traffic light sensors

JIBTEXHNKA · 05-31-2008, 01:19 AM

when i leave work it's between 2-4 in the morning. there aren't many cars on the road and often when i get to a traffic light i'm the only one there.

my problem: the light never turns green for me! i know some of them are weight sensors, others have cameras (the ones that aren't timed, anyway). i guess i'm just not heavy enough. i just sit there until another car comes up behind me, or, more often, i end up running the red light since there's nobody around anyway.

does this happen to anyone else? it's really kind of annoying.

rusty rider · 05-31-2008, 07:50 AM

Yep, it has happened to me a few times. I try to take routes that use timed lights instead of weight if I can. When not I wait for a couple of minutes if not traffic I will go ahead and go. :??: what else is there to do?

turbo chicken · 05-31-2008, 12:29 PM

i end up running them also... i leave early like that also...

**jonathan180iq** · 05-31-2008, 01:24 PM

I was reading about laws regarding weight sensing lights and how they can't pick up some motorcycles. If that's the case, the general consensus seems to be that it's ok to take off, if you have waited a significant amount of time and the coast is clear.

Doug577 · 05-31-2008, 03:12 PM

I know that around here a lot of those sensors are in the roadbed, and you can tell where they are by the lines in the pavement. Sometimes if I stop over one of them it seems to work.

But heck, some of them don't seem to change even for my car!

IndyKTM · 06-01-2008, 12:12 PM

I had this issue a few years ago when I had a scooter. One time I waited and waited then decided to run the red light(I made a left turn). Long story short a cop was coming up the road and saw his light was green when I pulled in front of him(he was very far away and it was at night) which meant I was turning on a red. He pulls me over and I explained to him that the light wouldn't turn for me. He said he had the issue when he rode motorcycles as well and said "you see the sensor lines in the road? Stop just inside one and put your kickstand down just next to the sensor line and lean your bike over to put weight on your kicktand and it should trip the light."

It actually worked....most of the time. Sometimes you cant see the sensor so your hosed. But I thought I would share a tip that a cop gave me and it actually works. I use it now with my GZ and it does help.

JIBTEXHNKA · 06-02-2008, 06:41 AM

thanks for the tip, i'll definitely give that a try next time i get the chance (shouldn't be too long). a lot of these roads are freshly paved and there are no sensor lines, but i'll try and guess where they are.

jonathan, where did you find that information?

**jonathan180iq** · 06-02-2008, 09:41 AM

I don't have a link or anything. This was more than year ago and based on several different reports and opinions on the topic.
I'm sure I could find something again searching through google. But, then again, that would take the fun of you doing it.

zepfan1232 · 06-06-2008, 01:55 AM

All of the sensors here are magnetic. Unless you have a big heap of metal like a car's engine, then it's hard to set them off. I think a lot of places have a law that allows you to run a light after sitting for 3 cycles.

bigfour · 06-06-2008, 02:17 AM

A 'more' legal workaround for this is to turn right on red, make a u-turn, then turn right on the same street (light will be green anyway).

I also use this trick when it's hot to avoid overheating at a stop light.

05-31-2008, 01:19 AM	#1
JIBTEXHNKA Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 120	traffic light sensors when i leave work it's between 2-4 in the morning. there aren't many cars on the road and often when i get to a traffic light i'm the only one there. my problem: the light never turns green for me! i know some of them are weight sensors, others have cameras (the ones that aren't timed, anyway). i guess i'm just not heavy enough. i just sit there until another car comes up behind me, or, more often, i end up running the red light since there's nobody around anyway. does this happen to anyone else? it's really kind of annoying. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-31-2008, 07:50 AM	#2
rusty rider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: terre haute Posts: 142	Yep, it has happened to me a few times. I try to take routes that use timed lights instead of weight if I can. When not I wait for a couple of minutes if not traffic I will go ahead and go. :??: what else is there to do? __________________ Live life simple, so that others can simply live.
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05-31-2008, 12:29 PM	#3
turbo chicken Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 75	i end up running them also... i leave early like that also... Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-31-2008, 03:12 PM	#5
Doug577 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 30	I know that around here a lot of those sensors are in the roadbed, and you can tell where they are by the lines in the pavement. Sometimes if I stop over one of them it seems to work. But heck, some of them don't seem to change even for my car! __________________ _____________ "Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle." Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-06-2008, 02:17 AM	#10
bigfour Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: CT, Norwalk Posts: 51	A 'more' legal workaround for this is to turn right on red, make a u-turn, then turn right on the same street (light will be green anyway). I also use this trick when it's hot to avoid overheating at a stop light. __________________
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05-31-2008, 01:24 PM	#4
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	I was reading about laws regarding weight sensing lights and how they can't pick up some motorcycles. If that's the case, the general consensus seems to be that it's ok to take off, if you have waited a significant amount of time and the coast is clear.
	0

06-01-2008, 12:12 PM	#6
IndyKTM Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: The Ville, IN Posts: 24	I had this issue a few years ago when I had a scooter. One time I waited and waited then decided to run the red light(I made a left turn). Long story short a cop was coming up the road and saw his light was green when I pulled in front of him(he was very far away and it was at night) which meant I was turning on a red. He pulls me over and I explained to him that the light wouldn't turn for me. He said he had the issue when he rode motorcycles as well and said "you see the sensor lines in the road? Stop just inside one and put your kickstand down just next to the sensor line and lean your bike over to put weight on your kicktand and it should trip the light." It actually worked....most of the time. Sometimes you cant see the sensor so your hosed. But I thought I would share a tip that a cop gave me and it actually works. I use it now with my GZ and it does help.
	0

06-02-2008, 06:41 AM	#7
JIBTEXHNKA Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 120	thanks for the tip, i'll definitely give that a try next time i get the chance (shouldn't be too long). a lot of these roads are freshly paved and there are no sensor lines, but i'll try and guess where they are. jonathan, where did you find that information?
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06-02-2008, 09:41 AM	#8
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	I don't have a link or anything. This was more than year ago and based on several different reports and opinions on the topic. I'm sure I could find something again searching through google. But, then again, that would take the fun of you doing it.
	0

06-06-2008, 01:55 AM	#9
zepfan1232 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4	All of the sensors here are magnetic. Unless you have a big heap of metal like a car's engine, then it's hard to set them off. I think a lot of places have a law that allows you to run a light after sitting for 3 cycles.
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