Decision to eliminate ‘red-revert’ technology at Ottawa intersections deferred by city council
Posted Jan 26, 2022 05:26:00 PM.
A motion to discuss eliminating technology that cycling advocates say makes their commute more dangerous has been deferred.
The renewed push, at city council's first meeting of 2022, Wednesday, January 26, comes six weeks after a defeated motion at Ottawa's Transportation Committee.
Under the procedures in place for Ottawa city council, an item which has failed at a standing committee must be considered by council before a discussion and vote can take place.
Jeff Leiper explained to CityNews on Tuesday, January 25, that he wants to see the City of Ottawa remove the red-revert functionality at intersections.
“If a cyclist is detected at an intersection, they [should be] guaranteed to get a green light,” explained the representative for Kitchisippi Ward.
Leiper notes that ditching the red-revert technology would help eliminate the risk for cyclists who trip the sensor for a traffic light change, move up into the intersection, since they are expecting a green light, only to find out it's actually green for crossing traffic since the sensor has done another check and the cyclist was no longer there.
If approved at a later date, the adjustment would apply to signalized intersections that also have a bike lane.
The city councillor says there are over 1,000 of these types of intersections.
