Triggering a Red Light in-ground sensor
11-02-09, 12:05 PM
#26
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Rare earth magnets? Detailed positioning instructions? Laying the bike over???
That's all too much bother for me...if a light won't respond in a reasonable amount of time (i.e,. the amount of time it would take for a car), I just run it when it's safe to proceed, taking advantage of California's vehicle code exemption for "malfunctioning" traffic signals.
That's all too much bother for me...if a light won't respond in a reasonable amount of time (i.e,. the amount of time it would take for a car), I just run it when it's safe to proceed, taking advantage of California's vehicle code exemption for "malfunctioning" traffic signals.
11-02-09, 12:27 PM
#27
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Rare earth magnets? Detailed positioning instructions? Laying the bike over???
That's all too much bother for me...if a light won't respond in a reasonable amount of time (i.e,. the amount of time it would take for a car), I just run it when it's safe to proceed, taking advantage of California's vehicle code exemption for "malfunctioning" traffic signals.
That's all too much bother for me...if a light won't respond in a reasonable amount of time (i.e,. the amount of time it would take for a car), I just run it when it's safe to proceed, taking advantage of California's vehicle code exemption for "malfunctioning" traffic signals.
However, lane positioning isn't that elaborate nor difficult. First, it places you where you should be in the lane, i.e. in the middle of it. Second, most people's reasonable amount of time to wait for a malfunctioning light is not the amount of time that it would take for a car to discover that the light is really 'malfunctioning'. That's at least one cycle and usually 2, i.e. 2 to 4 minutes. Most I've run across don't even wait a 3 count
Finally, impress your friends! You are riding along and come to a major road that you can't really cross safely without the light. You pull up, position yourself over the sensor, trip the light and everyone one is impressed with your skills
Extra points if you can do it in a trackstand. Really, it's not that hard.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-02-09, 12:41 PM
#28
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Yeah...I know. I know how to position properly for in-ground sensors, but still they don't always work. And the photo sensors are even more problematic - some only work at certain times of day (e.g., morning and evening when you cast a big shadow, but not during mid-day), or never.
So if the lights cycle through and don't give me my "turn" within a reasonable amount of time...I'm gone.
And as for trackstanding - I rarely put a foot down...the Surly LHT, even with full panniers, is pretty easy to lock up through a regular light cycle.
So if the lights cycle through and don't give me my "turn" within a reasonable amount of time...I'm gone.
And as for trackstanding - I rarely put a foot down...the Surly LHT, even with full panniers, is pretty easy to lock up through a regular light cycle.
11-02-09, 01:01 PM
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I have that problem at work. I can trip the sensor getting out of the garage, but can't get in. I just wait for a car to tail, makes my life easier.
11-02-09, 01:02 PM
#30
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Monday Morning 8:00 am (approximately) I attempted to test the right edge of the frame. 10 seconds to make sure I was aligned properly. 15 seconds later a car comes up and sits at the back of the frame allowing me space to stay where I was leaning into the frame but in a position to make me unsure if it was me or her disrupting the current. Moved over, waved them up to ensure the light changed green, and crossed the street.
At this rate, I should have an answer by mid winter.
At this rate, I should have an answer by mid winter.
11-02-09, 05:00 PM
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Fair enough - but it depends how busy the intersection you're trying to cross/get into is.
11-02-09, 07:55 PM
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Which part? Tripping the sensor, or the track stand? 
Seriously, this came up a while back and I then appreciated the humantransport.org link.
It used to be hit and miss. Now I can nail it most every time. (The sensor, not the track stand...)
Seriously, this came up a while back and I then appreciated the humantransport.org link.
It used to be hit and miss. Now I can nail it most every time. (The sensor, not the track stand...)
11-02-09, 10:14 PM
#33
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in this area, a lot of the in ground sensor cut lines are visible. I take it that if I ride down the cut line and it doesn't trigger that I'm out of luck. Although there is one pair of sensors where in order to trigger the light I have to ride between the pair.
I don't think I would ever get off the bike to trigger a light, I'd just run it. It's legal in Pennsylvania, although they have some stupid requirement that you have to wait multiple cycles on lights that don't have any cycles.
I don't think I would ever get off the bike to trigger a light, I'd just run it. It's legal in Pennsylvania, although they have some stupid requirement that you have to wait multiple cycles on lights that don't have any cycles.
11-03-09, 01:07 AM
#34
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comes with this warning
THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT TOYS AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS! KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN!
THESE MAGNETS CAN EASILY CRUSH FINGERS!
WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURY OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THESE POWERFUL MAGNETS. THESE MAGNETS ARE SOLD TO ADULTS ONLY AND REQUIRE
AN ADULT SIGNATURE UPON DELIVERY.
If you really need unbelievably powerful magnets, here they are.
Uses include magnetic steering of nuclear particles in accelerators, levitation devices, magnetic beam amplifiers, scrap iron separators, etc.
Beware - you must think ahead when moving these magnets.
If carrying one into another room, carefully plan the route you will be taking. Sensitive instruments like CRT monitors will be affected in an entire room. Loose metallic objects and other magnets may become airborne and fly at great speed to attach themselves to these magnets. If you get caught in between the two Supermagnets you can be severely injured or killed. These magnets will crush bones in the blink of an eye.
Two of these magnets close together can create an almost unbelievable magnetic field that can be incredibly dangerous.
Two Supermagnets can very easily get out of control, crush fingers and instantly break ribs or even your arm if opposing poles fly at each other.
A small child recently lost his hand when his father left two # 31 supermagnets unattended. The child picked one up and when he approached the other magnet on a nearby table,
it became airborne and obliterated his small hand.
NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN NEAR ANY OF THESE MAGNETS!
THESE MAGNETS CAN EASILY CRUSH FINGERS!
WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURY OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THESE POWERFUL MAGNETS. THESE MAGNETS ARE SOLD TO ADULTS ONLY AND REQUIRE
AN ADULT SIGNATURE UPON DELIVERY.
If you really need unbelievably powerful magnets, here they are.
Uses include magnetic steering of nuclear particles in accelerators, levitation devices, magnetic beam amplifiers, scrap iron separators, etc.
Beware - you must think ahead when moving these magnets.
If carrying one into another room, carefully plan the route you will be taking. Sensitive instruments like CRT monitors will be affected in an entire room. Loose metallic objects and other magnets may become airborne and fly at great speed to attach themselves to these magnets. If you get caught in between the two Supermagnets you can be severely injured or killed. These magnets will crush bones in the blink of an eye.
Two of these magnets close together can create an almost unbelievable magnetic field that can be incredibly dangerous.
Two Supermagnets can very easily get out of control, crush fingers and instantly break ribs or even your arm if opposing poles fly at each other.
A small child recently lost his hand when his father left two # 31 supermagnets unattended. The child picked one up and when he approached the other magnet on a nearby table,
it became airborne and obliterated his small hand.
NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN NEAR ANY OF THESE MAGNETS!
11-03-09, 08:05 AM
#35
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I think more people would be open to the trackstand than learning how the stoplight works, however
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-03-09, 10:23 AM
#36
GATC
Another tricky scenario in one of the municipalities here is that they have inground and video sensors at some lights; they are letting the inground ones decay in place and hoping for smooth transition to video whenever the inductive one stops working. In my case, I have had no luck triggering any of those dual sensors.
11-03-09, 12:20 PM
#37
Senior Member
This thread is fantastic. I've always assumed that the sensors in the roads responded to weight. I've got two intersections that give me trouble on the way home. The first intersection is right outside of my company so the wait for cars to come behind and trigger the light is not long. Last night, there was a car there before me. The second intersection is in a very quiet part of downtown and I resort to running that light almost every evening. I tried the advice in this post last night and I got a light! Not enough evidence to say it's a done deal yet, but very promising. Thanks to all for this useful tip.
11-03-09, 02:15 PM
#38
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This thread is fantastic. I've always assumed that the sensors in the roads responded to weight. I've got two intersections that give me trouble on the way home. The first intersection is right outside of my company so the wait for cars to come behind and trigger the light is not long. Last night, there was a car there before me. The second intersection is in a very quiet part of downtown and I resort to running that light almost every evening. I tried the advice in this post last night and I got a light! Not enough evidence to say it's a done deal yet, but very promising. Thanks to all for this useful tip.
Amaze your friends! Dazzle the opposite sex! Nothing makes my wife want me more than being able to trip a stoplight with my bike. Okay. Maybe parallel parking**That's what the narrative in my head says and I'm sticking to it! No matter how much she shakes her head and sounds like this guy
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-03-09, 02:34 PM
#39
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I've read that the buttons don't make the light change -- that's not what they're for -- instead, they make the "WALK" light last longer so a pedestrian has more time to cross.
11-03-09, 03:18 PM
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For 32 years I've been trying all the wrong stuff! This evening I'm gonna trip a stoplight for her.
I might be a little late signing in tomorrow morning....
11-03-09, 03:33 PM
#41
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The fun part is tripping the pikes that allow cars out of campus but not in.
They're run by those sensors in the ground. I was walking with a girl and pushing my bicycle when I rolled it up to one and said, "Allow me," while the pike opened up, making the walking path wide.
They're run by those sensors in the ground. I was walking with a girl and pushing my bicycle when I rolled it up to one and said, "Allow me," while the pike opened up, making the walking path wide.
11-03-09, 04:13 PM
#42
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Now they have been converted to placebo buttons that do nothing at all.
11-03-09, 05:07 PM
#43
GATC
The buttons here all do something. Sometimes they trigger the light instantly, other times they give a 'walk' signal that would otherwise never light at all.
11-03-09, 05:24 PM
#44
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__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-03-09, 09:11 PM
#45
Count Orlok Member
I tried this on the gate we have at work--open sesame!
All this time I've been using the pedestrian gate, clumsily opening it, pushing my bike through...no more!
All this time I've been using the pedestrian gate, clumsily opening it, pushing my bike through...no more!
11-03-09, 09:41 PM
#46
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11-03-09, 09:56 PM
#47
Squeaky Wheel
The intersections with camera lights can be a little more problematic. The cameras are essentially averaging a specific rectangular shaped area of the lane, and when a car moves in the camera detects the overall difference from the baseline. Like the traffic loops, the sensitivity of these can be adjusted. I have found two things that can be effective for these lights:
1. Position your self in the *center* of the lane, right where a car would stop, and make yourself as big as possible. If you at the egde of the land, the camera may not see you.
2. In the winter, when I ride with my light on my helmet, I also aim the light right at the camera. This seems to be pretty effective!
1. Position your self in the *center* of the lane, right where a car would stop, and make yourself as big as possible. If you at the egde of the land, the camera may not see you.
2. In the winter, when I ride with my light on my helmet, I also aim the light right at the camera. This seems to be pretty effective!
11-04-09, 06:29 AM
#48
Senior Member
This thread is fantastic. I've always assumed that the sensors in the roads responded to weight. I've got two intersections that give me trouble on the way home. The first intersection is right outside of my company so the wait for cars to come behind and trigger the light is not long. Last night, there was a car there before me. The second intersection is in a very quiet part of downtown and I resort to running that light almost every evening. I tried the advice in this post last night and I got a light! Not enough evidence to say it's a done deal yet, but very promising. Thanks to all for this useful tip.
The first light is still going to be trouble for me. I could not find any cuts in the road. There are no camera sensors that I can see. (And I can see many in my city.) And there are no pedestrian controls. This is a big intersection that I dare not run. SOL.
11-04-09, 09:30 AM
#49
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Ok. Success on the second light again last night. I think that light responds well to the advice in this thread.
The first light is still going to be trouble for me. I could not find any cuts in the road. There are no camera sensors that I can see. (And I can see many in my city.) And there are no pedestrian controls. This is a big intersection that I dare not run. SOL.
The first light is still going to be trouble for me. I could not find any cuts in the road. There are no camera sensors that I can see. (And I can see many in my city.) And there are no pedestrian controls. This is a big intersection that I dare not run. SOL.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-04-09, 09:43 AM
#50
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Ok. Success on the second light again last night. I think that light responds well to the advice in this thread.
The first light is still going to be trouble for me. I could not find any cuts in the road. There are no camera sensors that I can see. (And I can see many in my city.) And there are no pedestrian controls. This is a big intersection that I dare not run. SOL.
The first light is still going to be trouble for me. I could not find any cuts in the road. There are no camera sensors that I can see. (And I can see many in my city.) And there are no pedestrian controls. This is a big intersection that I dare not run. SOL.
You might also check with local cycling advocacy groups - getting a traffic signal changed for cyclists might require more than just one voice.