Traffic measuring devices on road

[summerdays]

Near where I live a number of those rubber tubes across the road have appeared....which presumably measure how many vehicles go by, due to changing air pressure.

What I've wondered and keep forgetting to ask is ... does a bike register... and if so can they tell its a bike rather than a car, or is it litterally just a number? Can they tell approx speed or is the fact that there is 2 tubes, something to do with working our which direction they are going?

And lastly if they can measure bikes ... is it in my interests to bump up the number of counts?

 

[HJ]

I have always wonder about that too, anyone know the answer?

 

[snorri]

Here is some information.
See the paragraph on page 2 entitled Pneumatic Tube Counters.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/ltp/monitoringlocaltrafficlevels

The two tube systems allow the surveyor to distinguish between 2 axle and multi axle vehicles.

As you do not know the reason for the survey, you do not know if it would be "good" or "bad" to bump up the count.

I bet you wish you had never asked.

 

[HJ]

Ah ha, so "even the best ATCs [Automatic Traffic Counters] have difficulty in identifying pedal cycles" therefore riding a bike over them repeatedly won't make a lot of difference...

 

[summerdays]

Thanks for the answers ... I've still got to cross them which ever route I leave the house, so they are obviously surveying the neighbourhood. It a pity they probably don't count cyclists as I normally meet at least 10 cyclists before I get beyond where they are.

 

[HLaB]

There are some loops that are placed on bike paths; I hope these are more accurate in detecting bikes.