Stuck at red light
Moderator: Modern Buddy Staff
-
- Member
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:46 pm
- Location: Denver
Stuck at red light
Has anybody ever been stuck at a red light waiting for the green to be triggered by our Buddy's lack of metal and weight? I got stuck the other day and after three minutes I just went through the red light. I think that is legal in Colorado. Today I saw an ad for a Green Light Trigger. It looks like a small box that you put on the bottom of your bike. Does anyone know if these work?
The Coach Scoots
- vitaminC
- Member
- Posts: 765
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:32 pm
- Location: Redwood City, CA
- Contact:
Re: Stuck at red light
Everything I've read indicates that "green light triggers" are only really good at getting the green out of your wallet, but that they won't have much impact on the signal.Coach B wrote:Has anybody ever been stuck at a red light waiting for the green to be triggered by our Buddy's lack of metal and weight? I got stuck the other day and after three minutes I just went through the red light. I think that is legal in Colorado. Today I saw an ad for a Green Light Trigger. It looks like a small box that you put on the bottom of your bike. Does anyone know if these work?
Like you, if I feel that the light isn't going to change, I just go through- providing it's safe to do so. There is one on my daily ride that I have to go through quite regularly, as only the Buddy never triggers it...
- bwilms
- Member
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:49 pm
- Location: Cleveland/Akron, OH
Here is a thread from the alt.scooter Google group that has some pretty good resources on the topic.
I face this all the time and am gradually learning which lights I can trigger and how. I think the best way to fix this problem is to contact the municipality of the light sensor to have them adjust the sensitivty. Your title, registration, and local taxes are just a few reasons why they should care.
I face this all the time and am gradually learning which lights I can trigger and how. I think the best way to fix this problem is to contact the municipality of the light sensor to have them adjust the sensitivty. Your title, registration, and local taxes are just a few reasons why they should care.
- Kevin K
- Member
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:16 pm
- Location: Brooklyn Park, MN
Green Light triggers don't work. Ask me how I know.
-K
-K
She rides: nothing yet
He rides: crappy 35 year-old Vespa (and 70cc Rattler)
Minnesota Motorcyle Monthly
My SmugMug
He rides: crappy 35 year-old Vespa (and 70cc Rattler)
Minnesota Motorcyle Monthly
My SmugMug
- GatsbyGirl
- Member
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:24 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- hermitgirl
- Member
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:26 am
- Location: Bay Area, CA
- ericalm
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16842
- Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:01 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Contact:
Yeah, this works if you're positioned over the sensor (round cut out in the street). I just ease my foot back and lower the stand to tap the street. Presto!GatsbyGirl wrote:I haven't had this problem yet on the Buddy, but I know with Vespas you can tap your kickstand on the ground and it will trigger the sensor.
I knew a guy college who would jump off his MC and push the pedestrian crosswalk button.
In some places, I believe, there are laws permitting you to run a red light if it has not changed after a certain time and you can safely clear the intersection. Might want to look this up before taking my word on it; could be an urban myth.
- rablack
- Member
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:33 pm
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Contact:
I had this problem on a left turn light on my regular commute. After reading a post somewhere with a link to how the "triggered" signals work (sorry can't find the post now) I learned that the sensors don't sense weight but the movement of metal over the embedded wires.
The next day, rather than pulling into the center of the rectangular cutout, I rolled up to the light on my Buddy along the full length of the right side of the cutout slot in the pavement and stopped over the slot as well. It triggered the light for me. Give it a try.
The next day, rather than pulling into the center of the rectangular cutout, I rolled up to the light on my Buddy along the full length of the right side of the cutout slot in the pavement and stopped over the slot as well. It triggered the light for me. Give it a try.
- bwilms
- Member
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:49 pm
- Location: Cleveland/Akron, OH
I've found this to work as well, but only on some lights. Other lights I still haven't figured out how to trip.rablack wrote:The next day, rather than pulling into the center of the rectangular cutout, I rolled up to the light on my Buddy along the full length of the right side of the cutout slot in the pavement and stopped over the slot as well. It triggered the light for me. Give it a try.
- castleton
- Member
- Posts: 120
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:52 pm
- Location: Westbrook, CT
Lights are not triggered by weight, but by your engine's magnetic field. There's a coil under the first "cut out" in the pavement (some actually have the word "loop" and an arrow spray painted on by the dept. of transportation). Scooter engines (and many motorcycle engines) don't generate the same magnetic field as a car engine.
I went to a hardware store and for 15.00 bought a large magnet (the kind that claims to lift 95 pounds) and placed it on the metal plate under the steering. I now can trip 2 lights that wouldn't trip for me before, but one that is on a newly paved road (so that the "loop" is under 2 layers of pavement) won't trip for me, so I turn right and do a u-ie.
I went to a hardware store and for 15.00 bought a large magnet (the kind that claims to lift 95 pounds) and placed it on the metal plate under the steering. I now can trip 2 lights that wouldn't trip for me before, but one that is on a newly paved road (so that the "loop" is under 2 layers of pavement) won't trip for me, so I turn right and do a u-ie.
--Pam
_________________________________
"You're not the boss of me, now."
_________________________________
"You're not the boss of me, now."
-
- Member
- Posts: 164
- Joined: Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:48 pm
- Location: Minneapolis
I googled "red light green light motorcycle law minnesota" to find what I'd read in the DOT manual....
In MN it's legal to "run" the red light if....
(1) the motorcycle has been brought to a complete stop;
(2) the traffic-control signal continues to show a red light for an unreasonable time;
(3) the traffic-control signal is apparently malfunctioning or, if programmed or engineered to change to a green light only after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle, the signal has apparently failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle; and
(4) no motor vehicle or person is approaching on the street or highway to be crossed or entered or is so far away from the intersection that it does not constitute an immediate hazard.
In MN it's legal to "run" the red light if....
(1) the motorcycle has been brought to a complete stop;
(2) the traffic-control signal continues to show a red light for an unreasonable time;
(3) the traffic-control signal is apparently malfunctioning or, if programmed or engineered to change to a green light only after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle, the signal has apparently failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle; and
(4) no motor vehicle or person is approaching on the street or highway to be crossed or entered or is so far away from the intersection that it does not constitute an immediate hazard.
- hermitgirl
- Member
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:26 am
- Location: Bay Area, CA
Quote from http://www.ducatigirl.com/california/dm ... ml#nogreen
for Californians:
If a light won't turn green, can I run it?
This is a complicated question for which I could not find any sort of answer in the California Vehicle Code. If a signal is defective (like it's out), you're supposed to make a full stop and then proceed through the intersection when it's safe. But just because it's not picking up your motorcycle, does that make it defective? Not really. If a cop sees you go through a light even though you've been sitting there for an hour, you can still get a ticket because, bottom line, you ran a red light and you had the "alternative" of turning right and trying other convoluted routes. So what should you do? I don't want to tell you what to do, but I will tell you what I would do: If the light won't turn after two cycles (usually those left-arrow lights), I would proceed against the red light only if it's safe (and after looking around for the police). Here's a good technical article on traffic sensors and why they won't trip for a bicycle (which is relevant to us).
If you happen to get ticketed for running a red under these circumstances, have a friend videotape you sitting at the light that refuses to turn. Show this to the judge and hope he or she lets you off.
What happens if you're sitting at a photo enforced intersection that won't turn for you? Will it snap a picture of you if you've been sitting there and decide to go against the red? I know someone who has done it and the cameras did not go off. The web site "How Stuff Works" has good info on red light cameras: "In most systems, the computer will not activate the cameras if a car is just sitting over the induction loops. To trigger the cameras, you have to move over the loops at a particular speed. In most systems, there are two loop triggers for each lane of traffic. When the triggers are both activated in quick succession, the computer knows a car has moved into the intersection at high speed. If there is more of a delay, the computer knows the car is moving more slowly. If the car activates only the first trigger, the computer knows it is stopped at the edge of the intersection."
Let me reiterate that I am not suggesting you run red lights, ever. I'm just telling you what I, um, might do, which is not the same as admitting that I've ever done it.
for Californians:
If a light won't turn green, can I run it?
This is a complicated question for which I could not find any sort of answer in the California Vehicle Code. If a signal is defective (like it's out), you're supposed to make a full stop and then proceed through the intersection when it's safe. But just because it's not picking up your motorcycle, does that make it defective? Not really. If a cop sees you go through a light even though you've been sitting there for an hour, you can still get a ticket because, bottom line, you ran a red light and you had the "alternative" of turning right and trying other convoluted routes. So what should you do? I don't want to tell you what to do, but I will tell you what I would do: If the light won't turn after two cycles (usually those left-arrow lights), I would proceed against the red light only if it's safe (and after looking around for the police). Here's a good technical article on traffic sensors and why they won't trip for a bicycle (which is relevant to us).
If you happen to get ticketed for running a red under these circumstances, have a friend videotape you sitting at the light that refuses to turn. Show this to the judge and hope he or she lets you off.
What happens if you're sitting at a photo enforced intersection that won't turn for you? Will it snap a picture of you if you've been sitting there and decide to go against the red? I know someone who has done it and the cameras did not go off. The web site "How Stuff Works" has good info on red light cameras: "In most systems, the computer will not activate the cameras if a car is just sitting over the induction loops. To trigger the cameras, you have to move over the loops at a particular speed. In most systems, there are two loop triggers for each lane of traffic. When the triggers are both activated in quick succession, the computer knows a car has moved into the intersection at high speed. If there is more of a delay, the computer knows the car is moving more slowly. If the car activates only the first trigger, the computer knows it is stopped at the edge of the intersection."
Let me reiterate that I am not suggesting you run red lights, ever. I'm just telling you what I, um, might do, which is not the same as admitting that I've ever done it.
-
- Member
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:25 pm
- Location: PHXAZ
I can't seem to find the right link again but I had this same problem on my commute with the same light every day. There were times I waited for 5 minutes for a car to turn the same way as me (2 left turn lanes). I then found out that it is legal in AZ as long as you have waited for a reasonable amount of time and it is safe to cross (and you can see all possible hazards, no turning with a blind corner). Now the question would be whether or not Officer Ramirez (actual Cop, pulled me over twice on my commute) knew about the law and understood and agreed that you had waited a "reasonable" amount of time.
Also, if you ride in Phoenix, beware that officer Ramirez can talk long enough to make you late for work about the dangers of lane splitting, even though he doesn't give you a ticket for aforementioned infraction.
Also, if you ride in Phoenix, beware that officer Ramirez can talk long enough to make you late for work about the dangers of lane splitting, even though he doesn't give you a ticket for aforementioned infraction.
- lobsterman
- Member
- Posts: 1027
- Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:09 pm
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
scarabmonkey,
Find out what transportation authority is responsible for that piece of road, call them and ask them to adjust the sensitivity on the proximity sensor. You are the owner of a legally licensed and registered vehicle, presumably also a taxpayer, and you are entitled to the same safe and legal use of that road as the driver of a big old smelly gas guzzling SUV that has no trouble kicking off the sensor.
If they don't adjust it, keep calling until they do. It's usually just the turn of an adjustment knob or screw in an access box at the light, so it's not a big deal for them. Tell them it's not safe and it's going to cause an accident.
I've been told that most of them can be adjusted to the point where a bicycle would activate it, so your Buddy should be enough if they adjust it right.
Find out what transportation authority is responsible for that piece of road, call them and ask them to adjust the sensitivity on the proximity sensor. You are the owner of a legally licensed and registered vehicle, presumably also a taxpayer, and you are entitled to the same safe and legal use of that road as the driver of a big old smelly gas guzzling SUV that has no trouble kicking off the sensor.
If they don't adjust it, keep calling until they do. It's usually just the turn of an adjustment knob or screw in an access box at the light, so it's not a big deal for them. Tell them it's not safe and it's going to cause an accident.
I've been told that most of them can be adjusted to the point where a bicycle would activate it, so your Buddy should be enough if they adjust it right.
Kevin
AYPWIP?
AYPWIP?
- ericalm
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16842
- Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:01 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Contact:
You could find a copy of the transportation code which permits this and print it out to carry in your scoot.scarabmonkey wrote:Now the question would be whether or not Officer Ramirez (actual Cop, pulled me over twice on my commute) knew about the law and understood and agreed that you had waited a "reasonable" amount of time.
-
- Member
- Posts: 2037
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:57 pm
- Location: Next to a big dirt lot.
- Contact:
- rajron
- Member
- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:53 pm
- Location: ABQ & PHX
- ericalm
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16842
- Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:01 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Contact:
- ctpaddler2000
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:05 pm
- Location: Connecticut
- Contact:
- lobsterman
- Member
- Posts: 1027
- Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:09 pm
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- avidgirl
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Stamford, CT
Ironically enough, this happened to me for the first time last night on my ride home. I had to work extra late and got to the train station around 2AM. A nice police officer cruised through the lot to check things out, I gave him a quick wave and hopped on the Buddy. I got to the traffic light and the bloody thing would turn, but not green for my direction. The nice officer pulled around and waved me through the light.
I'll try the center stand trick tonight as I will be working late once again.
I'll try the center stand trick tonight as I will be working late once again.
Leigh
__________________________________
Creme Buddy 125
__________________________________
Creme Buddy 125
- soundofsingles
- Member
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:00 pm
- Location: Gilbert, AZ
This has been a very interesting thread. I've rerouted my trip to work to avoid as many triggered lights as possible. There is one light that I have to go through late at night however. So the last time I was waiting for it to change I put the kick stand down and ran over and hit the pedestrian walk button, and before I could get back to the bike the light had changed. I don't know if it was a) the pedestrian light button b) the kick stand c) the car that pulled up behind my riderless scooter.
- ericalm
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16842
- Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:01 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Contact:
As much as I'm convinced the kickstad trick works for some triggers, I'm also convinced that pedestrian walk buttons do nothing whatsoever. I think they're some kind of waiting placebo, or possibly a bizarre psychological experiment (run, perhaps, by a secret cabal, aliens, "the others," or whoever).soundofsingles wrote:This has been a very interesting thread. I've rerouted my trip to work to avoid as many triggered lights as possible. There is one light that I have to go through late at night however. So the last time I was waiting for it to change I put the kick stand down and ran over and hit the pedestrian walk button, and before I could get back to the bike the light had changed. I don't know if it was a) the pedestrian light button b) the kick stand c) the car that pulled up behind my riderless scooter.