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46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 17, 2004 The hoses are keeping track of you I see hoses laid across the street in different places around Medford, and have always thought it means cars are being counted, but I’ve never understood how they work. Who puts them there and why? — Kay L., Medford Those funny hoses are indeed traffic counters, Kay, and the Medford Public Works Department put them out at 500 locations around the city last year. Ralph Browning, city traffic engineering technician, said for the single hoses every two "clicks" is considered one vehicle. Advertisement A click is when a pulse of air is created in the hose when a vehicle drives over it. Most of the traffic counters these days use two tubes set 8 feet apart. The clever little hoses know that one long truck with many tires is still one vehicle because they monitor the elapsed time between the front tires hitting and the back tires hitting. The city relies on the counters for all kinds of lists and charts and information for street projects. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times