Sensor Triggered Traffic Lights

gilbert_by_proxy

I am having a problem with the type of traffic lights which are triggered once they detect a car using sensors in the road. The bike does not have enough metal to set off the sensor.

The options so far are:
* Wait for a larger vehicle to turn up.
* Get off and walk.
* Tow a square metre of steel (although a good workout, not such a good idea).

I can't think of anything suitable has anyone got any suggestions?

cntl

>>The options so far are:
>>* Wait for a larger vehicle to turn up.
>>* Get off and walk.
>>* Tow a square metre of steel (although a good workout, not such a good idea).

You forgot one: RLJ

Gambatte

4. Complain to council, get them to turn the dial that increases sensitivity

Rykard

agree with Gambette, i had one near my work ,called the council someone rang me back, next time i rolled up the light changed...

BentMikey

cntl wrote:

You forgot one: RLJ

Although I think that technically that wouldn't be a RLJ, because the light is defective if it doesn't detect your vehicle.

Aidocp

gilbert_by_proxy wrote:

I am having a problem with the type of traffic lights which are triggered once they detect a car using sensors in the road. The bike does not have enough metal to set off the sensor.

The options so far are:
* Wait for a larger vehicle to turn up.
* Get off and walk.
* Tow a square metre of steel (although a good workout, not such a good idea).

I can't think of anything suitable has anyone got any suggestions?

I've found that some inductive loops are sensative to your positioning on the road and in the primary position you are more likey to trigger them, why :?: your guess is as good as mine.

gilbert_by_proxy

I have contacted the council and they are looking in to it.

Thanks Gambatte, Rykard


(after many cups of tea )

mrchrispy

i was thinking this might be an issue on a carbon racer althoguh I've not found some lights to test it on yet.

hamboman

mrchrispy wrote:

i was thinking this might be an issue on a carbon racer althoguh I've not found some lights to test it on yet.

The vast majority of weight is from the rider though, whether the bike is a steelie or carbon - there would be a greater difference between a 14 stone rider and a 12 stone rider

Shadowduck

hamboman wrote:

mrchrispy wrote:

i was thinking this might be an issue on a carbon racer althoguh I've not found some lights to test it on yet.

The vast majority of weight is from the rider though, whether the bike is a steelie or carbon - there would be a greater difference between a 14 stone rider and a 12 stone rider

The issue isn't weight, it's whether there's enough metal in the frame to trigger the inductive loop sensors. Don't know what'd happen with carbon fibre - I suspect it's conductive but no idea if it'd cause an inductive pulse or not.

adifiddler

I used to leave work at 2am and one of the junctions leaving the industrial estate had these sort of lights, I would get to them about 2.45am each night and because there was never much about i treated the junction as any other junction without lights. One night i arrived at the junction and spotted a police car parked down the road with two coppers in it so i thought i best do the correct thing. I sat there and i sat there i kept glancing at the coppers and they were watching me so i just sat there. In the end i started getting cold and fed up so i checked it was clear and went for it. As soon as i moved the blue lights on the police car went on and he slowly drove up, well i had lost it now and shouted "WTF am i supposed to do" the coppers pulled up and were in hysterics of laughter. They told me to calm down and said it was ok. I recognized one of them and he knew i commuted at this time of night and he asked what i usually did and i told him i treated the junction as if the lights were not there and he said that was fine when there is nothing about although technically against the law so I might get stopped if i was to do it but that most police knew these lights did not change for cyclists and would use there discretion with only a chat.

He did say that it is actually possible to change the lights on a bike by cycling down the line where the induction coil is placed in the road. I was sceptical so i said ok i will try it and shot around for another go, low and behold it worked, after a short time the lights changed.

A couple of months ago i picked up a copy of Cyclecraft and it gives the same advise.

Random Vince

which bit of the inuction coil do you ride down?

i've been known to circle on the coil to try and get them to change,

policeman came out of the station (was right outside it) and asked what i was doing.

PhilTheFish

adifiddler wrote:

He did say that it is actually possible to change the lights on a bike by cycling down the line where the induction coil is placed in the road. I was sceptical so i said ok i will try it and shot around for another go, low and behold it worked, after a short time the lights changed.

A couple of months ago i picked up a copy of Cyclecraft and it gives the same advise.

I can confirm this to be true, as when we were kids there was an ambulance station down the road from us that used loops to open the security gates. We'd spend many a happy day riding along the edge of the sensors (marked by the cut in the tarmac) and watching the gates slide open! After 15 minutes or so we were always treated to the spectacle of watching the security guard chasing us back up the road!

rustychisel

adifiddler wrote:

I used to leave work at 2am and one of the junctions leaving the industrial estate had these sort of lights, I would get to them about 2.45am each night and because there was never much about i treated the junction as any other junction without lights. One night i arrived at the junction and spotted a police car parked down the road with two coppers in it so i thought i best do the correct thing. I sat there and i sat there i kept glancing at the coppers and they were watching me so i just sat there. In the end i started getting cold and fed up so i checked it was clear and went for it. As soon as i moved the blue lights on the police car went on and he slowly drove up, well i had lost it now and shouted "WTF am i supposed to do" the coppers pulled up and were in hysterics of laughter. They told me to calm down and said it was ok. I recognized one of them and he knew i commuted at this time of night and he asked what i usually did and i told him i treated the junction as if the lights were not there and he said that was fine when there is nothing about although technically against the law so I might get stopped if i was to do it but that most police knew these lights did not change for cyclists and would use there discretion with only a chat.

He did say that it is actually possible to change the lights on a bike by cycling down the line where the induction coil is placed in the road. I was sceptical so i said ok i will try it and shot around for another go, low and behold it worked, after a short time the lights changed.

A couple of months ago i picked up a copy of Cyclecraft and it gives the same advise.

excellent story. I have an intersction around here that does the same thing, but learned that if you veer over into the 'right turn' lane of three you can get the lights to change. Dunno why. Yes, numerous times the cops on the opposing route have watched with interest as I cut across to that lane, then nip back to the left lane in order to continue my journey. They've never stopped me to ask why though. Grrrr, I hate those stupid things.

RANT: we can send unmanned spacecraft to far off galaxies, land men on the moon, and pilot a submersible > 5000m undersea, but can we get non-slip paint or properly detecting traffic lights? Can we F U C K!!

RANT OVER :roll: