By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, December 1, 2021
One Ottawa city councillor has tried but failed to get rid of a traffic-flow technology that he says endangers cyclists at intersections.
Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper asked his colleagues on the city's transportation committee Wednesday to do away with so-called revert red lights. All of Ottawa's 1,200 intersections are equipped with sensors that allow a vehicle or bicycle to trigger a signal change. The function isn't used at the 200 intersections where the timing of the signals is fixed.
If a vehicle or bicycle moves past the sensors in the asphalt too soon, the busier cross-traffic that had a red light for a few seconds can get a green light again. Leiper said that leads to close calls for cyclists.