Editing Odense (section)

=== Cycling Initiatives in Odense ===
In 2016, the city of Odense, Denmark implemented a new form of technology to allow for more efficient bike travel. Often, when it is raining heavily, cyclists have had to sit in the rain for long periods of time at traffic lights, and this disincentives them to cycle to work that day. To fix this problem, Odense has placed [[rain sensor]]s in traffic lights along their super bike highways. These sensors interact with [[motion detector]]s which "allow the system to register when bikes are within 70 meters of the intersection."<ref>{{Cite web |website=www.cycling-embassy.dk |access-date=2023-09-14 |title=Rain makes the light go green for cyclists in the Danish city of Odense |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114075358/http://www.cycling-embassy.dk/2016/05/10/rain-means-green-light-cyclists-danish-city-odense/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2017 |url=http://www.cycling-embassy.dk/2016/05/10/rain-means-green-light-cyclists-danish-city-odense/}}</ref> They then automatically prolong the green light. The intersection includes a small sign that explains the system to the cyclists, and when a light goes on, they can see the system is functioning. This technology allows cyclists to experience up to 20 seconds longer of green light, and makes their overall journey more efficient, safer, and dryer.

The [[Cycling Embassy of Denmark]] is the organization spearheading this research and initiatives. While there is not much criticism due to the cycling culture that is already fairly prevalent in Odense, those who commute in cars would be naturally upset by the longer red lights. However, the embassy believes that there should not be too much pushback because of the [[Social equity|equity]] issue involved with being exposed to the rain versus being sheltered in a car.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stateofgreen.com/en/news/10-examples-of-green-mobility-in-cities/|title=10 Examples of Green Mobility in Cities}}</ref> It will also only be utilized up to 3 times a month.

This initiative does not only optimize the corridor flow and speed for cyclists, but reinforces the "[[green wave]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ramboll.com/ingenuity/how-its-and-technology-can-accelerate-making-cycling-about-people|title=How technology can accelerate making cycling about people|access-date=5 November 2019|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105153917/https://ramboll.com/ingenuity/how-its-and-technology-can-accelerate-making-cycling-about-people|url-status=dead}}</ref> The green wave is known as the ability to cycle through several intersections without having to stop. This is the overall thought the Cycling Embassy had in installing rain sensors, as they hope to implement the technology in other intersections of the city, creating an efficient city-wide system of sustainable transit. Eventually, riding a bike will be easier than riding a car.