Solving the mystery behind the stoplight sensor
10-04-12 | 12:07 PM
#76
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 981
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From: Milpitas, CA
Bikes: 2007 Specialized Rockhopper Disc; Trek 7.5 FX
Same here, but CA. I thought I read something about having to wait through at least one full cycle...or an exceedingly long period of time...but I can't find it now.
10-04-12 | 09:25 PM
#77
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 26
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From: CC Texas
Bikes: Trek fx 7.1
One trick I know that works on empty stoplights in to push the crosswalk button to trigger the light change. Then I just get back in the street and proceed on my way. This gets annoying to me though so I changed my route that has a more steady flow of traffic.
10-04-12 | 09:33 PM
#78
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Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Milpitas, CA
Bikes: 2007 Specialized Rockhopper Disc; Trek 7.5 FX
Unfortunately, that doesn't work for many left turns.
10-05-12 | 06:29 AM
#79
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Joined: Apr 2010
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I had complained to the town (Shrewsbury, ma) about a sensor not detecting my bike. They were very nice about it and had an engineer meet me at the offending intersection to adjust the sensor. After making the adjustment he also instructed me that the best place for me to put my front tire is right on one of the corners of the cut in the road where the sensor is placed. This light works for me every time now.
10-05-12 | 08:41 AM
#81
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,155
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From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
I'm pretty sure Colorado law says a cyclist can proceed through a red light after stopping, if it is safe and clear to do so. I know Idaho, Tennessee, and Mississippi have laws specifically stating so. Likewise a Stop sign can be treated as a Yield sign if it is safe and clear to proceed.
Of course that doesn't help you if you're trying to go straight across or turn left onto a busy road, with no other cars on your side of the intersection.
Of course that doesn't help you if you're trying to go straight across or turn left onto a busy road, with no other cars on your side of the intersection.
And not quite complete.
Colorado State law says
(2) A driver stopped at the required position for stopping facing a steady red traffic control signal indication may proceed in accordance with the rules for stop signs if portions of the traffic signal system at the intersection governing other lanes of travel are observed by the driver to go through two complete cycles while remaining steady red for such driver or if the lens governing the driver remains steadily red for more than four minutes
This is how I proceed at the problem intersection is question. The municipality in question has received numerous complaints about the light but have failed to act. Even with their failure to act, I stop at the light and proceed as above for several reasons. First, I stop at lights. Second, this intersection is a very complicated multi-lane road with lots of people driving stupidly. Third, I don't need a ticket or to get squished.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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!
Last edited by cyccommute; 10-05-12 at 08:49 AM.
10-05-12 | 08:46 AM
#82
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,155
Likes: 6,211
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
The loops work by detecting changes in the current when a conductive material passes through the magnetic field of the loop. They can increase or decrease the level of detection by increasing or decreasing the amount of current change detected. Traffic engineers don't want to set the sensitivity too low or they will detect cross traffic and the light becomes just a timed light. If they set it too high, it won't detect smaller objects. We cyclists are those smaller objects.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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!
10-05-12 | 10:59 AM
#84
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
From: Milpitas, CA
Bikes: 2007 Specialized Rockhopper Disc; Trek 7.5 FX
Just one more reason to continue to ride clipless on my commuter. I'll have to try that at some of the stubborn lights on my commute. I've been sick all week, so I haven't been riding to work lately.
