Spring Surprise! Speed Cameras now on the Dragon

[Jims5543]

A little FYI I thought I would pass on. I run up on the TOTD with a small group a few times a year. Anyway we all watch Killboy for our latest dragon info and spotted this gem.

Friday, April 01, 2011
A couple more things...

This Saturday morning the trash pickup by Deals Gap Resort and East TN Riders will take place between about 8am and noon. If you'd like to help, more is always better, and I believe there is a breakfast thrown in there if you show up around 7am at the resort. If you're riding/driving through that day, take it easy and give these folks some space if you see them roadside.

TDOT also came through and cleared all the leaves and rocks from the paved pull-offs last week. I think it is the first time they've really been cleared since paving all of them nearly two years ago, so thanks for doing that TDOT!

And finally, you may notice some big purple devices mounted up in the trees about every couple of miles as you head toward and through the Dragon. They are temporary speed cameras that are being used in a study to determine the best locations for permanent units. Stay tuned as we will pass along any further information we receive...

http://killboy.blogspot.com/

[88turboii]

april fools?

[Jims5543]

You know, that thought did not even occur to me. You may be correct.

Possible false alarm?

I hope it is a bad April Fools joke.

[Jims5543]

Seems it is, my apologies. I read this on another forum this morning and started to rage.

Most likely something similar to this.

http://www.wsaz.com/mobi?storyid=24408819

That was not a funny joke from Killboy. Well, o.k. he got me and I do not find it amusing. I was seriously in a rage.

[Pete_89T2]

LOL, I might have fallen for this April Fools joke and found myself in a rage too, except that my engineer's brain kicked in to debunk what I was reading before I got bent out of shape....

Photo radar needs power to operate. No AC power lines nearby on the dragon, meaning they would need to run the thing on batteries or solar, or some combination of the two. Batteries alone won't work -- too expensive (labor & materials) to operate -- would need to ticket A LOT of folks to make this cost effective. Stand-alone solar is unsat because you're mounted up in the trees - need to be out of the shade, plus you would still need a rechargable storage battery to handle cloudy days/nights. Also, after clicking the link to the picture, it's obvious there are no solar panels to be seen - or camera lenses & radar antennas for that matter. And the mounting angle is all wrong - looking down doesn't get you a good shot of the license plate or driver/rider. Nice try Killboy!

[rxtasy3]

i seriously doubt any state will put cameras in trees. they'll spend the money to put up poles to mount them on.

[Monkman33]

Agreed, too many bleeding heart tree huggers would get pissed off about damaging a tree.

[darthrotary]

Why do I see this happening...

[Sephitrask]

Originally Posted by darthrotary

why do i see this happening...

bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

[Kontakt]

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

LOL, I might have fallen for this April Fools joke and found myself in a rage too, except that my engineer's brain kicked in to debunk what I was reading before I got bent out of shape....

Photo radar needs power to operate. No AC power lines nearby on the dragon, meaning they would need to run the thing on batteries or solar, or some combination of the two. Batteries alone won't work -- too expensive (labor & materials) to operate -- would need to ticket A LOT of folks to make this cost effective. Stand-alone solar is unsat because you're mounted up in the trees - need to be out of the shade, plus you would still need a rechargable storage battery to handle cloudy days/nights. Also, after clicking the link to the picture, it's obvious there are no solar panels to be seen - or camera lenses & radar antennas for that matter. And the mounting angle is all wrong - looking down doesn't get you a good shot of the license plate or driver/rider. Nice try Killboy!

The engineer in you saved you. The nature nut in me saved me.

Big purple things in trees? Those are for bats.


Edit: Looked at the pix, and different thing than what I was thinking, but same deal...

[orion84gsl]

Temptations a bitch!^

[vex]

Here's a better one:




When you see it...


You'll laugh hysterically.

[Buggy]

Originally Posted by vex

Here's a better one:




When you see it...


You'll laugh hysterically.

That's awesome! He should have signed it E.L.B. though instead of Doc E.....

[vincentrx7]

I think the purple triangular boxes are traps for the Emerald Ash Tree Bore (sp). They have them all over WVa and Ohio. It is a bug that kills Ash Trees. They are wanting to see if they have reached the area. That is my guess.