Originally Posted by noisebeam
Of four of the intersections I go thru (small street crossing a major road) the sensors do not work for my bike. I have tried multiple times aliging bike on cut-outs, tipping bike, etc.
There is no way possible I can run the red - three is never a break in the 55mph+ traffic during rush hour. The light is the only way to cross. Even if I could run the red I would not want to out of principle.
I always get off bike and press x-walk button, it works every time.
Al
I admire your restraint, but it's the city's job to make the lights work. I try to stay predictable, and a turning car wouldn't expect me to go from the lane to the signal to the lane again. Street Smarts, which has been published by, among others, by the Pennsylvania DOT, agrees:
If your bicycle doesn't trip the detector, you have to wait for a car to do it, or else you have to go through the red light. Going through the red isn't against the law, because the light is defective. If you ever have a crash or get a traffic ticket because a traffic light won't turn green, it's the fault of whoever installed the detector.
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/chapter9a.htm
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
As always, if you want legal advice, consult a local lawyer, but this makes common sense.