Traffic Lights

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th September 2005, 08:50

I find that the traffic lights at the intersection of McLeod and Te Atatu roads often does not recognise that I am ther when on the bike.

In such circumstances I normally wait for a period then run the red when it is safe to do so.

How many others find this to be a problem?

**vifferman** · 29th September 2005, 08:56

You occasionally get lights all over the where that are like that, usually due to an induction loop that's not sensitive enough (often because there's too much asphalt above it).

There are things to do to help trip it, like pushing your starter when directly over the loop (visible as a shiny strip of tar or line on the road), rolling back and forth over it, etc. However, you're probably best to just do what you have done, and if pulled up for running the light, calmly explain why.

**Jonty** · 29th September 2005, 09:03

Try this thread, there is a good discussion :spudwave:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=6174

**Smorg** · 29th September 2005, 09:34

I just jump up and down furiously until it picks me up............hate to have a bike that didnt weight as much as a truckload of texan's

**Smorg** · 29th September 2005, 09:37

they pick up metal??? Shit mabye i should have read that thread before i posted

**R6_kid:Me** · 29th September 2005, 10:31

me thinks you just want to be a forum whore

you can buy those 'rare earth magnet' things and they aparently trick the induction loop into thinking there is a large object there.

**Big Dave** · 29th September 2005, 10:34

You don't have to buy or install anything - Just put the bike on its side stand for a half a second, near the sensor - works every time.

**crashe** · 29th September 2005, 10:39

Originally Posted by CaN

I find that the traffic lights at the intersection of McLeod and Te Atatu roads often does not recognise that I am ther when on the bike.

In such circumstances I normally wait for a period then run the red when it is safe to do so.

How many others find this to be a problem?

yep all the time at that set of lights.

Which way do you come from....on McLead Rd....
from the dutch village or the other way (playing fields end)

I was there one day when the guy was fixing the lights... he also rides a bike... tried to adjust them to suit us bikers.... they worked great for a while... guess another worker has since played with them ... I hope that car comes along...

I did once speak to a cop about this when I was up on the Massey, Royal Rd turning right set of lights I had waited for 4 sets of lights.... he said go after 3 sets but do it safely and then report them to the city council that they are in that they are not working properly.

**Zed** · 29th September 2005, 10:43

Originally Posted by CaN

I find that the traffic lights at the intersection of McLeod and Te Atatu roads often does not recognise that I am ther when on the bike.

In such circumstances I normally wait for a period then run the red when it is safe to do so.

How many others find this to be a problem?

You mean you stop at traffic lights when there are no other cars around? What sort of a *biker* are you CaN??

Vifferman & Big Dave gave some great advice should you happen to continue this ludicrous stopping!

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th September 2005, 10:46

Either direction on McLeod gives the problem.

I was kinda thinking if we got a bit of a list together of common problem ones I would write the council/s concerned and ask them to investigate and repair them as it is a safety issue.

I figured they would in fine council tradition do nothing but at least it may be possible to use it (the letters) as a defence if someone was pinged for running a red in such a circumstance.

**crashe** · 29th September 2005, 10:57

Originally Posted by CaN

Either direction on McLeod gives the problem.

I was kinda thinking if we got a bit of a list together of common problem ones I would write the council/s concerned and ask them to investigate and repair them as it is a safety issue.

I figured they would in fine council tradition do nothing but at least it may be possible to use it (the letters) as a defence if someone was pinged for running a red in such a circumstance.

The two I mentioned are the main ones that I have come across in the Waitakere City Council area.

Auckland city has the one coming from the city down Gt Nrth Rd by Western Springs... the straight throu takes forever and sometimes you have to wait up to 3 sets of lights.

**dawnrazor** · 29th September 2005, 11:02

Never been picked up by a traffic light before, but i've been swung around by my tits, as the old joke goes... ahem

**Smorg** · 29th September 2005, 11:16

Originally Posted by gareth_d

me thinks you just want to be a forum whore

you can buy those 'rare earth magnet' things and they aparently trick the induction loop into thinking there is a large object there.

Yep that is definately my only goal in life at the moment

**Ixion** · 29th September 2005, 11:24

Originally Posted by CaN

Either direction on McLeod gives the problem.

I was kinda thinking if we got a bit of a list together of common problem ones I would write the council/s concerned and ask them to investigate and repair them as it is a safety issue.

I figured they would in fine council tradition do nothing but at least it may be possible to use it (the letters) as a defence if someone was pinged for running a red in such a circumstance.

Auckland City Council will (*usually) respond quite well to such reports. Sometimes it is difficult for them , if zealous road fixers have buried teh inductive strip under several inches of tarseal

The underlying problem is that bikes don't have have all that much inductive (steel) mass - ali frames, ali engines , ali wheels, plastic bodywork.

If you really want to solve it, sell the sprotsbike and buy an OLD Briddish job. Lotsa cast iron, works a treat/