Anyone have problems around where you live with stoplights that are not activated by a motorcycle?Gets old having to go around them or you can just sit their and watch the world go by.I have talked to road depart but they don't care about something like that.Sometimes I go around and sometimes if no one is around I will just run the light.They work fine if I am in my truck. I know their is a product to install on bike to help light be activated by a motorcycle but heard they don't do that good of a job.

 

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.

 

Pull up directly over the wire that is the sensor (you can usually see where it is). The "special devices" are magnets and they usually work these days. If you have a particular light that doesn't work report it in writing to the whoever in charge of that light (state, county or city).

 

I run one by my house almost every work day jump of a push the cross walk button if you have to have it change.

 

I don't know if they have the 45 second rule here in TN, but I do have my own. I go to a joint for a sammich about every day at lunch. There's almost always cars in the left turn lane, but the straight lane just goes across to the center where the sammich shop is, so I get "stuck" at that thing a good bit. I run it when the opposing left turners are clear...no probs so far.

 

I just run them, happens almost daily

 

Sometimes it helps to rock the bike side to side while waiting at the light.

 

That works if you can see the lines for the loop wires. Newer intersections or ones that have been re-paved have the loop put in and paved over.

I have a few intersections near me that even pulling up on the line doesn't work, it's nice to have a 45 second rule.

 

If it is the "Wire" or "Magnetic" or What ever it is call style light, put down your kickstand on the sensor in the road. Works every time for me.

 

I still can't imagine how a mass of metal that's at least 600 lbs. won't trigger it. Why not design it to work with anything heavier than a bicycle? Stupid engineers.