advisory.

[embee8]

These are the dedicated MetroCount (http://www.metrocount.com) (I work for the company) cycle counters. They are significantly different to the traffic counter you know (although the roadcase and even the casing are identical).
Due to lower signal strength from cyclist's wheels vs motorised vehicle's tyres a few alterations to the installation are made. They include thinner-walled tubes which are shorter in length and spaced narrower than the traffic counter's tubes.
The software (which does all the analysis) differentiates between vehicles based on wheelbase and so can provide reports of bicycles very accurately.
You may have seen this on Marine Tce Cottesloe a few months back when they installed a cycle counter next to a traffic counter; and had a cycle counter on the shared path at the same time.

[Scott_C]

A little enforcement of the law wouldn't go astray, either!

I have always been of the opinion that you could fully fund the WA bike plan by installing a fixed camera and fining vehicles driving in the bike lane through the S-bend between Curtin Ave and Port Beach Rd.

Also the lanes are not really classed as anything under the law as yet, unless of course it has a sign "bike lane" or a bike symbol with lane written underneath.

Curtin Ave does have legally defined Bike Lanes for at least a portion of its length.

You can see the required sign in Google Streetview.

Even if it weren't a bike lane it is still an offense liable for a $100 fine for a vehicle to drive to the left of the continuous white edge line unless otherwise permitted as per Regulation 129 of the WA Road Traffic Code 2000. It is the same fine as driving in a bicycle lane but doesn't come with demerit points.

[nachoman]

Although this picture is from Copenhagen, I saw the same style counter in Luxembourg last year. They show daily bicycle counts, plus an annual count.

[Sinner]

There was due to be one on Barrack Street, but it got damaged in transit and was sent back to France. Don't know when the new unit is coming back. The mounting and cycle loops are already in place.

[BB creek]

While Curtin Ave is notorious for drivers ignoring the white line, the counter has been positioned in a fairly protected spot.
The MRD could certainly do with some ripple-strip paint or some of the yellow lane edges that the Freo council has found. A little enforcement of the law wouldn't go astray, either!

Had way too many run-ins with people drifiting out of the traffic lane on Curtin ave to bother counting any more. A few close shaves from B-doubles too. Love the drivers that manage to pull across and block both the road lane and shoulder/cyclelane whenever they come to a stop in morning traffic.