Stop lights that don't change

[silva bullit]

Does anyone know what the "law" says about stop lights that don't change??

I hate sitting at a stop light waiting for it to change, and for whatever reason (not enough weight??) the bike doesn't trigger the light to change.

Is there a certain time limit one can wait and then legally run it?

[jesfz6r]

laws here in texas in believe say that "one cycle" of the lights, or basically when it passes up once you can go yielding to traffic though. most cops will understand this and won't give ya trouble unless your askin for it. i can say this because it happened to myself a month ago.

[snoflk]

your best bet is to call your local PD dept and ask them.

[riverrat]

as long as noone else is using the intersection you can treat 'em as "defective signals"....thats what one LEO told me anyhow

[ShaneTbolt]

Use your best judgment, either go straight or make a right, "U" turn, and make another right. I am guessing that you want to go straight.

There is a light by my house that doe not pick up motorcycles and is a very quick light to begin with. Knowing the light, how it works, and being paitent will hopefully be in your favor if there is a cop just sitting watching the intersection.

[AcuracyRR]

I know that these don't exist in Milwaukee, but my friend Alia is from Long Island, NY and certain major intersections there as well as in NYC have a pretty unique trigger for use by emergency vehicles. Certain lights respond to high beams. Example: Cop is coming up to a red light, flashes high beams, opposing light goes yellow...red and then his turns to green. She says they tried it and it worked and apparently it's close to instantaneous. However, like I said, we don't have these in the fine city of Milwaukee so keep running the reds!

[mattg]

there are a few intersections I ride through late at night that don't change, and you can't legally make a right and u-turn.

i usually wait till there's no traffic around and run them.

[OldSchlPunk]

This is mostly seen at intersections with inductive coils embedded in the concrete. Coiled wire with current running through it 'senses' a metal (steel) object passing over by disturbing the electromagnetic field. Problem is today's motorcycles don't have enough steel to be 'seen'.

I've been told to call the local PD and report any intersections, MAYBE someone would get around to adjusting the sensitivity. Personally haven't been busted, but it's probably just a matter of time...

[OldSchlPunk]

Possible solution is a 'Red Light Trigger' sold at dealerships (Mike's in Menasha I believe sells them), which is nothing more than a small very powerful magnet that you strap somewhere on the lower portion of your bike.

Haven't tried one yet......maybe after I get busted.

[project_mercy]

I've never had those "red light triggers" "green trigger" etc, ever work. All they are is a magnet you stick to your bike to hope it throws off the field. You're better off revving the engine to force the stator's field to expand slightly. In fact, I've thought about wrapping my subframe with some copper wire and get a pushbutton to create a giant electromagnet.

I treat them like defective lights. 1 cycle, and I go. I've never been hassled for it.

[funkyninja]

Originally Posted by AcuracyRR

I know that these don't exist in Milwaukee, but my friend Alia is from Long Island, NY and certain major intersections there as well as in NYC have a pretty unique trigger for use by emergency vehicles. Certain lights respond to high beams. Example: Cop is coming up to a red light, flashes high beams, opposing light goes yellow...red and then his turns to green. She says they tried it and it worked and apparently it's close to instantaneous. However, like I said, we don't have these in the fine city of Milwaukee so keep running the reds!

Actually West Allis does have a system setup, I don't know how extensive it is though. It's set off from a remote transmitter in the emergency vehicle. There was a big fuss about it since you could buy the transmitters on ebay that would work w/ cheaper systems. You can tell when the system is activated by a strobe light flashing on top of the light.

I got stuck going east on National at hwy 100. While frire trucks etc came through.

[UK_R6]

I have 2 sets of lights to deal with, one at greenfeild and Moorland, turning left, I wait one revolution and then just go on the next green, left turn onl signal with a red also....
Then West Rogers onto Moorland, again left turn so when theres no lights and no other cars to turn them I just go, or make a right right......

If a cop pulls me, I'll just do the , *best english accent* " ohh I'm soo sorry officer, this is firrst time I've beeen on this road, and arfter sitting therre for 20 minutes I reallly just thought it must be ok to gooo" ;)

[ibjames]

I heard you can put your kickstand down and it will work.. who knows..

[snoflk]

I was told if you call the city the can change the setting on the light to read bikes. I get stuck at a light right across from the PD by my house I wait about 2-3 min and if I see its clear I go but thats normally after bar close so no traffic by me

[sexNstillettos]

I actually have to run a red every day on my way to work because the lil cross walk guy flashes, and then goes back to white...so I let it do that, and then i run it. But now that school is in again, there is a cross walk gaurd there, and he's pimp - he pushes the walk button for me so the light changes....hehehe.....

The other night I exited on 41N where it ends at lisbon...I then take lisbon west on to North ave, and that turn signal also never catches bikes, so i waited one cycle and then ran it. I am sure this is OK as there was a detective on the side of the road 10 ft from me looking for bullet casings or something and it is right across the street from a cop shop, so there were a plethra of cops sitting at the opposite light and just watched me go on through it.