Comments on: Is Big Brother watching me? Do I need a tinfoil hat?

Question: Is Big Brother watching me? Do I need a tinfoil hat?

trixare4kids — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 10:36:06 -0800

I've seen some cameras up on street lamps and the top of traffic signals in Oakland, California, specifically around Telegraph and Grand. How do I find out what these are for and who is watching?

By: scody

scody — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 10:57:40 -0800

Red light cameras?

By: crabintheocean

crabintheocean — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 11:27:59 -0800

Caltrans Traffic Cameras?

I don't know enough about Oakland to know if any of the cameras on there correspond to where you're seeing them.

By: vprzebinda

vprzebinda — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 12:08:42 -0800

Are these what you're referring to? It's a replacement for the ground based sensors used to detect when cars are present, so the light can turn green for you.

By: kcm

kcm — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 12:18:14 -0800

Which are f'in awesome since you don't need to have big old steel rims on your bike to trip even the "bike" sensor! They're usually set at the point where a car will just trip them, so bikes are hit and miss.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 12:29:50 -0800

Are these what you're referring to? It's a replacement for the ground based sensors used to detect when cars are present, so the light can turn green for you.

Oakland desperately needs more of these. It's the epicenter of The Eternally Red Light on a Deserted Street at 3am.

By: IndigoRain

IndigoRain — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 14:12:07 -0800

You can buy a special magnet for your bike that will trip those sensors.

By: thebarron

thebarron — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:10:23 -0800

IndigoRain, where do you get the bike magnet? Do they really work, or is it just more weight for the bike?

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 06:06:23 -0800

trixare4kids, they are most likely as vprzebinda said, vehicle detectors for the signals.

I've heard the bike magnets aren't all that useful. The best bet is to call the local traffic department and tell them to increase the sensitivity of the traffic detector loops. This can be adjusted at the control box. Other alternatives are pushing the walk signal button, parking the engine directly over the corner of the loop, or just looking both ways for clear traffic and going through the red light. Obviously if you are the only vehicle waiting at the signal, going through the red light shouldn't be much of a risk. I'd only recommend this as a last resort and only if the police are not around.

By: ryanrs

ryanrs — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:44:12 -0800

Permanent magnets will just make your bike heavier. Traffic sensor loops respond to conductive materials, not magnetic fields. An aluminum bicycle wheel is just about ideal, if a bit small. For a detailed explanation, see Detection of Bicycles by Quadrupole Loops
at Demand-Actuated Traffic Signals.

JJ86, a non-responsive traffic signal is defective and should be treated as a four-way stop.

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:54:00 -0800

Exactly ryanars, although it's safe to wait a few cycles to determine if that is really the case. Not waiting a full cycle to go through a red light will not convince a police officer who is dying to book you.