"Bicycles Stop on Green" [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

DebW

07-10-2006, 07:15 AM

When riding through the town of Billerica, MA the last 2 weekends, I've seen signs that say "Bicycles Stop on Green at Line". There is a picture of a bicycle on the signs. I really can't figure out what these signs mean. Anyone live in Billerica or ride through there frequently and know? Are bicycles supposed to stop at green lights??? :confused:

DeniseGoldberg

07-10-2006, 07:26 AM

Deb -
Those signs have been driving me crazy for years. They make absolutely no sense from a language standpoint. And I haven't seen them anywhere else in my travels - so is it just a (stupid) Massachusetts thing?

I think what they mean to say is "bicycles stop on line, wait for green" - but the phrasing as is seems to convey the exact opposite meaning.

--- Denise

DeniseGoldberg

07-10-2006, 07:30 AM

Ah, the wonders of google searches... just found this interesting link to this article about the subject: http://www.bikexprt.com/massfacil/nonstandard/ongreen.htm. The answer to the question says that there is supposed to be a bicycle-sensitive loop in the pavement at those locations to indicate/force a light change. Of course it goes on to say that the loops aren't installed or don't work...

mimitabby

07-10-2006, 08:04 AM

I love it!! Non functioning mechanisms with erroneous signage.
argh

spazzdog

07-10-2006, 08:06 AM

the loops are probably a line item task on the Big Dig project... once they fix all the leaks in the tunnel, the state will get right on those 'bike sensitive' loops :D

spazz

Pedal Wench

07-10-2006, 08:41 AM

Actually, the sign says
"Bicycle stop on line for GREEN", which means, to me, that if I stop on the line (with a properly functioning trigger), I'll get a green light. Makes sense to me!

DebW

07-10-2006, 08:45 AM

Thanks Denise. I feel better now. I was afraid that I'd get a ticket for not stopping my bicycle at a green light. If the sign says to stop on green, can I go on red instead? Confusion is just par for the course here in Massachusetts. I used to enjoy the light on Comm Ave near the BU bridge that would simultaneously have lit a large circular red light and green arrows for straight ahead and right. Straight and right were the only possible ways to go.

edited:
I didn't rember the sign quite right. But since I saw no obvious "line" on which to stop, my mind omitted that part and it became "Bicycle stop for green". Maybe "Bicyle wait on line for green" would work better.

DeniseGoldberg

07-10-2006, 09:10 AM

Actually, the sign says
"Bicycle stop on line for GREEN", which means, to me, that if I stop on the line (with a properly functioning trigger), I'll get a green light. Makes sense to me!
Actually, when you put it that way it does make sense. Unfortunately for those of us who have never seen a properly functioning trigger, the language on the sign has always been a mystery!

--- Denise

CycleChic06

07-10-2006, 01:38 PM

I used to enjoy the light on Comm Ave near the BU bridge that would simultaneously have lit a large circular red light and green arrows for straight ahead and right. Straight and right were the only possible ways to go.

Deb, I think I know that light...it used to be on my way home from work when I lived in JP. I think it was meant to try keep people from turning left onto Comm Ave from the BU bridge...like a red light ever stopped a Boston driver from doing something.

I want to check out this sign in Billerica...what road were you on?

Pedal Wench

07-10-2006, 01:41 PM

Actually, when you put it that way it does make sense. Unfortunately for those of us who have never seen a properly functioning trigger, the language on the sign has always been a mystery!

--- Denise

I guess "Bicyclists, Please Stop With Your Bicycle On The Trigger Lines In The Road If You Wish The Light To Turn Green" just didn't fit on the sign! :D

DebW

07-10-2006, 01:53 PM

I want to check out this sign in Billerica...what road were you on?

The sign was on Treble Cove Rd. at Rt. 3. I guess they are in a few other places too.

Crankin

07-11-2006, 07:07 AM

These signs are all over Acton, Concord, etc. I also didn't get what it meant, until recently I read about it somewhere. One of the reasons I haven't done the full commute to work from my new house is that there is this one intersection with a light that is on one of those little inclines. The light changes are triggered by cars; there's no sign there about bikes stopping. I envisioned myself there forever at 6 in the morning. In fact, during the last week of school, I saw a cyclist look around and go through the red light because he had been waiting as i was approaching the intersection in my car.
Any other alternative would add a lot of miles to my trip...

DebW

11-02-2006, 10:52 AM

Just saw a new road sign in Bedford to replace the confusing "Bicycles stop on line for GREEN". This one said (if I remember correctly) "To request green, bicycles stop on [picture of mark on road]".

DeniseGoldberg

11-02-2006, 11:17 AM

Deb -
I've started seeing the new signs too. Unfortunately I haven't been on my bike for any of those sightings - so whether the loop exists in the pavement or not is still an unknown.

Were you able to test the one that you saw?

--- Denise

DebW

11-02-2006, 11:24 AM

SheFly

11-02-2006, 04:25 PM

I live in Bedford, and it does work...

SheFly

Crankin

11-02-2006, 04:48 PM

Now i am interested. Where in Bedford? Maybe I'll test it out this weekend.
(Boy, do U sound boring or what?)

DebW

11-02-2006, 05:33 PM

Now i am interested. Where in Bedford? Maybe I'll test it out this weekend.

Loomis Street at the end of the Minuteman Bike Path.

CycleChic06

11-02-2006, 06:43 PM

For all the hundreds of times I've ridden through that intersection, I've NEVER noticed either sign! Funny I don't notice that, but I do remember things like the road named Buttrick Road on the Concord/Carlisle loop.

pll

11-02-2006, 06:44 PM

You made me curious and I found some information about these signs in Massachusetts:

http://www.bikexprt.com/massfacil/nonstandard/ongreen.htm (including some pictures of signs)

and

http://www.massbike.org/skills/loop.htm

Interesting. Hope this becomes more widespread. I have not seen anything like this in Chicago and the north shore.

xeney

11-02-2006, 06:57 PM

Yeah, here we just have lights that can't be triggered by a bicycle at all. :mad:

tygab

11-02-2006, 07:19 PM

Funny, I have seen both these recently.

In my town, the one stoplight (new) has a square cutout in the center of the lane with a reflecty bike logo at the line, with a sign at the right that says (paraphrased) Bicycle stop at line for green. It's pretty obvious what its for. I am generally taking a right at this intersection, so haven't had to use it yet. Maybe if/when I try commuting next year. I think my husband probably has though, when he was commuting this summer.

We were driving around when we saw the other sign wording which was Bicycles stop on green and we both had the same reaction. What does that mean???

Now I know! Thanks!

Crankin

11-03-2006, 06:04 AM

Sorry for the typo! I meant I sound boring!
I live about 3 miles from Buttrick Rd. and I ride by it every time I do my "after work" loop. Yea, I think the same thing.

CycleChic06

11-03-2006, 12:53 PM

Sorry for the typo! I meant I sound boring!
I live about 3 miles from Buttrick Rd. and I ride by it every time I do my "after work" loop. Yea, I think the same thing.

Yeah, after I wrote that I suddenly got worried that someone here actually lived ON Buttrick Rd...so glad you live near it (and not on it) and also notice it, it always makes me laugh.