Road etiquette

[Jolt]

Another problem at traffic-actuated lights in MA is described on this page: http://www.bikexprt.com/massfacil/no...rd/ongreen.htm. Have you ever seen the sign that says "bicycle stop on line for green"? First of all, it is poorly worded (sounds like it's asking us to stop on the line when the light is green--why would we do that?), and second, the "line" referred to often doesn't even exist on the roadway!! The idea was to have a pavement marking painted over a part of the loop that would allow a bicycle to trigger the light, but where I have seen these signs there was no such marking, and according to the page referenced above, this problem is widespread (the page gives examples mostly from the Boston area; I have seen it in Millbury and Grafton). An example of a good idea but lousy execution.

[Crankin]

That is exactly the type of intersection I meant, when I said it was NOT one of these. There are quite a few around Acton and Concord (the intersection is in Acton) and the "line" I believe they are referring to is the white line going parallel to the cross street just when you get to the front of the intersection. However, I have seen special markers for the bike sensor in some places (mostly in other states). Yes, it took a lengthy discussion on TE for a few of us to figure out what "bikes stop here on green" meant. But it's no different than "reverse curve" or other language things that are peculiar to MA.
I guess I could could call the Acton highway dept., but since this light crosses Rt. 2, it's probably controlled by the state highway dept. That might take a million years.