If you’ve driven over black rubber cables stretched across the road and wondered why they’re there, you’re not alone. These are actually pneumatic tubes used to count vehicles.
When a vehicle rolls over the tube, it pushes air through the tube to a sensor, which registers the passing vehicle. Two tubes spaced apart can tell how fast the vehicle is moving, the direction it’s going, and sometimes the vehicle’s type.
City planners use this information to understand traffic patterns, improve road design, adjust stoplights, and manage public transportation. They can also use it to schedule snow removal more effectively.
Though they look like simple rubber cables, these tubes provide crucial data that helps make your daily commute safer and easier. So instead of ignoring them, appreciate the important job they do behind the scenes.
