trarffic light sensors

[mops]

Hello.

I recently started riding around Auckland, and I noticed that while riding in the evening (while traffic lights are operated by ground sensors), I dont trigged those sensors with my bike . So sometimes I'm waiting like several turns for a green light, but it never comes on. So in the end I just jump on red.... Is that common for bikes ? maby only for small ones ? My mate at work (GB500) says it was never a problem for him and he's teasing me that my cylinders are too small ....

[bugjuice]

lol.. your cylinders will grow..

Yeah, it's common for lights not to sense bikes. Also common for speed cameras too

A few people have come across this, and I've been told myself, that give it some time, like 3 or 4 cycles, and if they haven't changed for you, then proceed with caution.

In reality, if you're the only one there waiting at a red, and there's no one else around to see you, then who's going to know anyway?

[Grahameeboy]

lol.. your cylinders will grow..

Yeah, it's common for lights not to sense bikes. Also common for speed cameras too

A few people have come across this, and I've been told myself, that give it some time, like 3 or 4 cycles, and if they haven't changed for you, then proceed with caution.

In reality, if you're the only one there waiting at a red, and there's no one else around to see you, then who's going to know anyway?

Yep happens to me....even with a car behind me in some cases......junction Wyndam St/Queens Street a classic......I just get the car to go alongside........I often get a latte while I am waiting.......

[Sniper]

Yea it happens. Just jump off the bike and walk it through the red. Thats not illegal is it?

[MisterD]

Some lights are worse than others, keep an eye out for the lines of tar over where the induction loop is buried and stop with your bike "cutting" one of the lines rather than in the box.

Both of my scooters trigger most of them, but otherwise, what Bugjuice said.

[imdying]

Definitely some are worse than others. The big rings of steel wire detect large masses of ferrous metal (via inductance? afaik), and the mostly alloy content of modern bikes apparently won't trigger them.

I just give them an adequate waiting time and go for my life. Only late at night mind, and I'm willing to take the risk with Mr Plod if I get nicked. From what I've heard from fellow bikers though, they're sympathetic.

[Karma]

Does get to be a bit of a pain, but I've managed to redirect my route home from work so that I avoid those lights...

The ones by foodtown on Quay Street are the worst I think, they're set for trucks that go along there so the bike will never trigger them!

[bugjuice]

I always stop on the line at lights, then hopefully a car/truck etc will pull up behind and be close enough to trigger it. If you're alone on the road and coming up to them, aim down the little lines/boxes on the road and put your weight on the front and brake. Sometimes you can get lucky. Or you just do a stoppie..

Most of the new lights that are going in, are pretty good at picking up bikes and such. I think it's just the older systems in the road that's just getting on a bit

[thehollowmen]

I`used to get stuck at them on the way home from work

Went in to the police station to ask for advice and they told me running reds is illegal whatever the circumstances (and you can't at any time on the southern motorway)

Anyways, one time I got stuck for half an hour because of constant two way traffic across the motorway and the cars backed up all the way around the corner into south dunedin.

Made a few more enquirys as to what I should do with the roading contractors and they refered me to a thread on this site *laughs*

anyways.. Turn off your bike, and hit the starter to turn it on again. That's worked a couple of times for me. The charge build up in the electric motor is what triggers it .. I think

[suckingair]

You could also try flashing your lights with the 'pass' switch... sometimes worked for me when I was on a ZZR250.. due to increased electrical draw on the bike (?).

[Aaron]

This has been posted before, (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=lights+sensor) it's easy avoided by coming to as stop over the centre of the wiring...

The sensors are arranged in 2 figure eights, you will be able to see the saw cuts in the road. If not look for the small metal box on the kerb (normally left hand kerb). All the saw cuts lead there (and subsequently to the controller and then to the signals, or aspects as they are more correctly known - each light is a 'lamp' or 'lantern'). The strongest part of the electro magnetic field is directly above either of the 'eights'. So Aaron, when you put your front wheel between them, what you are actually doing is putting the bulk of your bike directly over one of the 'eights'. Note that in some smaller towns, or out of the way intersections the lights may not be vehicle actuated at all - so no loops etc - and work on a fixed timing. At these intersections you shouldnt have to wait more than 100 seconds maximum (normally 60 to 80 seconds).

[limbimtimwim]

Call the local council and complain, they should be able to adjust the sensitivity. Also, as someone else mentioned, I have had success with some lights making sure I stopped atop of where the loop of metal is. The garage door gate thingy where I work is quite sensitive, it won't work unless I stop atop the small cuts in the ground where the loop is.

[Slingshot]

Revving the bike can often help as well. The plus side of this is that if your bike doesn't trigger the traffic lights, it may not trigger speed cameras.

[Flyingpony]

Sometimes putting the side stand down on a sensor line works, otherwise, hit the ped crossing button.

[Beemer]

I used to have that problem on the RG150 at a set of lights near my home. No matter where I positioned the bike, the lights wouldn't trigger and as it was a four-way intersection, I wasn't keen to run a red so I would put the bike on the stand and then hit the pedestrian button! Otherwise I'd just have to wait until a car pulled up in the lane beside me. Unfortunately there was no way of getting away from our place without going through one of three sets of lights, which was a pain!