Systems and methods for monitoring use of rail on a footpath

A method of using a mobile barrier for a safety rail positioned adjacent a footpath, the method comprising:

• detecting, via a footpath presence sensor, a movement speed of a human on the footpath;
• generating, via the footpath presence sensor, a footpath presence signal indicating the movement speed of the human on the footpath;
• detecting, via a safety rail sensor, a contact presence or contact absence of a contact between the human and the safety rail;
• generating, via the safety rail sensor, a safety rail contact signal in response to the detected contact presence or contact absence;
• causing a mobile barrier extendable to cross a travel route to move along the safety rail at substantially the movement speed of the human in advance of the human upon receipt of the footpath presence and safety rail contact signals that indicate that the human is moving on the footpath while making contact with the safety rail;
• and
• causing the mobile barrier to lock in position upon receipt of the footpath presence and safety rail contact signals that indicate that the human is moving on the footpath without making contact with the safety rail.

A method of using a mobile barrier for a safety rail positioned adjacent a footpath, the method comprising:

• detecting, via a footpath presence sensor, a movement speed of a human on the footpath;
• generating, via the footpath presence sensor, a footpath presence signal indicating the movement speed of the human on the footpath;
• detecting, via a safety rail sensor, a contact presence or contact absence of a contact between the human and the safety rail;
• generating, via the safety rail sensor, a safety rail contact signal in response to the detected contact presence or contact absence;
• causing a self-propelled mobile platform including a mobile barrier extendable to cross a travel route to move along the safety rail at substantially the movement speed of the human in advance of the human upon receipt of the footpath presence and safety rail contact signals that indicate that the human is moving on the footpath while making contact with the safety rail;
• and
• causing the self-propelled mobile platform to lock in position upon receipt of the footpath presence and safety rail contact signals that indicate that the human is moving on the footpath without making contact with the safety rail.