Stop Light Changes (did a search, and called my local department)

[MasterM3]

I was out riding last night around 2am. I approached a number of large intersections and was given a red light. These lights would not give me a green, I was going to wait for 2 cycles as JPM suggested, but the things didn't change from red at all. I sat there for a good five minutes playing around with my bike. nada. I ended up making turns and u-turns to complete my journey.

Anyhow, I called up my local police department and the officer told me that every intersection has a sensor on the ground that detects a vehicle. He stated that if the light wasn't turning green for me, it was becuase I was not on top of the sensor. He also stated that it was my responsibility to find the sensor. Under no circumstances was I to proceed carefully through the red light. He stated that all of his officers would cite me if I did.

It was in his experience as a moto rider for 10+ years that every light will turn green if i find the sensor.

I tried to explain that it doesn't seem as if every intersection has a sensor. Last night I tried to make a protected left turn. With only 1 turning lane, I feel pretty confidant that if there was a sensor, I was on top of it. It never turned green.

Can anyone please clarify?

 

[wackyiraqi]

The sensor only works if you're running synthetic oil and 91 octane gasoline.

 

[Tony_P]

There was a sensor at that light. You didn't trip it because most bikes nowadays don't have enough ferrous (magnetic) metal in them to trip it (a lot of aluminum material for lightweight bikes).

I think Harleys can trip them, though. Those shitcans have more metal than Optimus Prime.

 

[}Dragon{]

cheap solution: buy some super magnets from old hard drives off of e-bay and attach them to the bottom of the bike...

 

[MasterM3]

cheap solution: buy some super magnets from old hard drives off of e-bay and attach them to the bottom of the bike...

would this affect anything on my bike?

 

[}Dragon{]

would this affect anything on my bike?

I don't think so- but I've always used them on a lower fairing...

take a look at this site: http://www.discountbuy.com/greenlighttrigger/FAQ.htm

 

[Owensdad]

cheap solution: buy some super magnets from old hard drives off of e-bay and attach them to the bottom of the bike...

cheaper solution: thumb the starter when you're over the sensor. You can usually tell where the sensor is by the cuts in the pavement.

 

[brichter]

Even better solution:

Call whoever is in charge of the roads and give them a list of the broken sensors.

I did this for 5 lights that I have issues with in and around San Jose, within 45 days they were all fixed.

Road maintenance is not (and should not) be the job of the police.

 

[MasterM3]

Even better solution:

Call whoever is in charge of the roads and give them a list of the broken sensors.

I did this for 5 lights that I have issues with in and around San Jose, within 45 days they were all fixed.

Road maintenance is not (and should not) be the job of the police.

i called.

 

[ontherearwheel]

These loop sensors have adjustments for sensitivity. If they are not adjusted right, nothing can trip them. Plus over time, the sensitivity can change.

I've had some sensors where I have to be in a certain spot for them to trip, but I know where these are.

On some streets, and especially at night, you can not find them. I, for one, do not want to worry about looking down trying to find the sensors.

From my point of view, if I'm stop at a light right on top of the sensor and it does not trip, then the light is inop and I treat it just like a stop sign.

It is the city responsiblity to ensure the light trips for all vehicles and not yours to make it trip.

 

[niwrad_r1]

T
From my point of view, if I'm stop at a light right on top of the sensor and it does not trip, then the light is inop and I treat it just like a stop sign.

It is the city responsiblity to ensure the light trips for all vehicles and not yours to make it trip.

this is avery good point!

 

[silversvs]

In my City they no longer install the ground sensors. We now have cameras on the intersections that pick up the vehicles coming to the intersection. Much more sensitive to motorcycles and bicycles. They work very well. Although they are more pricey to install, there is no need to replace them everytime the intersection is torn up or repaved like the in-ground sensors require.

Now to answer the initial question. Concerns about inoperative signals and signal sensors should be routed to the traffic engineering department of the City or County where the problem is. It is not a police issue.

If you come to a red light and the sensor does not appear to be working, wait a reasonable time, ensure that the roadway is clear, and then enter the intersection. You would treat this the same as a traffic signal that is not operating correctly, ie red light out, no power etc. Just be sure to wait a reasonable time and be aware of right of way violations as you enter the intersection. If you cause a collision, you will be at fault.

 

[tgrrdr]

There was a sensor at that light. You didn't trip it because most bikes nowadays don't have enough ferrous (magnetic) metal in them to trip it (a lot of aluminum material for lightweight bikes).

These loop sensors have adjustments for sensitivity...

It is the city responsiblity to ensure the light trips for all vehicles and not yours to make it trip.

The sensors can be adjusted to detect bicycles - there's no reason (that I can think of) why they can't be adjusted to detect a motorcycle. Also, it might be the cities responsibility to make sure the sensor works but you're going to be the one wasting your time dealing with the ticket so it will impact you more than the city.

 

[JPM]

Look for the circles or squares cut in the pavement and get in them. Also look for a little bicycle icon that some places are putting in the center of the lane, it tells you where you should be to trip the sensor.

I don't work in the area you are talking about but know that not all intersections have sensors and cycle whether there is traffic or not on a regular timer schedule. I also know for a fact that there are certain sensors that will not trip for a motorcycle; I have even had some not trip for a patrol car. If you find one that does not work you need to report it to you local public works, they take care of the road and not the police. If it does not get fixed keep a little log of how many times you have come to the same light and the sensor has not changed and how long you sat there. If you ever get stopped politely explain it to the officer but if they give you a ticket, as the officer you spoke to told you they would, take the citation and go to court with your log and observations.

 

[Razel]

The sensors can be adjusted to detect bicycles - there's no reason (that I can think of) why they can't be adjusted to detect a motorcycle. Also, it might be the cities responsibility to make sure the sensor works but you're going to be the one wasting your time dealing with the ticket so it will impact you more than the city.

There's a trade-off, at least in the minds of the traffic engineers. A large truck in an adjacent lane may be enough to trigger a "sensed vehicle" in that lane, causing the traffice sequence to allow movement for a vehicle that's not there...which is why they don't just set the sensitivity higher. Balance between bicycles/motorcycles and large metal vehicles...or just lazy and use any car that comes by, plus some arbitrary fudge factor. Complaints? Add more fudge...

 

[beaker]

It is the city responsiblity to ensure the light trips for all vehicles and not yours to make it trip.

On roads like CA82/El Camino Real, it falls to Caltrans. I'm still trying to get a loop fixed outside my place.

 

[svclee]

i wouldnt run a redlight even if the light never changed, find a way around it even if it is a inconvenience. Running a redlight and a cop seeing that late at night isnt good and may or may not beleive you. Redlight tickets are alot of money. The cop wont know how long you sat there for and can just be a dik and ticket you anyways. You can also try putting your kickstand down if you have one which works for me sometimes. Or maybe put magnets in your shoes =P

 

[Roundboy]

who stops at red lights these days? :x

 

[motorman4life]

This question came up in BARF...back in the old days when this LEO Forum was a HUGE-ASS thread. Well, buried on page 131 of that thread is the answer I gave to this question last year. You may want to actually sit down sometime and read that long thread "LEO questions answered" is it does contain a lot of great information. I guarantee you will learn something.
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70232

Now, for the answer...
In this case it is both the letter and spirit of the law.
21800(d)(1) CVC "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."

As I have mentioned before, it would a judgment call as to whether you proceeded safely and if you took adequate time or steps to determine that the signal was in-fact inoperative.. in this case, the switching system that is failing to cycle the lights as designed and your vehicle is not being recognized by the system.

If you get stopped, prepare to give an explanation and use terms like “malfunctioning signal” and “proceeded with caution” in addition to telling what reasonable steps you took and what you observed to make your determination and/or how long you waited.

If you get into or cause an accident while proceeding.. you are pretty much screwed.

 

[humbug612]

a couple of people are selling magic light changers for bikes on ebay , 4 oz magnets with double stick tape, wtf, cheaper than a ticket....