Traffic light solutions anyone?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,300
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From: Central Virginia
Traffic light solutions anyone?
This might sound a little on the stupid side, like...hey, you should know about this or something like that. But here's the deal.
I was sitting at a traffic light soon after I started riding again, and I sat...and sat...and sat. [:@] It finally dawned on me that the weight of both the bike and me together didn't trip whatever sensor employed to cycle the traffic light. So...I ran the red light.[
] Now I run red lights on a regular basis if a cage doesn't show up to trip the light.
Someone mentioned to me that there is a gizmo containing a magnet that you attach to your scoot beneath the frame that trips these lights, but Idunno about that!
What do the rest of you do?
I was sitting at a traffic light soon after I started riding again, and I sat...and sat...and sat. [:@] It finally dawned on me that the weight of both the bike and me together didn't trip whatever sensor employed to cycle the traffic light. So...I ran the red light.[
] Now I run red lights on a regular basis if a cage doesn't show up to trip the light. Someone mentioned to me that there is a gizmo containing a magnet that you attach to your scoot beneath the frame that trips these lights, but Idunno about that!
What do the rest of you do?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 4
From: Midland, TX
RE: Traffic light solutions anyone?
Most traffic lights like that have a magnetic sensor in the asphalt and you can usually see where it runs. I make sure I stop directly over one of the seams that run with the lane and the light usually changes with just my bike. If not, I wait until it is clear then go on red. Fortunately out here in Hooterville, the city has put motion detectors on most of the lights.
RE: Traffic light solutions anyone?
ok heres a link to one of the traffic light triggers, all it is, is a high powered magnet. in so fla alot of the traffic lights have optic sensors so i didnt need one...good luck
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=5170
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=5170
Banned
Joined: May 2005
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From:
RE: Traffic light solutions anyone?
I heard if you use a good size speaker magnet on the bottom of the bike, that works also, it might even pick up a nail or two and prevent a flat
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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From:
RE: Traffic light solutions anyone?
Where I live, I haven't had any problems with those type of traffic lights. Maybe I'm just lucky.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Traffic light solutions anyone?
Being the **** retentive type I am, I just gotta chime in here. 
They ain't magnetic! They are inductive loops. When metal, and it can be any metal, enters the inductive loop, it causes a change in inductance in the loop. If the change is great enough the detector operates and changes the light. Magnets create a field around them and that can change the loop inductance enough to trip the light. But they aren't foolproof, and don't work for every loop.
Always try to position your bike at the right angle of the cut in the pavement where the loop is. Stopping on the right angle seems to work a bit better. And don't do what I saw one dude trying: He parked the bike on the loop, got off, and jumped up and down, evidently thinking his lard butt would set off the detector. But if you have a light that causes you problems, do call the local highway folks and tell them about it.
They ain't magnetic! They are inductive loops. When metal, and it can be any metal, enters the inductive loop, it causes a change in inductance in the loop. If the change is great enough the detector operates and changes the light. Magnets create a field around them and that can change the loop inductance enough to trip the light. But they aren't foolproof, and don't work for every loop.
Always try to position your bike at the right angle of the cut in the pavement where the loop is. Stopping on the right angle seems to work a bit better. And don't do what I saw one dude trying: He parked the bike on the loop, got off, and jumped up and down, evidently thinking his lard butt would set off the detector. But if you have a light that causes you problems, do call the local highway folks and tell them about it.