Traffic lights with sensors
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Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2014-08-11 2:48 PM |
New user 135 | Subject: Traffic lights with sensors In the absence of cars to trip the sensor for you, do you walk over and hit the crosswalk button? make a right followed by a u-turn? just run it? pick your nose until a car shows up? something else? I have some decent, traffic free routes for Saturdays & Sundays, but there are a few intersections that really don't favor bikes. |
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2014-08-11 2:51 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Champion 10018 , Minnesota | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors If it seems safe to cross, I will eventually just go. I THINK this is the law, in Minnesota anyway. I believe you have to wait a full cycle and then proceed when it's safe. This can happen with my scooter sometimes. If it's a really busy intersection, I go and push the button. I have also moved aside/up enough to get a car in the right spot, which sometimes requires gesturing to them to pull forward. |
2014-08-11 2:58 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Extreme Veteran 1190 Silicon Valley | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors It depends on how busy the street is. I will watch for a clear opening and go without hitting the cross walk button. On a busy street or one with a blind curve, I play it safe and hit the button. However, I have found on a few roads that my bike will actually trip the light. I have to go out of the bike lane and into the left lane at two lights I routinely have to navigate but since there is no traffic, I go ahead and do it. Found out by accident one time so I am checking the lights a on my ususal routes just to see. |
2014-08-11 2:59 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Member 1748 Exton, PA | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors In PA it is legal to go through a defective traffic light after stopping. A cyclist is not large enough to trip the light, without a car at the light I go through when it is safe. |
2014-08-11 3:09 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors I'll wait a full set of signals then blow the light if it's safe. I've also walked the bike through the crosswalks if it's a busy intersection. |
2014-08-11 3:44 PM in reply to: DanielG |
Member 216 Haymarket, VA | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors In VA it's legal to go through after 2 cycles or 2 minutes whichever is shorter. |
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2014-08-11 4:07 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Veteran 629 Grapevine, TX | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors For me, cycling is a balance between minimizing risk, maximizing training. The right-turn then U-turn tactic allows me to mostly keep up the tempo while minimizing the chance of an accident. Of course, there are tons of lights here in TX, especially in remote areas, where one can see a mile down the road in all directions and there's no traffic. The tactic for those is obvious. |
2014-08-11 4:07 PM in reply to: bwalling |
1055 | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one around. . . . Go through the red. I only wait for the green if there are other cars at the intersection. Indiana now has a red light rule, but it's stupid, I'm not waiting two full minutes. |
2014-08-11 4:28 PM in reply to: ziggie204 |
Alpharetta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors My state has a "Dead Red" law that allows motorcycles and bicycles to continue through a red light if it doesn't change in a “reasonable” amount of time. |
2014-08-11 6:35 PM in reply to: bwalling |
New user 135 | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors So, FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) apparently advises that cyclists should make a right turn and subsequent U-turn. They are also advised to contact the local authority to have the light repaired. |
2014-08-11 7:08 PM in reply to: bwalling |
434 | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors Most loop detectors work on the presence of steel and iron, so it isn't a weight issue (jumping up and down won't help!). I usually pull far enough up that a car behind me will get their engine in the loop detector. If no car, I go for it when I can see myself clear. Loop detector area can often be seen by a sawcut in the asphalt that is filled in with a caulk bead. |
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2014-08-11 7:27 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Expert 1168 Vancouver (not Canada) Washington (not D.C.) | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors Good question. I've lived in Idaho where the laws were really bike friendly (maybe dangerous but friendly). A red light is a stop (just like the sign) and a Stop Sign is a yield. I now live in Washington and many times will push the button if visibility is poor or there is a lot of traffic. If things are light and good visibility, I'll run the light. |
2014-08-11 8:05 PM in reply to: jbrookscga78 |
New user 135 | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors Originally posted by jbrookscga78 Most loop detectors work on the presence of steel and iron, so it isn't a weight issue (jumping up and down won't help!). I usually pull far enough up that a car behind me will get their engine in the loop detector. If no car, I go for it when I can see myself clear. Loop detector area can often be seen by a sawcut in the asphalt that is filled in with a caulk bead. There's been a switch to cameras here, rather than the in ground sensors. I don't find them to be any more bike friendly than in ground sensors. Interesting that FHP thinks they're supposed to pick up cyclists with the cameras. |
2014-08-11 8:17 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Expert 2192 Greenville, SC | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors the law says i have to wait some period of time and then i'm allowed to run it, so i loosely follow the time requirement. |
2014-08-11 9:45 PM in reply to: bwalling |
Master 2406 Bellevue, WA | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors Originally posted by bwalling Originally posted by jbrookscga78 Most loop detectors work on the presence of steel and iron, so it isn't a weight issue (jumping up and down won't help!). I usually pull far enough up that a car behind me will get their engine in the loop detector. If no car, I go for it when I can see myself clear. Loop detector area can often be seen by a sawcut in the asphalt that is filled in with a caulk bead. There's been a switch to cameras here, rather than the in ground sensors. I don't find them to be any more bike friendly than in ground sensors. Interesting that FHP thinks they're supposed to pick up cyclists with the cameras. The ground sensors around here are marked with a symbol. Just put the bottom bracket over it and you're sensed: Usually I just wait. Sometimes I'll do the right turn and U-turn bit. |
2014-08-13 12:52 PM in reply to: jbrookscga78 |
Member 259 Oviedo, Florida | Subject: RE: Traffic lights with sensors Originally posted by jbrookscga78 Most loop detectors work on the presence of steel and iron, so it isn't a weight issue (jumping up and down won't help!). I usually pull far enough up that a car behind me will get their engine in the loop detector. If no car, I go for it when I can see myself clear. Loop detector area can often be seen by a sawcut in the asphalt that is filled in with a caulk bead. This... The loop detectors should work as long as you don't have a full carbon bike including carbon wheels. Aluminium wheels will trip the sensor. You need to position your bike tires directly on top of the the saw cut line (running parallel). If it's a quadrupole - which looks like two rectangles in the road - position your tires on the center line since it has twice as many wires running on the loop. Since I started doing this I have yet to find a light in Central FLA that doesn't sense me and trip the light. Here's a pretty decent article that explains it. http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/library/signals/detect... |
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