Road Cycling - Secret to the light?

Today I sat at a light for 10 min. waiting for it to turn green. I was on a less used side road trying to cross a busy highway. I was in the lane to go strait(without any cars behind me) but the light never changed. The left hand turn signal went through 4-5 cycles during this time(cars in the left lane). I finally got a clear road and dashed across on red. I know it is some kind of sensor looking for traffic in that lane but it never came. Is there some way to let the sensor know I am there?

Look on the pavement as you approach the intersection. The sensors are wires embedded in the pavement. If you see the line where the asphalt or concrete was cut for the wires, ride along one of those cuts. If you see three parallel cuts (parallel to the road, too), ride and stop along the middle one.

I think you have to be riding a steel bike for the sensors to work, but i'm not sure......maybe i'm craazyy?!

There is a metal mat, that is made for motorcycle guys(We have the same problem), that you flop down on the pavement to trigger the light. It has a cord attached so you don't have to bend all the way down to retrieve it.
I have never used this product.
While I don't recommend this to any body else, when traffic clears I run the light or turn right, U-turn, turn right again.

i have read somewhere(magazine) that you have to lean the bike more(right or left) for the sensors to pick it up, and trick it(the sensors) as if you(your bike) are a car.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think sensors are magnetic(or at least use the principle).

There are sensors in the pavement, as Prosody says. Unfortunately, you can't always trip them with a bike, no matter what you do. I've been told that the DOT can adjust the sensitivity to pick up bikes, but I've never been successful in getting the DOT to do it. Remaining choices are to wait for a car or run the light.

:) Try this on clip from your pedals and place your foot down on the sensor.The metal from your cleats should trigger the sensor.It works for me.

if I have to wait unusually long, I will normally go over to the curb and trigger the crosswalk for peds... normally this will also give a green light to straight traffic (and a red for both crossing traffic)... otherwise I will run the red if I can get a open space.

You guys stop at lights?

Feltup, Tennessee just passed a law last week allowing motorcycles to run these lights after stoping and checking for a clear path. The local bike cops here said "Stop, look both ways, and ride on through" when I asked the same question.

I can't see a bicycle getting a ticket if motorcycles are allowed this right of way.

No cop---No stop-----assuming the intersection is clear of course.

these sensors use a magnetic field and the metal changes the resistance to the field so that is how they are tripped i agree with the cleat idea it seems to work

Originally posted by gattm99
You guys stop at lights?
you dont?

Some lights use radar and infrared(I think it is infared) Ever had your wireless comp freak at a light, also happens when I ride past alarmed houses.