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Red light cameras could be trouble for bicyclists
The Gazette Opinion Staff
Jan. 19, 2010 11:47 pm
There might be a big problem for bicycle riders in Cedar Rapids with the red light/radar cameras now being installed. As a bicycle wheel rotates on a bike that is moving forward at 20 mph:
A. The part of the wheel touching the ground is moving forward at 0 mph.
B. The center of the wheel and the bike itself with rider is moving forward at 20 mph.
C. But, the spokes at the top of the wheel are moving forward at 40 mph.
This is just simple mathematics for a rotating wheel.
If the red light/radar detects the spokes at the top of the wheel instead of the bike itself, I will get a ticket for traveling 40 mph while I'm only traveling 20 mph.
I see a potential problem for bicycle riders in Cedar Rapids.
Bob Peterson
Cedar Rapids
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