Stop lights that won't honor bikes
#12
07-01-2010 | 02:58 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 15
From: Wisconsin
#13
07-01-2010 | 07:30 PM
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena, CA
Around here there are usually 2 loop detectors in each lane, one halfway into the crosswalk and one about 5 feet before the line. On most lights, waiting on the first one way behind the line triggers it and if you pull up too far like into the crosswalk it won't work. But then some only trigger on the 2nd one, so if the 1st doesn't do anything after a minute pull up to the 2nd one and wait there. If you don't see any loops in the road try stopping in the middle of the lane about 5 feet before getting to the limit line, that also usually works. Those things are expecting vehicles to be 12+ feet long so pulling up too far confuses them.
#17
07-01-2010 | 08:27 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,641
Likes: 1,545
From: Danbury CT
Do a search, there's been some good advice on where to approach the light, etc. The devices are iffy at best. Here in Wisconsin they have a 45 second rule:
When facing a red light, you may proceed CAUTIOUSLY through the intersection when the light is still red if ALL of the following conditions are present:
You reasonably believe the signal .is vehicle activated (if the signal is timed, you may not proceed through a red light no matter how long it takes to change to green);
No other vehicles are present .to activate the signal;
You have stopped at the signal .for at least 45 seconds; and,
You yield right-of-way to .vehicles proceeding through on a green signal and to pedestrians and bicycles in the crosswalk or intersection.
When facing a red light, you may proceed CAUTIOUSLY through the intersection when the light is still red if ALL of the following conditions are present:
You reasonably believe the signal .is vehicle activated (if the signal is timed, you may not proceed through a red light no matter how long it takes to change to green);
No other vehicles are present .to activate the signal;
You have stopped at the signal .for at least 45 seconds; and,
You yield right-of-way to .vehicles proceeding through on a green signal and to pedestrians and bicycles in the crosswalk or intersection.
Don't you know the new rules here. Never tell any OP to search for himself using the search feature
#20
07-01-2010 | 08:31 PM
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: League City, Texas
The square "pad" looking area at the light (if it hasn't been paved over) is a loop of 2 conductor wire made of different material and is called a magnetic potentiometer. When a large metallic object gets near it, a milliamp bit of conductance is created in the wire that signals a relay in the big metal box near the intersection that someone is in that lane and the light comes around to that lane. In my experience the magnet thing on a bike doesn't work well. In Texas if the light skips you 2 times you can allegedly run the light if no traffic is present, but good luck if a LEO sees you. There's is also a number to the Texas DOT that can be called and they will schedule a tech to meet you at the light and calibrate it while you sit at it on your bike. I dont know what other States do. I have had success by pulling directly over the wire on the side of the loop with it running longways under the bike.