The Bike Loop Detector Challenge:
Great Prizes if You Can Find the Buried Treasure


In many places in the U.S.—not Miami-Dade County—bicyclists can find what are commonly called bicycle loop detectors. They're indicated by a symbol in the pavement at signalized intersections and, usually, a sign saying how to use them. When you place your bike over the symbol you activate the signal. This can be a huge help and safety mechanism when bicycling through busy, dangerous intersections. Here's an example from a town in Massachusetts:














Some knowledgeable people in Miami-Dade County say we have such bike-activated signals here. But guess what. They're nearly impossible to find.

Bike planners and traffic engineers have said in public meetings that, although we don’t have loop detector signs here in Miami-Dade, we do have loop detectors buried just a few inches under the asphalt. We’re more likely to have them on recently repaved roadways. They say that even though there’s no bike symbol in the roadway, the loop detector is indicated by striations or etchmarks in the pavement that look a little like this:









The line in the center is particularly important, 


But even these are hard to find. Impossible to find because they don't exist? That's our big question and the reason for our Bike Loop Detector Challenge and Buried Treasure Hunt.


How the Challenge Works


The first three people who find any kind of bike loop detector (that activates a signal at an intersection) anywhere in Miami-Dade County will receive one of the following prizes. 


1ST PRIZE to the first person who can prove the existence of a bike loop detector anywhere in Miami-Dade County: A free bike tuneup at Revolution Bicycle Services in Coconut Grove.

2ND PRIZE to the second person who can prove the existence of a bike loop detector anywhere in Miami-Dade County: A $35 gift certificate at Revolution Bicycle Services in Coconut Grove.


3RD PRIZE to the third person who can prove the existence of a bike loop detector anywhere in Miami-Dade County: A $25 gift certificate at Revolution Bicycle Services in Coconut Grove.


Time limit. The Bike Loop Detector Challenge will end at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3. That gives y’all three weekends to search for buried treasure, er, loop detectors. The first three people to find them will be the winners. Time is of the essence.

To enter the Loop Detector Challenge all you need to do is:

  • Bike around until you find a loop detector buried just under the surface of the roadway at a signalized intersection. Look for the vertical striation in the middle of the loop detector field etched into the pavement.

  • Take photographs of the intersection and, ideally, demonstrate through a video on your phone, that the loop detector actually works, i.e., you place your bike on it and, sooner than later, the signal changes because you did that.

  • Email the evidence, with your name and contact information, including phone number, to info@bikecoconutgrove.org.


Happy hunting for buried treasure!


But what if no one finds a bike loop detector anywhere in Miami-Dade County?


If no one finds a working bike loop detector anywhere in Miami-Dade County, that will be the next step in Bike Coconut Grove's campaign to make sure bike loop detectors are installed at crucial intersections where a lot of people bike. Example: Samana Dr. and South Miami Ave. just north of Mercy  Hospital. Ever sat there on Samana on your bike waiting for the light to change as the cars speed by on South Bayshore, only to have the light change as soon as a car comes up behind you? It's because there's no working bike loop detector, but there is a working loop detector for cars. It happens everywhere. Let's change that.