Canadian Urbanism Uncovered
Read more articles by Matthew Blackett
A very cool idea called Light Lane has been making a splash on the Interweb over the last few days. The basic concept is a laser gadget attached to a bike seat projects a temporary bike lane around a rider so drivers at night can more easily determine the distance between them and a cyclist.
This is only an idea and no prototype exists, but something we would’ve drooled over in our thinkTORONTO competition.
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14 comments
Fantastic idea – until Nike or Coke get ahold of it…. 😉
I like. Geeks rule!
Interesting idea and I am intrigued to see what the reaction of drivers would be but basically instead of a bike lane you are creating a mobile bike space zone.
That’s sounds cool. If properly done (reducing the intensity of the laser so that there is no risk in blinding a driver on changing elevations) could pass with the authorities.
Speaking of thinkTORONTO, are some of the entries ever going to make it to spacing.ca? I understand the winners were in the magazine and at city hall, but those are both difficult things to access out here in the hinterland. I don’t want you to compromise a selling-point for the magazine, but maybe once you’ve moved on to the next issue you might share with the wider world?
ahh how ex ravers spend their time
i guess its better than lasers on gunsights
i’d like to see some transportation testing, for example what was done by the BTSA for Flashflags
cheers for trying guys! now make it cheap and not eat 210303000 batteries
Real bike lanes should have a curb between pedestrian and vehicular traffic full stop…
What happens when a cyclist is turning or isn’t on the shoulder… a light like that would be totally distracting no?
Any more distracting than, say, a automobile’s LED headlamps? Pimped rides with florescent tube rims? Flashing billboard signs? Transport rigs blaring their horns at you after they’ve made the pass? A dude running across the sidewalk, ready to make a dismantling swing at you with his guitar case at two in the morning?
I can’t see how this device would provide any more of a distraction (provided it remains pointed down) than anything else on the road. In fact, I should think it would be a lot less. For drivers and cyclists alike, the recognition of its use would be immediately apparent. I would definitely get one!
RE: carolyn
“Any more distracting than, say, a automobile’s LED headlamps?”
I’m pretty sure you would find that most motorists HATE those lights and find them quite distracting… I know I wouldn’t miss them if they became illegal.
“Pimped rides with florescent tube rims?”
Ok I’ve maybe seen 5 of those in the last 15 years… but sure they could go too.
“Flashing billboard signs?”
Precisely why I rarely drive by Yonge & Dundas.
“I can’t see how this device would provide any more of a distraction (provided it remains pointed down) than anything else on the road. In fact, I should think it would be a lot less. For drivers and cyclists alike, the recognition of its use would be immediately apparent.”
There are enough distractions for drivers on the street now… we need proper safe bike lanes… not more distractions.
That’s exactly what this project refers to. Clearly the idea wouldn’t exist (even in theoretical form) if that were the case.
This illustration is flying around Facebook and WordPress sites for an important reason – we need them and they’re simply not given enough budget priority in urbanized municipalities (including Toronto).
Rims aside (take a jaunt down College if you want to see them in action) I’ll still insist that this idea wouldn’t distract motorists. I’m a frequent flyer on both sides of the coin and would actually encourage cyclists to use more rears lights for night riding.
I also can’t believe I left out distraction #1 – cell phones. The above concept is peanuts compared to accidents/near misses their users cause.
On the streetblog post about these lights I’ve raised environmental issues that warrant some consideration (in my opinion) –
http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/01/16/byo-bike-lane/#comment-61883
Cyclists look dorky enough already, why marginalize us further?
It’s a cute way to temporarily increase safety and raise awareness, but it’s not an alternative to real infrastructure.
Imagine if the province announced that they wanted to save money by eliminating all stripes on the road, and relying on ‘Laser Lanes’ affixed on cars instead. I don’t think that would go over very well.
Bikes need their own space, marked with real paint (as a minimum). Any creative idea that implies otherwise, makes me a little nervous.
but it is a cute idea. I would buy one. ; )
Looks great! But im not so sure if Laster Technology is the way to go? I would say LED, but the problem is the installation, its not easy and will cost a lot, any thoughts?