Traffic Question

[oldsmoboat]

I ride a bike and sometimes it won't trip the lights. I changed my route to work because of this.
But, if I am at a light in the left turn lane and the light won't trip (and no cars come), which is the lesser of the two evils:
1. Waiting till there is no traffic and running the light.
2. Turning right from the number 1 lane.

Thank you.

[Steveo8]

I think California actually has something on the books to the effect of running if you wait through two cycles.

[Roddd]

Most officers understand the predicament MC riders are in. If you wait a couple cycles of the light and then proceed in a cautious manner, you PROBABLY will not be cited.

[cowboykenny]

My buddy rides Harley's and told me that there are some magnets you can place on the bottom of the bike to trip the signal.

[Ikazamay]

If the street is small I would just get off the bike and press the crosswalk button.

[xmustanguyx]

Yeah, I was at a light a few years back at the intersection of 9th and I Street (for those that know) and a cop rolled up. It was about 6 in the morning and I was just getting off (leaving work!). I told him I had waited and it wouldn't trip the light. He said yes they know about that and to proceed safely.
On the other hand in Turlock I actually called the city and the lady said that the lights are run on a pre-programmed. I told her that's BS and if true why would they have the pavement with cuts in it running back to those junction boxes. I also told her that an engineer explained the technology to me. I was merely calling to confirm what I had been told. She said if I run the lights an officer would give me a ticket because that's not how their system worked.
Needless to say, I never got a ticket for skipping a light after stopping for awhile.

[xmustanguyx]

My buddy rides Harley's and told me that there are some magnets you can place on the bottom of the bike to trip the signal.

Very true, they are the Neodymium magnets. Super strong and can pinch your fingers easily. I looked into it but never got one.

What they do is put it in a tube or wrap it in tape (to keep from getting dirty/greasy I assume) and attach it in some manner on the bottom of the bike.
This helps complete the inductive circuit of the traffic light system.

[Laura]

Very true, they are the Neodymium magnets. Super strong and can pinch your fingers easily. I looked into it but never got one.

What they do is put it in a tube or wrap it in tape (to keep from getting dirty/greasy I assume) and attach it in some manner on the bottom of the bike.
This helps complete the inductive circuit of the traffic light system.

Good info in case I ever get another bike. THANK YOU!

[tozan]

My buddy rides Harley's and told me that there are some magnets you can place on the bottom of the bike to trip the signal.

I have tested several types of magnets including the ones mentioned, they never worked on any of the lights I tested them on. I have read scientific tests that bus that myth also...

[xmustanguyx]

I have tested several types of magnets including the ones mentioned, they never worked on any of the lights I tested them on. I have read scientific tests that bus that myth also...

Glad I didn't buy them! Still, it seems in theory they would work! However, I'm no scientist.

Found this:

http://www.wikihow.com/Trigger-Green-Traffic-Lights

[Notorious]

I've had to exfil a few times after wasting my life away for a green that shall never come. Those magnets don't work. You just have to take your chances.

[Vacaville]

21800 (d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. This subparagraph shall apply to traffic control signals that become inoperative because of battery failure.

Found this. I think it applies in this case. I rode for 30 years and usually waited at least one cycle before proceeding.

[Notorious]

Found this. I think it applies in this case. I rode for 30 years and usually waited at least one cycle before proceeding.

Inoperative doesn't mean functioning but just not triggering because it thinks nothing is there. It means those ones that are burned out or down due to power failure.

[mej16489]

There are lots of different type of trigger mechanisms for signal lights. Pressure, Inductive and Camera are the most common.

There are tons of different types of pressure triggers but in essence their generally like old-school full service gas station signalers. Think of the old 'ding ding' when you would drive into a gas station... Depending on the method used MCs might not trip them due to not weighing enough.

Inductive triggers are generally a 'loop' of wire buried in the roadway that magnetically sense a large metal object above them. Generally these will trip for motorcycles so long as you are in the circle...but simply driving over them is often not enough, this is where the magnets can help. These are especially problematic for motorcycles if roadways and intersections have been changed over time but the triggers aren't moved.

Camera triggers are generally mounted up on top of the light posts for intersections. In general they use computer processing to determine when objects have moved into predesignated positions on the roadway. They'll generally catch MCs but on rare occasions can even have problems seeing cars if the light conditions are bad, especially things like cameras facing into the rising/setting sun.