Traffic Light Tactics

[breaze]

Each day I am finding that my knowledge and experience of all things 2 wheel is lacking. There is a fairly major intersection nearby that I go thru on almost every ride. Whenever I get to the intersection, unless there is a car in front of or behind me, the traffic light will not cycle to green. Obviously there is some recognition device being used. For the most part, this is not a problem. However, late at night I will sometimes sit for several cycles before giving up. Then I have to turn right and go find a place to turn around legally...

Is this a common problem for everyone? Any way around it?

[noiseguy]

That issue is enough of a problem that in some states you're legally allowed to run the light on a motorcycle as long as you yield to other traffic.

[Mystic]

66Six posted a while back with some kind of magnet you attach under the scoot that is supposed to change traffic lights

found this lol
http://www.instructables.com/id/Traffic ... your-Bike/
http://motorcycleviews.com/howtos/tripatraflight.htm

here is an ebay link where you can buy a "Traffic Light Changer"
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... r&_sacat=0

[eliteguy50]

That issue is enough of a problem that in some states you're legally allowed to run the light on a motorcycle as long as you yield to other traffic.

Typically after a set time of waiting.

[tru72]

when we go on cruises or im riding alone, if there is no one around ill go to the walk button , press it then . I either jump off and run or sometimes just do a circle to the side walk and press it. if im lazy Red light action!
aloha
D

[Chicago Ben]

i like how the one site provides the tip of getting off your motorcycle/moped , walking to the button for the crosswalk and going back to your bike

ha - just seems ridiculous

[noiseguy]

Here's a much better article. I'd never understood the principal of how these inductive loops detect objects, and now understand why bikes and MCs aren't detected. Based on this article, I think I have a fix for this issue, at least for scooters:

http://www.marshproducts.com/pdf/Induct ... e%20up.pdf

I've got an experiment for you. Get a sheet of Al or steel (even aluminum foil might work) and tape/screw it on to the bottom of your footboard, that is, under the frame. Should be 1' x 1' or larger. Make it as big as you can without going over the edge of the sideboards. If done right you shouldn't even be able to see it. See if this will trip the inductive pickup for the light.

Post results back... I'm very interested in this.

BTW, a Georgia legislator (fellow rider) is trying to get aforementioned law enacted in GA:

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politic ... 56408.html

[mousewheels]

Good link - thanks

Al foil, sticky, al tape etc should do fine. As the link mentioned it is the area 'in the plane of the loop'.
Also, this is why bicyclists (at least those with metal frames/spokes) can lay their cycle over to the side to trigger lights.

ProximitySensor.jpg (29.37 KiB) Viewed 5047 times

[mmeadows]

just to add my two cents.
the sensors in the road that don't detect bikes operate off your electromagnetic signature. so if your bike is too light / doesn't have enough metal it wont detect it and if alot of cars pile up at a light, the light then receives the priority.

two ways to increase your signature is (1) to put a high powered magnates under your bike, some people have had luck with revving there engines above the pad ( moving metal has a greater electromagnetic field than stationary metal [ the earths metal core spinning creates our earths electromagnetic field])



so how do police and ambulances do it and how should you?

(2) they have an "add on" that flashes a strobe of infrared light ( invisible to the human eye) that signals the change. this is why sometimes you can get lucky and flash your brights at traffic lights with success, however newer detectors only run on the infrared ban.

you can buy one or just make one. this is a form of handy people after all.

[eliteguy50]

Check the laws before installing that light. They are illegal here.

[noiseguy]

Meadows: you need to actually read these articles; you are propagating more myths and folklore.

Again: interested in a trial of this, as I don't live in an area with this type of light.

[breaze]

Wow, lots of good info - thx. Aluminum foil going on today and I'll be out riding late tonight. I'll post back as soon as possible.

[mmeadows]

Meadows: you need to actually read these articles; you are propagating more myths and folklore.

Again: interested in a trial of this, as I don't live in an area with this type of light.

I admit I have not read those above articles, I'm just speaking from experience, the engine rev I have not had success with but the science is sound.

[mmeadows]

AlsoFor experimenting there are already a few vid of bikes using magnets with success but I guess you could say the video is fake, sometimes you need to find out first hand

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Great! I'm having this issue at one intersection here in Deepinnaharta. One night I had to set up a pup tent. For the scooter. Now I know I just have to unroll a few feet of the foil turban I always wear under my helmet and place it in the ground. (The foil is to reflect the Alien Thoughts constantly bombarding us here on Earth... raising the age-old question: Shiny side out or in?)