Traffic Lights

[winginman]

I have a very annoying traffic light about 2 miles from my house.  It will not trip for the scooters.  I have had to run it or turn right and make a U turn to get around it.  This is if no cars happen to be in front of behind me.  I have run into this problem for years of riding motorcycles.  I read an article about putting these magnets under the bike or scooter.  I found some neodymium magnets on ebay, 10 for about $19, with free shipping.  They are 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in x 1/8 in thick with 13 pounds of pull.  They are pretty cool, from over a foot away they will jump at each other.  Anyway I cleaned a spot under the scoot and used some thin double sided foam tape to mount one 90 degrees to the bike.  Anyway, I rode down to my favorite traffic light and ether it works or while I was doing all this they fixed the light.  Apparently the magnetic field disrupts the field on the coil in the road and that's what trips the light.  Too, cool, huh. 

[Shaka]

I have that problem with traffic lights as well.  I asked an officer here in NC about it and he said it was legal to run the red as long as you stop first and it is safe to cross the intersection.  Basically, treat the red light as a stop sign.  This usually only is an issue at night for me.  During the day there are plenty of other cars to trip the light for me.

[axy]

I have that problem with traffic lights as well.  I asked an officer here in NC about it and he said it was legal to run the red as long as you stop first and it is safe to cross the intersection. 

Is this for real?

I mean, I have seen this with my own eyes in Egypt (where nobody cares about any traffic rules and traffic lights are there just for fun and decoration), but I would not expect something like this in USA?

I do not know is it the cop that has IQ like his shoe size, or somebody completely f***ed up writing the law? Or both?

[jprestonian]

Is this for real?

I mean, I have seen this with my own eyes in Egypt (where nobody cares about any traffic rules and traffic lights are there just for fun and decoration), but I would not expect something like this in USA?

I do not know is it the cop that has IQ like his shoe size, or somebody completely f***ed up writing the law? Or both?

It's the law in Tennessee, anyway (and perhaps NC, as well). Laws vary by state, here.

The only reason I know this is okay in Tennessee is that the law changed in the past two years, and it was all over the news.
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[axy]

It's the law in Tennessee, anyway (and perhaps NC, as well). Laws vary by state, here.

The only reason I know this is okay in Tennessee is that the law changed in the past two years, and it was all over the news.
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Must be lots of fun proving who is guilty at courts after accidents at crossroads regulated by traffic lights in Tennessee.
Incredible.

[jprestonian]

Well, it would almost always be the rider's fault, since it is the rider's responsibility to treat a red light as a stop sign, and to ONLY PROCEED when safe to do so.

Riders have a little more incentive to be cautious, 'cause it doesn't much matter who's fault an accident was if you're dead.
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[axy]

Well, it would almost always be the rider's fault, since it is the rider's responsibility to treat a red light as a stop sign, and to ONLY PROCEED when safe to do so.

Riders have a little more incentive to be cautious, 'cause it doesn't much matter who's fault an accident was if you're dead.
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I was referring to accident with two participants, regardless of the vehicle type. If there is a rule that red light strictly means "STOP UNTIL IT TURNS GREEN", it is much easier, especially with witnesses, to prove guilt. When I had an accident on a crossroad regulated by traffic lights (the guy ran into me from opposite direction, hitting me with his car on my lane), the court ordered the company running the traffic light maintenance to present a traffic light plan with exact duration of various lights, dynamics of change etc. I had two traffic court experts who proved that I was driving at my green light while the other guy slammed into me when he was supposed to be standing still at his red light.

In Tennessee situation with "relaxed red", such situation would be much more difficult to be evaluated.

Yet, there is one situation where I agree that regardless of the light, driver should be allowed to proceed, provided that there is no car on the main road. This is turning right situation. Very often I have to stand still and wait for a few minutes, even though there are absolutely no cars coming from the left. If there is no additional green arrow, and often there is no because it is a "less important" road with lower traffic volume, people are standing and waiting for no reason whatsoever.

In all other situations I think that having "relaxed red" light traffic rule is like playing Russian roulette.

[Shaka]

That rule only applies to motorcycles/scooters that don't trip the light.  Not cars!

[jprestonian]

That rule only applies to motorcycles/scooters that don't trip the light.  Not cars!

In Tennessee, yes, that's right -- it only applies to motorcycles and scooters.
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[axy]

That rule only applies to motorcycles/scooters that don't trip the light.  Not cars!

To "trip the light" means that traffic lights are equipped with sensor loops in the asphalt pavement, so the incoming vehicle triggers the light change cycle?

We had this problem in the city too, but now they have dug out old magnetic loops and installed new ones that are triggered by motorcycles. This refers to city center urban areas that are under the system of so called "intelligent traffic lights" that change their behavior depending on the number of cars coming from different directions. In rural and suburban areas, there are fixed-time-interval traffic lights that usually have two programs (day and night) and fixed change intervals.

Even if the light change is not triggered, there is a cycle that lasts certain period of time, so the only consequence is that you have to wait longer until your direction goes green. If they introduced this rule here, I bet there would be 40 % mortality rate in motorcycle driving population...

[jprestonian]

We had this problem in the city too, but now they have dug out old magnetic loops and installed new ones that are triggered by motorcycles. This refers to city center urban areas that are under the system of so called "intelligent traffic lights" that change their behavior depending on the number of cars coming from different directions. In rural and suburban areas, there are fixed-time-interval traffic lights that usually have two programs (day and night) and fixed change intervals.

Yeah, but you don't have 30% of your population who thinks that 90% of all our taxes go overseas or to people on welfare, like the dim-witted-yet-loud 30% we have, here.
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[axy]

Yeah, but you don't have 30% of your population who thinks that 90% of all our taxes go overseas or to people on welfare, like the dim-witted-yet-loud 30% we have, here.
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Do not worry, every country has its own share of "issues".
Here we have problems with corruption, especially political. There is saying - Every country has its own mafia, but here mafia owns the country.

Yet, they have managed to install motorcycle-triggered traffic lights.

[winginman]

It has been a week now with the magnets on the scooters and we have yet to fail to trip a light.  In the past I would call the city or state traffic engineer and report the light, then sometimes a few weeks later they would adjust the sensitivity.  The state engineer said they try to set them to pick up motor cycles but scooters are more difficult due to the smaller size.  I had the same problem with my Goldwing, which is a bib bike, but has an alloy frame and not a lot of steel.  There were a number of lights that did not pick it up as well.  It got a magnet too.  $2 a bike is not a lot to get rid of the annoyance and improve safety.  Then the do I run it or what problem goes away.  I talked to a police officer who is my next door neighbor and he said treat it like a flashing red and make sure the intersection was clear.  Then again an officer that just happens to see that can stop you and issue a ticket and then you got to explain it to the judge if the officer does not believe you.  Too much hassle.  And the intersection that causes me the most grief crosses a high traffic parkway and getting a break in traffic is not a good probability I would turn right and go down aways and turn around.  Now it has not failed to trip. 

BTW I think this forum is great, I get to discuss problems and experiences with people from all over the world, thank you all.

[Bryan]

I've heard about this before and have noticed one particular light on my route which has always changed when I have been on one of my other bikes but won't when I'm on the scoot. I'll see about some of those magnets because I don't want to run into any issues with the local cops who often aren't shy to ask if you are going to buy them dinner today.