Oregon House: Bikers who can't get a green light may turn on red - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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2015-10-19

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Emergency services, Oct. 16       ...       Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter       ...       SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter       ...       Emergency services, Oct. 16       ...       Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter       ...       SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter       ...           OREGON LEGISLATURE Oregon House: Bikers who can't get a green light may turn on red They sometimes have to wait, and sensors don't activate signals Comment By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted May. 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM Updated May 13, 2015 at 5:25 PM By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted May. 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM Updated May 13, 2015 at 5:25 PM »  Social News SALEM — Citing the annoyance of having to endlessly wait for a green light while on a bike or motorcycle, Oregon House lawmakers unanimously passed legislation Wednesday allowing them to turn at a red light if sensors under the pavement don't flip the signal to "go." "On my way home I sat at a light for, OK I'm exaggerating, 17 hours. I sat for a long time, being a law-abiding citizen, waiting for the light to change and it would not change, I hated it, it drives me crazy," said Rep. Bill Post, a Keizer Republican. Many intersections are embedded with inductive loops, and those use electromagnetic fields to detect when cars are present. But the loops need to be set specifically for bicycles and motorcycles in order to sense them, and most jurisdictions in the U.S. don't bother with that, said Krista Nordback, a research associate at Portland State University. So cyclists or motorcycle riders can sometimes find themselves waiting for several minutes at a light while other lanes get the green to go ahead. Under this bill, they would be able to proceed cautiously through an intersection if they've waited through a full cycle of lights without getting a green. "If you go through one full cycle and the light does not change, you may proceed cautiously through the intersection or make your left turn, or make your right turn, without having to sit there indefinitely for the rest of your evening," said Republican Rep. John Davis, who carried the bill in the House. He said research from Idaho shows there hasn't been an increase in motorcycle or bicyclist deaths since a similar law was put in place. Similar measures, sometimes known as the "dead red" or "safe red" laws, have been passed in 16 other states, including Washington state in 2014. House lawmakers approved the measure 55-0 on Wednesday. It now heads to the governor for her signature. By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted May. 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM Updated May 13, 2015 at 5:25 PM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501