Green Light Triggers

[FJRocha]

It looks like Pandora is not big enough to trigger some of the loop sensors for some red lights in town. I’ve looked around in the web for a device that would help with those stubborn red lights, but they seem too good to be true. Does anyone have any experience with these types of widgets?

 

[twowheelnut]

Don't waste your coin. Drop the center stand a couple of times. That'll trip the sensors.

 

[Ignacio]

And if it's a local light, share what intersections don't work with your city/county/state public works department. I've found mine helpful in adjusting sensitivity of intersections to be supportive of bikes. I've found they hate wasting people's time and having them risk running reds probably just about as much as we do.

 

[SilveradoSlick]

The Green Light Trigger has worked fairly well for me. I can get through some lights that I couldn't without it, but there are still some around that it won't trigger.

 

[zzkenoman]

+1

for green light, however you do have to wipe them down because they pick up all that metal on the freeway.

 

[BrunDog]

Why add all that weight? What, when you can just drive on through the red light??

-BD

 

[bikerskier]

Wow, this issue has become very frustrating for me on many new intersections in Washington County here in Oregon. I have called the County Traffic Engineer twice with no call back yet. I guess I'll keep calling.

 

[rogdeb]

+1for green light, however you do have to wipe them down because they pick up all that metal on the freeway.

+2

 

[vectervp1]

I've spoken to our traffic management center about this a few times. First of all, there are three types of traffic lights out there. Each one reacts differently and is triggered differently.

The first one is the magnetic looms in the roads. You can sometimes tell these are in the roads if you see the 'scars' in the roadway showing where they the wires are. With these, some of the red light triggers will work. They will work if they are the huge magnets because they will obviously affect the magnetic field the looms work off of. What also should work is riding your bike as close to them as possible. This will help get as much steel near them as possible.

The next type is what a lot of municipalities are going to. They are camera based systems which look for a color change to decide if there is anything in the roadway. With these, you need to ride in the tire grooves because this is where they look for the color change. These are still not as common as the magnetic looms, but they are the wave of the future, and I know the Phoenix area is going to these systems. The red light triggers would not work on these.

The last type of light is the time based light. These lights your basically screwed in. They are preset to chance at certain times. Usually they are set at different intervals depending on what time of day it is, and at certain times of the day, the turn arrows may be disabled as well. With this type the trigger will obviously not work.

 

[profireguy]

Hit your start button. If that does not work, it is legal in Iowa to treat a malfunctioning traffic signal as a four way stop. If it does not change for me, after a reasonable wait, I'd say it's malfunctioning. YMMV.

 

[luvtoride]

I've got one of these on my bike... probably snake oil. I have noticed a few less lights that didn't trigger previously but still run into ones that it doesn't work with.

I was talking with a Harley friend of mine about a week ago. She received some literature from a group that she belongs to that state, if this happens to you, rev the engine... something about some electrostatic crap or something like that. I haven't tried this. Also, it seems to me if this really worked it would be a widely known fact.

I've also tried the centerstand trick. This doesn't appear to work in the same intersections where the green light trigger has failed.

How I solve the problem... wait no longer than 2 minutes or what seems a reasonable amount of time & drive thru the red light cautiously.

 

[FJRocha]

I asked a LEO for some advise and he said that the best way is to move to the right lane and go straight. Then make a U-turn.

His reasoning is that if you move SAFELY to the right lane to go straigh and a cop sees you, he might not think twice a bout it and let you go; However, if you run the red light, chances are that the cop will stop you with a hefty ticket. Running a red light is a severe traffic violation very difficult to justify to a judge.

 

[nusman68]

I read on some website (GreenLight's maybe?) long ago to try to roll over the loop sensor perpendicular (or as close to that) as possible, and to do so quickly, as opposed to 'crawling' over it; supposedly this will help it sense the change in the magnetic field. Yeah, I have one; it does help with *some* lights that before wouldn't change at all for me; have done the 'centerstand push down' maneuver as well, inconclusive results. What REALLY works is to drag a 20 LB galvanized Danforth boat anchor behind the bike on a short chain, but the sparks are a bit bling-bling....

 

[luvtoride]

I asked a LEO for some advise and he said that the best way is to move to the right lane and go straight. Then make a U-turn.
His reasoning is that if you move SAFELY to the right lane to go straigh and a cop sees you, he might not think twice a bout it and let you go; However, if you run the red light, chances are that the cop will stop you with a hefty ticket. Running a red light is a severe traffic violation very difficult to justify to a judge.

The trick is to go threw the light when nobody is around. The method previously mentioned is not one that I use in traffic. Agree, you would most likely end up w/ a hefty fine if caught.

 

[exskibum]

I was talking with a Harley friend of mine about a week ago. She received some literature from a group that she belongs to that state, if this happens to you, rev the engine... something about some electrostatic crap or something like that. I haven't tried this. Also, it seems to me if this really worked it would be a widely known fact.

Now, why am I NOT surprised that a Harley rider would suggest REVVING the engine as a remedy? :lol: :lol:

I mean, DUHHHH . . . if it keeps you safe on the road to have loud pipes so that everyone sees you, why wouldn't noise also work for stop lights?

Or maybe I'm just missing the real reason it works: if you rev it enough and a couple chrome parts fall off onto the magnetic loom, that'll get 'er to change.

Seems you missed a fine opportunity to have a little fun with your Harley friend's reasoning.

Next time she rolls up to a simple stop sign out in the boonies and starts revving her noise rheostat, be ready with a quip -- if it can be heard over the din.

 

[luvtoride]

Hahaha!, I like that! The truth of the matter is she doesn't give me a ration of **** about riding a rice burner... so I usually don't bug her too much.

Now, I've got another Hardley bud... I bug the hell out of her over the fact that her bike is a 2002 & only has about 2500 miles on it. Now, I'm not surprised... but still stick her in the side about it.

 

[onecooltngeek]

Check your city/state laws...

Here in knoxville, I have been told by some leo friends that is is ok to run a red on a motorcycle if the following conditions are met..

1. You have sat at the light through one complete series of changes ( example: you see red, you see green, you see red, but never saw a turn signal green )

2. THere is no other traffic stopped or moving that would cause the light to trigger.

At that point it is obvious that you are not going ot trigger the light, so you can treat it as a yellow caution light.

 

[TheAxeman]

If LEO and COP have the same number of letters why are we calling them LEO's?? Just curious as always.....

I really only have a major problem with one light in my area and I have tryed every trick mentioned here but to no avail. I must have to run that sucker 10 or 12 times a year.

 

[raclow]

+1 for Green Light Trigger.

It does collect metal from the road. <_<