I tried without uBlock Origin on my end and it did indeed work. I incorrectly assumed it was my vpn without properly verifying. Though CactusEcho said there were problems without the adblocker so it may be inconclusive.

Woaha. Why didn’t anyone think of this before you?

I wasn’t aware of Qwant. It seems to build its own index instead of relying on other providers (great), and has proper backing to be a viable competitor in something so big (the French government seems to endorse it; along with institutional use in EU parliament?).
I just tested it and unfortunately got a 403 however (FORBIDDEN). Though I was behind an endpoint of a very popular VPN for some testing, that sucks regardless.

Actually, before I could post this, I tried the search refresh and it worked somehow.
To test again I switched to another server of the same VPN provider (same selected country) and tried searching. Same error, which didn’t go away after doing the refresh. So they might have some sort of spam prevention measure which eases itself automatically, but I feel like it could definitely be implemented better if that’s the case.

Edit: Yep, if you sit on that 403 page for 5-6 minutes without doing anything and then hit the relaunch your search button, things work as intended afterwards.

I just tried Ecosia again after a long while (I last tried it around sometime in early 2020/21) and it seems a lot nicer and better than before. I’ll use it for a little bit then :$

I think so. I’m realizing the article is actually very confusing.

https://katu.com/news/local/speeding-in-portland-some-of-the-city-traffic-lights-are-designed-to-stop-you-speed-rest-red-light

Since 2024, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has used “Rest in Red” technology along Powell Boulevard between Southeast 21st and 33rd avenues. The system uses sensors to detect approaching vehicles. Drivers traveling at or below the speed limit receive a green light, while speeding drivers face a red light.

The system operates only at night.

https://www.portland.gov/transportation/vision-zero/rest-red#toc-rest-in-red-explained

Traffic signals with “rest in red” technology can display red lights in all directions during late night and early morning hours when traffic volume is light rather than cycling through green, yellow, and red the way they do normally during the day.

When a person driving a vehicle approaches a “rest in red” intersection, the traffic signal may stay red until it detects that the driver reached the intersection. Assuming no cross-traffic is approaching, the traffic signal will turn green to benefit people that are driving within the speed limit.

Other traffic signal technology examples

PBOT uses other types of traffic signal technology to encourage safe travel speeds. For example, if a person drives 13.5 mph downtown, they are more likely to catch green lights and travel in groups with other vehicle traffic.

Similarly, PBOT has deployed special signal timing along N Vancouver Avenue so people biking don’t repeatedly get stopped by red lights.

How the technology works

Detection

At most traffic signals, PBOT uses smart sensors to detect approaching cars to determine when to give a green light. PBOT currently uses “microwave detection” mounted on traffic signal mast arms. “Microwave detection” can locate approaching traffic from several hundred feet away.

Signal controllers

Signal controllers are the “brains” of the traffic signal that make “rest in red” work. During peak hours, signal controllers collect and communicate important information. During off-peak hours, signal controllers with the right detection can allow for different types of operation to minimize speeding.

Newer traffic signals are more likely to include smart detection technology and upgraded signal controllers. However, many traffic signals across the city are aging out and have limited or no detection as well as signal controllers which haven’t been upgraded.

PBOT plans to update traffic signals as needed and funding becomes available to match city policy.

Still confusing, but I think they’re implementing both, over time.
Supposedly Oregn State University is or will be conducting research on its effectiveness in reducing crashss, but I couldn’t find any info from them. Maybe that will clear things up.

I had thought this too, but in the article they mentioned speed sensors that track the speeds of vehicles in one (maybe two?) of these cities. So I think it’s a mix of both of those things, with them probably preferring the preferential approach.

Cool pic.
Not sure where it originated, but originally saw it here https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/47101580

Seems like I just got hit with it too today or yesterday, and it was being rolled out since about a month ago. Sad.

Here’s a hackernews post on it (3 days old):
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49326106