traffic lights
 

hi all
well started riding the bike to work every day. i leave at 6 am to drive 3 miles on local streets. the problem is the dam traffic lights. it seems like the bike isn't big enough to trip the sensors. have to make a lot of right turns and u turns and running the lights. is there a trick to tripping the sensors ? i have to ride by the police station and all the 2 wheel meter maids just lerk to give out tickets to the policemans ball.

safe biking

grego

Re: traffic lights
 

no there isnt a trick to getting them to go green, if there isnt anyone behind you at the lights your screwed. i tend to wait a minute then run the light. supposedly its ok for you to do this so long as you wait a few minutes, law says 3, i just take off it the situation permits. but if you got them camaras at the lights i would just disregard what i say.

Re: traffic lights
 

Hi Grego,

I sat in the heat baking one day waiting and waiting for the light to change, and I was in an area notorious for citing drivers. I mentioned it to my BF who went on line and found a sensor that can be placed under my bike so that the light will sense my presence. If you Google "motorcycle traffic light sensor", then you will find several products as well as some how to's from Wiki How and Yahoo answers. Once the product arrives, I will update you on how it works. Hope this helps.

Rionna

Re: traffic lights
 

One of these two suggestions (or both) will work

1. Put down the side stand. More metal on the ground. Also try and stop directly over the wire in the pavement.

2. Turn off and restart the engine. The theory is that the starter motor creates a magnetic field and activates the magnetic sensor.

Both have worked for me.

Re: traffic lights
 

No problems over here. They haven't quite caught up to the technology yet, so all the lights are on timers. Problem is, they give a green to roads where there is no traffic. The lights just follow the sequence blindly. :cry:

Re: traffic lights
 

If it's a sensor one, I usually ride up on the left side of the lane, and weave into the box at an angle. Could ride at the right if you are in a left hand turn lane. It seems to work each time.

Well if they are doing that, chances are they really haven't caught up with technology... and there are no traffic cams. Take that and do with it what you will :)

Re: traffic lights
 

Yes there is trick, if you can see the rectangular sensor in the pavement, you have to position your bike on top of one of the corners because that's where they are most sensitive to metal above. Always works for me.

Re: traffic lights
 

Works for me too. And doesn't cost anything.

Re: traffic lights
 

What can be done with the kind of sensors mounted on the top of the light pole? :??:

http://www.wired.com/news/images/full/ir-sensor_f.jpg

This is what I have trouble with because it's not magnetic, it's just the bike isn't wide and large enough to be sensed. One time I "think" i got lucky and was able to trip one of these by weaving back and forth quickly. It was night time so I wonder if the headlight moving rapidly helped at all too.

Re: traffic lights
 

Check your local laws, but there are several places where it's actually legal to leave if the red light sensor doesn't pick you up after a "reasonable" amount of time and there is no one around.