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No love at red lights?

Centauri

Centauri

Dionysian Madness
Joined
Oct 8, 2010
Location
SF Peninsula
Moto(s)
Z900
Name
Ben DayHo
Riding home from work early in the morning, I sometimes get stuck at red lights. There's not too many cars on the road at this time of day. The other lights at the intersection seem to cycle through just fine, but my turn gets skipped until other vehicles join me or I run the red because I'm annoyed.

What gives? Is there some kind of weight sensor at controlled intersections? I tried using my high beams to activate the light, but that doesn't work either.
Anyone else deal with this nonsense? If so, what do you do?
 
You kind of learn which lights to avoid if there are no cars around. I've ran some but I rather not press my luck.
 
It's usually metal sensors in the ground. Some bikes don't gots enough metal to set them off. There is some gimmicky magnet thing you can buy that is supposed to make it work...but it doesn't.

I've learned which intersections will ignore me and can usually find a sensor in a different lane that works, otherwise I just wait a cycle then run it.
 
According to a local LEO, it is not illegal to treat a stop light as a stop sign in those cases and proceed when clear. It does not mean that the LEO watching you won't pull you over and ask why you did so, but it might mean you wont' get a ticket for doing it. As he put it, "It gives me an excuse to see if you're drunk."

Someone here on BARF said that they were actually made to sense electrical signal, so on the moto I will rev up and hold to 2-3k which usually activates whatever sensor and gets me a green.
 
metal bicycle wheels are enough metal to trigger a properly calibrated inductive loop. theres def enough metal in a moto. of course, if the calibration is wrong, u r SOL.
 
i_am_the_koi said:
According to a local LEO, it is not illegal to treat a stop light as a stop sign in those cases and proceed when clear. It does not mean that the LEO watching you won't pull you over and ask why you did so, but it might mean you wont' get a ticket for doing it. As he put it, "It gives me an excuse to see if you're drunk."

Someone here on BARF said that they were actually made to sense electrical signal, so on the moto I will rev up and hold to 2-3k which usually activates whatever sensor and gets me a green.
Click to expand...

Hello Barf LEO! Can you confirm/site this?

Thanks! :ride
 
California uses an inductive loop system. It is designed to sense the metal of a car over it. A bike does not have very much mass compared to a car and can have trouble sensing a bike. Your best bet is to roll your front tire right on top of the loop wire, assuming you can see the mark on the pavement. If you can't see where the loop is, try rolling back a few feet and roll back up a few inches to one side or the other from where you were. That usually works for me if I can't see where the loop wire is.

Sometimes you just gotta run it when it's clear and hope a cop don't see you. Not all of them will let you slide for running a red light no matter why you did it. At least in Sacramento.
 
In the old days of dual sport riding I'd knock the kick stand down and park it right on the little sensor lines. This almost always worked. That would turn my current bike off so I haven't done it recently.

Daniel
 
If you see the tar marks that look like a "0" stop on either the left or right side on the line. If it's a "00" then stop in the middle between the loops. If it's a octagon or circle with stripes then it's for picking up motorcycles so just stop anywhere on it.
 
I've had the same problem for years while living in Oakland, Castro Valley and now Pleasanton with various bikes so it doesn't seem matter where you are or what size bike you ride.
My bike can't idle more than 5 minutes per the owners manual and runs a bit hot so while I sit there waiting I'm watching my temp gauge climb.
Usually I'll go down the block to where I can spin a U turn.
 
danate said:
It's usually metal sensors in the ground. Some bikes don't gots enough metal to set them off. There is some gimmicky magnet thing you can buy that is supposed to make it work...but it doesn't.

I've learned which intersections will ignore me and can usually find a sensor in a different lane that works, otherwise I just wait a cycle then run it.
Click to expand...

If it's attached to bike I can't see it working that well, but the neodymium magnet I have in my boot works fine, and I've never seen the commercial version.
 
GL-TRIGGER-HP_is



http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/product/?psreferrer=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Faclk%253Fsa%253Dl%2526ai%253DCWelGiiTOUs6BLJDY-QO9tIDYBun7tKUE4ane1UrRoZGRsgEIBRABKAVQ9trZi_7_____AWDJnv6GyKP8GqABkaK0_QPIAQeqBCdP0HaOTeD8mlHRNsdbmjyxjS3hknGfsKNvNZxQ48K_Q-_4w90tz2fABQWgBiaAB9fdywKQBwHgEr3_6YHzq9X5wQE%2526sig%253DAOD64_0KDndaETJpdd2am0ZF-4VQ1O0uPw%2526ctype%253D5%2526rct%253Dj%2526q%253Dgreen%252Blight%252Bmagnet%2526ved%253D0CDwQww8%2526adurl%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.rkdms.com%252Fredirect%25253Fc%25253D807146698%252526en%25253D27%252526cl%25253D500%252526u%25253Dhttp%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.motosport.com%2525252Fad%2525252F%2525253Fcode%2525253DSS-M-G-P-NA-PLA-STREET%25252526key%2525253DGREEN-LIGHT-TRIGGER-HIGH-POWER%25252526utm_medium%2525253Dcpc%25252526creative%2525253D19969601305%25252526adpos%2525253D1o1%25252526device%2525253Dc%25252526network%2525253Dg%25252526matchtype%2525253D&pssource=true&segment=badger-street&key=GREEN-LIGHT-TRIGGER-HIGH-POWER&utm_medium=cpc&creative=19969601305&adpos=1o1&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CKTe6Oqf8LsCFRFufgodoGMA7g
 
bikeama said:
GL-TRIGGER-HP_is



http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/product/?psreferrer=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Faclk%253Fsa%253Dl%2526ai%253DCWelGiiTOUs6BLJDY-QO9tIDYBun7tKUE4ane1UrRoZGRsgEIBRABKAVQ9trZi_7_____AWDJnv6GyKP8GqABkaK0_QPIAQeqBCdP0HaOTeD8mlHRNsdbmjyxjS3hknGfsKNvNZxQ48K_Q-_4w90tz2fABQWgBiaAB9fdywKQBwHgEr3_6YHzq9X5wQE%2526sig%253DAOD64_0KDndaETJpdd2am0ZF-4VQ1O0uPw%2526ctype%253D5%2526rct%253Dj%2526q%253Dgreen%252Blight%252Bmagnet%2526ved%253D0CDwQww8%2526adurl%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.rkdms.com%252Fredirect%25253Fc%25253D807146698%252526en%25253D27%252526cl%25253D500%252526u%25253Dhttp%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.motosport.com%2525252Fad%2525252F%2525253Fcode%2525253DSS-M-G-P-NA-PLA-STREET%25252526key%2525253DGREEN-LIGHT-TRIGGER-HIGH-POWER%25252526utm_medium%2525253Dcpc%25252526creative%2525253D19969601305%25252526adpos%2525253D1o1%25252526device%2525253Dc%25252526network%2525253Dg%25252526matchtype%2525253D&pssource=true&segment=badger-street&key=GREEN-LIGHT-TRIGGER-HIGH-POWER&utm_medium=cpc&creative=19969601305&adpos=1o1&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CKTe6Oqf8LsCFRFufgodoGMA7g
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's the one that doesn't work for shit. If I put it on my centerstand and get it directly over a sensor line then push it to the ground so it's scraping on the pavement it might work.

I imagine the magnet in the boot idea is way better.
 
danate said:
Yeah, that's the one that doesn't work for shit. If I put it on my centerstand and get it directly over a sensor line then push it to the ground so it's scraping on the pavement it might work.

I imagine the magnet in the boot idea is way better.
Click to expand...

I've got extras if you wanna try
 
I could but I haven't needed to. Normally I keep the bike in gear incase I need to move. How about rocking the Ken Maely Hot Shoe?! ;) No disrespect intended to the legend!

MaelyCycleNewsCover.jpg
 
Toast said:
If you see the tar marks that look like a "0" stop on either the left or right side on the line. If it's a "00" then stop in the middle between the loops. If it's a octagon or circle with stripes then it's for picking up motorcycles so just stop anywhere on it.
Click to expand...

That is what my neighbor who owns a company that reps stoplight gear told me.

The previous owner of my bike lowered the rear. There is a specific stoplight that I could set off when I was all alone. I lifted the bike back to stock because it scrapped on turns and it no longer triggers that same light. I only lifted it about an inch and a half which is stock for that bike.
 
http://www.bikernation.net/stoplightbill.htm

Several other states have this law; if you have waited for a long enough time and the light appears to not detect you, and the coast is clear, you can go. I have exercised this right in Minnesota.

As far as I can tell, the law has been proposed in CA but shot down, in favor of sensors which theoretically overcome the problem. Good luck. You can always do the right-turn-on-red and then u-turn thing which is a vaguely legal workaround.
 
do a letter to the city, and county road work departments,
stating this light is defective/broken.
then if No reply in a month send in a letter to your local police dept, county sheriff and the chp. stating this light is defective/ broken. and is a safety hazard.
also state, include copies of your notice to the city/ county..

this way it is on record of the safety hazard.


.
 
packnrat said:
do a letter to the city, and county road work departments,
stating this light is defective/broken.
then if No reply in a month send in a letter to your local police dept, county sheriff and the chp. stating this light is defective/ broken. and is a safety hazard.
also state, include copies of your notice to the city/ county..

this way it is on record of the safety hazard.
Click to expand...

I wish I was this conscientious, good suggestions.
 
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