Avoiding fixed speed cameras...

[Phurrball]

Here's a question for the gargre:

Yesterday morning, I was pootling along Great North Road just after the intersection with Rosebank Rd.

I was following another bike along, having just left behind the cages at the last set of lights. Now, knowing of a fixed speed camera at that location, I rolled off the throttle a little, easing back to about $0.55. At this point I observed that the bike in front of me did not slow down, and I observed some odd behavior. Said bike pops on its right indicator, and visits the other side of the road, as if to overtake. This was right by the camera.

Now, I know that fixed cameras use sensors in the road (hence can discriminate between lanes), and I can only imagine that said biker was defeating the camera (facing towards our respective vulnerable number-plate ends). Does this work? It was odd, but the pilot of said bike looked to have employed that strategy many times before...Does anyone else out there do this? Obviously it only works if nothing is coming the other way...

'Twas a curious incident - can anyone enlighten me further?

[SlowHand]

I've seen cars do it cranking some serious speed - I saw no flash. Not sure if it was on or not. How about them massive wheelies that makes the bike perpendicular to the road? im not demonstrating

[crashe]

The lights on corners of Rosebank/Great North Rd are in fact a RED LIGHT camera...
But as far as I understand... they no longer work...
They were there to catch out the red light runners.

But just further up the road on Great North Rd (on the left side of the road)... the speed camera there does work... They dont always have a camera in the box thou.... so just be careful heading towards the motorway entrance. Coming from the motorway you wont get clicked as you dont have a number plate on the front of your bike. That one is hidden in the trees.

The other fixed speed camera is on the top of Waikamete Hill on Gt Nrth Rd.. usually a camera is in that one.

[bugjuice]

cameras work off a calculation of you crossing two points in the road. If you cross those points faster than a specified time, the camera will fire. You'll see the 'boxes' on the road just after the camera, and a bit further before the camera if it's facing you. I happen to know the cam you're on about too.

However, bikes rarely trigger cameras, cos we're not heavy enough, unless you're accelerating hard on the back wheel.. but then the plate will be facing the floor!

[Phurrball]

The lights on corners of Rosebank/Great North Rd are in fact a RED LIGHT camera...
But as far as I understand... they no longer work...
They were there to catch out the red light runners.

But just further up the road on Great North Rd (on the left side of the road)... the speed camera there does work... They dont always have a camera in the box thou.... so just be careful. That one is hidden in the trees.

The other one is on the top of Waikamete Hill on Gt Nrth Rd.. usually a camera is in that one.

Yep, that's the speed camera I meant Crashe - I had to think hard about street names and suchlike, being a non-Aucklander...sorry for any confusion...


cameras work off a calculation of you crossing two points in the road. If you cross those points faster than a specified time, the camera will fire. You'll see the 'boxes' on the road just after the camera, and a bit further before the camera if it's facing you. I happen to know the cam you're on about too.

However, bikes rarely trigger cameras, cos we're not heavy enough, unless you're accelerating hard on the back wheel.. but then the plate will be facing the floor!

Aaaahhhhh! I am more enlightened now...thanks Bugjuice!

[MD]

Yep it works. Sort of a dance. The foxtrot quick step to the left followed by a quick step back to the right. Ride the cats eyes between the wires set in the seal. Of course this gets more tricky once they re-seal that stretch of road and the wire 'box' markings are hidden.

[madboy]

I have great debate over this with many people...

Fixed speed cameras run off the triggers in the road. I'm not sure whether it's weight, or whether it's some form of something else that detects metallic content, I've had both theories floated for me. Either way, in my experience, they don't get bikes. Full-stop. So you can flash your tits, give them the bird, pop a wheelie or even paint your plate number on the front of your bike... it doesn't matter.

I pass one on the way to work (would see my rear) and two on the way home (1 rear, 1 front) and I have NEVER in 2 years either seen the flash (at night) or received a ticket. And I am usually doing more than the $0.10 over required. In fact, often WAY over.

Camera vans, different story - they run radar, which does get bikes.

Edit: I should also point out, I do know the difference between what it looks like when the camera is actually in there and when it isn't.

[NC]

I have great debate over this with many people...

Fixed speed cameras run off the triggers in the road. I'm not sure whether it's weight, or whether it's some form of something else that detects metallic content, I've had both theories floated for me. Either way, in my experience, they don't get bikes. Full-stop. So you can flash your tits, give them the bird, pop a wheelie or even paint your plate number on the front of your bike... it doesn't matter.

I pass one on the way to work (would see my rear) and two on the way home (1 rear, 1 front) and I have NEVER in 2 years either seen the flash (at night) or received a ticket. And I am usually doing more than the $0.10 over required. In fact, often WAY over.

Camera vans, different story - they run radar, which does get bikes.

Edit: I should also point out, I do know the difference between what it looks like when the camera is actually in there and when it isn't.
The fixed camera on SH1 going up to pram flashes when your hooting it..

:psst: You are mad :)

[Monsterbishi]

Most fixed speed cameras function by a magnetic induction loop under the road, when metal passes throught his field it generates a variance in the current, tripping the camera.

People who think they're weight sensitive = wrong, most are sensitive enough to be triggered by the metal toecap in your boot.

Easy way to get past them is to simply ride down the centerline between the sensor pads.

[dhunt]

What I thought was funny when I was push biking to uni the other day, I see 3x cops+3x cop cars + laser gun on the side of the road, pointing up the road to where a fixed speed camera is located (approx 50m). Now does that or does that not suggest to you the either the cops were redundant or that the fixed speed cameras are a waiste of time?? :spudwhat:

[zeRax]

interesting Oo dun think theres many down here thou :>

[N4CR]

Yeah what I do is 'accidentally change lanes' at the right time.

No matter how they pick up things etc they cannot pick you up when you are not over the loop of wire which has a current generated when something metal goes above it eh ;) (or pressureplate).

Just 'lanesplit' practice as such :P

[Gremlin]

tristank: You of all people should know about the lane "missing" the detection stuff on the Pak Highway...

That's the other way to get around it. If you travel the road often, check to see if the whole lane has been cut etc for whatever the trigger is... some roads haven't been. :whistle: :devil2:

[Lou Girardin]

What I thought was funny when I was push biking to uni the other day, I see 3x cops+3x cop cars + laser gun on the side of the road, pointing up the road to where a fixed speed camera is located (approx 50m). Now does that or does that not suggest to you the either the cops were redundant or that the fixed speed cameras are a waiste of time?? :spudwhat:

It's called rat cunning. They're nailing people who slow for the camera then boot it. Probably do quite well out of it too.

[spudchucka]

Want to avoid speed camera tickets? Just open your god damned eyes and look at what's ahead of you. If you get caught by one of these things you deserve the ticket simply for being a dumb arse.

[WRT]

Also note that there is a THIRD speed camera on Great North Road - near Kelston. If you are heading up the hill, they sometimes also put a mobile camera just past it on the grass embankment on the right of the road, opposite the petrol station - just keep an eye out for it.

This must make it one of the most heavily speed camera popluated roads in the country . . . there are also at least three red light camaras on it as well as you head through Waterview/Avondale. Dunno whether they work or not . . .

[Phurrball]

Also note that there is a THIRD speed camera on Great North Road - near Kelston. If you are heading up the hill, they sometimes also put a mobile camera just past it on the grass embankment on the right of the road, opposite the petrol station - just keep an eye out for it.

This must make it one of the most heavily speed camera popluated roads in the country . . . there are also at least three red light camaras on it as well as you head through Waterview/Avondale. Dunno whether they work or not . . .

West Auckland does seem to have that dubious distinction. I seem to recall an article in that esteemed rag - The Western Leader - stating that they were busy cameras in addition to being numerous. There is one lurking in Atkinson road too - after a downhill and around a corner.



Edit: I should also point out, I do know the difference between what it looks like when the camera is actually in there and when it isn't.

I swear I have seen orange pieces of card in the flash window of the boxes before - a ruse to make people slow down regardless? Anyone know of any truth in this? It sure didn't look like the usual reflector to me...same tactic as the cardboard cops to stop shoplifting, or the cardboard patrol car I seem to recall somewhere down south in my Otago days?? (Scumdog - do you remember this? A good way to skive off yet still be visible?
:devil2:)


Want to avoid speed camera tickets? Just open your god damned eyes and look at what's ahead of you. If you get caught by one of these things you deserve the ticket simply for being a dumb arse.

Yep, that too Spud...

[madboy]

I swear I have seen orange pieces of card in the flash window of the boxes before - a ruse to make people slow down regardless? Anyone know of any truth in this? I know what you mean, the background appears to be orange but it just looks different to the real flash, aye??

Just to test my theory, I buzzed the one on Ngauranga Gorge at $1.10ish (80c) last night rear facing, the one at Petone at $1.00ish (70c asking price) forward facing (but camera didn't look to be in there), then when I went back out again the one at Petone rearward, $1.20ish (70c), and on the way back the one on the urban motorway by the onramp just past Tinakori Rd rearward at over $2...

I mean, in all honesty, I NEVER slow down for fixed cameras on the bike. I've lined up the one at Petone in the dark, but being a reasonably well lit area you can still see if it has the camera in it or not, and being doing WAY more than what is required to trigger it - and no flash visible... never.

I still maintain they don't get bikes.

Has anyone ever been snapped on their bike by a fixed camera, and has the photo to prove it?

[XP@]

Evidently some pick up one direction some pick up both directions.

Here is a good list:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/8443/Other_sp-200.html

[Lou Girardin]

I guess you guys teasing speed cameras will not mind when we have to fit front reg plates.

[Velox]

So for the riding between the two pad/strip theory..., does the sensor never extend over both the lanes? Is there always a break in the middle? Do they break to take the distance into account for measurements or do they work that out afterwards?

[ManDownUnder]

What I thought was funny when I was push biking to uni the other day, I see 3x cops+3x cop cars + laser gun on the side of the road, pointing up the road to where a fixed speed camera is located (approx 50m). Now does that or does that not suggest to you the either the cops were redundant or that the fixed speed cameras are a waiste of time?? :spudwhat:

That was a high priority buglar collection team. The gun is actually a .308 with homie seeking missles slung under the car.

You don't think they'd put that much police power just to collect revenue do you???

[Bartman10]

If you look carefully the strips are actually in different locations for each lane so by moving right and then left at the appropriate time you can avoid the sensors.

The strips are induction loops and only work for ferrous metals such as iron. If your bike is largely aluminium it might not get detected because the sensitivity of each camera is different.

The inverse square law applies with regard to the location of the iron parts on your bike, so replace exhaust pipes with non-ferrous material before replacing the petrol tank to avoid detection.

They work on the same principle as the traffic light sensors. You'll find that some traffic lights pick up your bike and others don't* this is usually a problem with small aluminium bikes or aluminium push bikes. Same goes for fixed speed cameras.


* you can ring the council if you want the sensitivity of traffic lights changed.

[Pixie]

If you look carefully the strips are actually in different locations for each lane so by moving right and then left at the appropriate time you can avoid the sensors.

The strips are induction loops and only work for ferrous metals such as iron. If your bike is largely aluminium it might not get detected because the sensitivity of each camera is different.

The inverse square law applies with regard to the location of the iron parts on your bike, so replace exhaust pipes with non-ferrous material before replacing the petrol tank to avoid detection.

They work on the same principle as the traffic light sensors. You'll find that some traffic lights pick up your bike and others don't* this is usually a problem with small aluminium bikes or aluminium push bikes. Same goes for fixed speed cameras.


* you can ring the council if you want the sensitivity of traffic lights changed.
Electromagnetic induction works on aluminium -that's how a electricity meter operates.
If a bike doesn't trigger a camera it's because the trigger circuit sensitivity is set too low for a bike's inductance

[Ixion]

Electromagnetic induction works on aluminium -that's how a electricity meter operates.
..

I didn't know that. I thought it had to be magnetic. But you are right, the disky things in power board meters are aluminium.

But even so , maybe the metallic mass of a bike 9as compared to a car) is too small for the gadget to react to it. ? I wonder if plastic bodied cars have the same issue?

I think the reason that nipping over to the other side of the road works is that the two sides are separate,. Each side of the road has two detector strips. The first one triggers the "countdown" then the second one stops it and the lapsed time from A to B is used to calculate your speed. But because each side of the road is separate , if you ride over the first strip, then nip over the centre line, you set of the "stopper" strip on the OTHER circuit. So your circuit never gets a stop signal. And after a short period it will reset itself.

[madboy]

I guess you guys teasing speed cameras will not mind when we have to fit front reg plates.I have enough trouble keeping a rear one fitted... I don't fancy the chances of a front one staying stuck to my bike for any longer than the annual WOF takes...

[Pixie]

I didn't know that. I thought it had to be magnetic. But you are right, the disky things in power board meters are aluminium.

But even so , maybe the metallic mass of a bike 9as compared to a car) is too small for the gadget to react to it. ? I wonder if plastic bodied cars have the same issue?

I think the reason that nipping over to the other side of the road works is that the two sides are separate,. Each side of the road has two detector strips. The first one triggers the "countdown" then the second one stops it and the lapsed time from A to B is used to calculate your speed. But because each side of the road is separate , if you ride over the first strip, then nip over the centre line, you set of the "stopper" strip on the OTHER circuit. So your circuit never gets a stop signal. And after a short period it will reset itself.
The induction loops in the road act exactly like the coil in a metal detector, and they will detect anything that conducts.The feild sets up Eddy currents which have their own magnetic feilds and interact with the coil's feild.
every lump (car,bike,dead cat) has a different inductance (measured in Henries),some will be right to trigger the circuit,some won't.