Hi!

I'm a local college student working on an urban planning project for which it would be very useful to use a radar gun to conduct a speed study on traffic. If anyone has a radar gun and would be willing to lend it, I would be incredibly appreciative. I'd only need it for a few hours and would be willing to deposit something like my student ID or some cash with you (as collateral). Thanks!

Comments

realvladdiputtn t1_izm59cl wrote on December 10, 2022 at 2:55 AM

#897,522

I’d recommend calling city hall or the non emergency police number. They may be willing to help

greyfiel t1_izm9sxk wrote on December 10, 2022 at 3:34 AM

#897,730

I don’t, but you could try calling the Waltham or Watertown libraries — both have a very dedicated “Library of Things” selection, and you can get a library card for the Minuteman Library Network (Cambridge, both libraries listed above, and several more) for free, even as a college student.

[deleted] t1_izmiom9 wrote on December 10, 2022 at 4:58 AM

#898,129

[deleted]

alwaysUseATryCatch OP t1_izmiqwd wrote on December 10, 2022 at 4:58 AM

#898,134

Replying to greyfiel (#897,730)

Thanks so much! I looked at the online catalog and looks like none of the Minuteman libraries have one, but I might call just to see :)

alwaysUseATryCatch OP t1_izmirdr wrote on December 10, 2022 at 4:59 AM

#898,135

Replying to realvladdiputtn (#897,522)

Will do Monday, thanks!

randomdragoon t1_izmmfl1 wrote on December 10, 2022 at 5:37 AM

#898,279

If you can't find a radar gun, you could probably also deduce the speed of things if you take continuous video of them.

alwaysUseATryCatch OP t1_izmp1s8 wrote on December 10, 2022 at 6:07 AM

#898,367

Replying to randomdragoon (#898,279)

Yeah plan B is measuring tape and a stopwatch :D

These-Assignment-936 t1_izmuaq3 wrote on December 10, 2022 at 7:13 AM

#898,546

Radar guns can be tricky to use and often need to be calibrated to be accurate. I’d suggest that your “Plan B” of tape measure and timer be implemented anyway as part of your experimental design, to help you assess and correct for any systematic bias in radar gun readings.

greyfiel t1_izn6yct wrote on December 10, 2022 at 10:12 AM

#898,910

Replying to alwaysUseATryCatch (#898,134)

Some libraries don’t post local tech online — for example, you can’t book the Cambridge laptops or hotspots through the website.

DJFurioso t1_iznbobg wrote on December 10, 2022 at 11:21 AM

#899,024

Does your school have a baseball team? Pitching coach might have one to lend during off season.

WaitForItTheMongols t1_izo76rk wrote on December 10, 2022 at 4:15 PM

#900,758

Radar guns are hard to use - it's hard to know if you're measuring what you think you're measuring.

You'd be much better off making marks on the road (piece of masking tape or something) spaced out by a known distance (30 feet or something), and then take video and count how long it takes for a car's front tire to go from one mark to the next.

fragglet t1_izp92uk wrote on December 10, 2022 at 8:36 PM

#902,434

Maybe also let the local police know before you start pointing a pistol shaped thing at people in public. Wouldn't want a misunderstanding

Maybe put on a hi-vis jacket

grainzzz t1_j02f5gh wrote on December 13, 2022 at 4:29 PM

#920,578

FYI Cambridge has lots of speed studies performed by the city. You can find it here: https://www.cambridgema.gov/GIS/gisdatadictionary/Traffic/TRAFFIC_SpeedStudies