Don't get stuck at traffic lights any more, use a magnet!

[Brainsquishy]

Found this on the web. I've gotten stuck at a few lights because the chinabike doesn't have enough mass to trip the sensor.
Here is the fix...
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/35673478-8CB6-4B94-A463-2BCE5DED7BBC/
:D

[katoranger]

The magnets have been around for awhile. You will find that mosts bikes will not trigger some lights.

I actually have found some of the points to stop at on some lights to get the to trigger for me. Otherwise I just make a right turn and go down the street to make a u-turn.

Allen

[DDG1976]

In TN. and GA. they passed a law which allows bikes to turn left on red between the hours of midnight and 7 am. This helps a little. All of the new lights in the Chattanooga area have photo cells and all you have to do is flash your brights coming to the light and it changes.(works great) I read in the paper that they are going to retrofit the older ones too.

[katoranger]

I will have to look that law up. Most of the time I have problems at a light are after 12am.

Allen

[DDG1976]

I will have to look that law up. Most of the time I have problems at a light are after 12am.

Allen

Call the local magistrate, they should be able to look it up for you, It passed in TN. in Jan. 07 and Georgia followed suite not very long after.

[katoranger]

I know my state rep pretty well. I will ask him.

Allen

[Qingdao]

I just pull up on the side walk and hit the cross button.

[katoranger]

I have found that at some intersections you can see where the lines are buried in the asphalt. I usually ride alone one of those and it will trip. The magnet may help with that.

Allen

[BillR]

This has been giving me fits, too. :wink:
It's also a bunch of "FUN" :twisted: when trying to make a left turn on your aluminum bicycle.
Didn't know about the TN law, now I can go ahead and turn left so I can get to work :P
Bill

[katoranger]

Here is a good link. http://www.bikernation.net/stoplightbill.htm

Has all the states laws regarding this situation.

MN has had it for awhile. It was inacted right before I moved from there.

Allen

[SpeedSouth]

I haven't tried the magnets myself, but I've read mixed results from others. Most claim they don't offer much (if any) help.

Some people offer two other options. One is to drop your kickstand (don't forget to pull it back up!), which puts the metal mass a little closer to the sensor. Another is to kill the engine and bump the starter.


And I read talk about another law that was passed in several states (can't remember them all) which allows mototcyclists to "run" any light which has delayed them for at least 2 complete cycles. If you get skipped a 3rd time, it's okay to run the light no matter what the time of day.


I haven't had many problems since there's so much traffic around here (I'm rarely alone at a light) but I do whatever is best for the situation. Luckily, I haven't had any tickets in many years, so I don't worry much about running a light if needed. If the law doesn't save my bacon and the cop isn't understanding, then so be it....I'll just accept whatever happens.


Edit: Nice link Kato. I guess it's a "reasonable" time period and not the light cycle, but that's the law I was thinking of.

[katoranger]

I have one light that never changes for me late at night. I plan to use this law then. If I wait for more than a few minutes that should be enough.

Allen

[DDG1976]

I know the lights that change and don't on the way home. I pull up and give it about 15 seconds then go. I'm just wondering if I ever will have to convince a cop that this is a law, because I know they'll look at me like I'm crazy.

[knothead]

TN law just says that you need to wait a reasonable time, two cycles of the light. If you don't get a green then proceed when it's safe. Doesn't matter what time of day. I've run reds right in front of the police two times now at the same light, nothing has ever been said.

[lego1970]

Missouri has a law worded something like what Knothead posted above. Wait a reasonable time, then proceed with caution, anytime night or day.

[panamarandy]

I took a big magnet off the bottom of an old cb antenna and mounted it under my bike, it seems to activate more lights than before.. was the cheap way......LOL

[tigertamer]

I tried to use a 20oz speaker magnet at POINT-BLANK, by hand, and got no joy after rolling it around the sensor for a..."reasonable amount of time" :cry:

I only tried it at that one troublesome light. I'll have to try it elsewhere to get a better idea..

Tigertamer