[rvca_ninja]

Yes im a newb and so far I've only ridden the streets twice (once during the day and once at night). Been wondering why some lights take forever to turn green. Bro just told me to look for a "circle" within the crosswalk and move the bike up to the circle line so the sensor can read the bike.

What else besides a circle should I look for so my bike can get detected? I'm Cali by the way, not sure if it makes a difference

 

[ghost3772]

Some are timed, some are pressure sensitive, some are magnetic... all have their downfalls and benefits..

My advice, when you have someone behind you move up a bit past the line, wave the person behind u forward, so they are over the sensor and nto you, just covers your basis a little better if you dont know what type that particular street uses.

If nobody is behind you then your gonna need to do your best to go over the sensor. or take a right turn then pull a U turn a little down the road if the light takes too long. If it really doesn't turn its likely to be the pressure sensitive one, in which case theres nothing you can do..

I have heard myths like attaching stong magnets to the bottom of your bike helps.. ro revving your engine helps... I really dont believe many of those though...

Just be smart, be patient, and be reasonable ;D

good luck! and happy riding!

 

[cfrp]

^ pretty much covered it. I just turn right and u turn where it is safe if it's a weight sensor.

 

[HardRacing]

Exactly as Ghost posted. We have some "Forever" lights around here that will NOT change with a bike on it. Others are timed and you can almost set a watch by them.
We've had guys try the magnets with little to no effect. We've figured out where they are and just try to avoid them.

.

 

[CopperHead]

Read up on your State Laws too. Some States allow you to make a sound judgement on a RED light after coming to a COMPLETE stop look all directions, confirm that there is no other vehicles coming in either Direction (making sure that if there is some coming that they are far enough away to say that pulling out infront of them at a "slow" pace would still be safe). Then pull out and continue your route at your own risk. Just don't abuse it. Most Cops know this law if in their State but are still willing to pull you over if they saw it as unsafe for you or other motorist.

 

[cbzdel]

In my area the circles cut into the street are electrical detectors. So you can park over it and the dejected the presence of electricity. Maybe 1 out 1000 doesnt work, but in my state you can make a left turn on a red if there are no cars around...

 

[ghost3772]

hmmm never heard of being able to run a red light legally... lol

what state are you from CopperHead? Do they have it in your state?

 

[cbzdel]

It sepcifily has to do with lights not changing.. Not just any time you want haha. .I had never even heard of it, my MSF instrustor told us about it and made us all write down the law book number incase we were ever pulled over for it...

But is say something as in if the light is not changing, if there has been not traffic though the intersection and none coming in any direction, therefor safe to turn on red, you may do so. So really to get away with it there streets have to be DEAD, and you can be pretty much the only one on the road..

 

[ghost3772]

hmmm I'll have to check that out... But I would rather just take a right turn and make a U turn after that... play it safe.. I have gone down to my local police station inquiring on laws, and every time, they dont have an answer for me... they just say... they arent sure and I should look up on the town/state rules... not too reassuring when a cop wants to pull me over for some BS thing and not know the laws... this has happened to me in NY, conneticut, New jersey, Massachussets. maine, and NH

pretty wack if you ask me..

 

[hulksmash]

I go to work really early in the morning so there are no cars on the street and there is this one light that never turns green for me. So I heard that if you flash your high beam as you approach the red light it will turn green. I tried it the other day and it worked for me. I am not sure if this really works or it was just coincidence. Let me know if this is true.

 

[KrispyKreme]

I go to work really early in the morning so there are no cars on the street and there is this one light that never turns green for me. So I heard that if you flash your high beam as you approach the red light it will turn green. I tried it the other day and it worked for me. I am not sure if this really works or it was just coincidence. Let me know if this is true.

it is true to a point, most stop lights have a sensor on them that detects a strobe light from emergency vehicles. Police cars, fire engines, ambulance etc. thats how they change the light from red to green. i doubt that anyone could hit the right speed of stobe with thier headlights be it on a bike or in a car/truck.

 

[adurbin]

The flashing headlight is a myth. The timing was just right on the hulksmashes stop for the light to turn Green. The strobe on an emergency vehicle flashes at such a fast rate, that a human flashing the high beam will not be quick enough to trigger it. The light would still either be timed, or ran by a sensor in the ground.

 

[hulksmash]

thanks guys. I guess it was just coincidence.