Seeing Red
Literally. Seeing red. How many times has this played out in your experiences? You pull up to a red light and bring your motorcycle to a smooth, safe stop. Cross traffic begins to thin and you prepare to proceed through the light to your destination. As the cross traffic begins to come to a stop, you begin to anticipate the changing of the light by easing your clutch into the friction zone and letting the motorcycle slowly start to edge forward. Just then it happens. The traffic traveling the opposite direction begins to proceed but your light does not change. You wait as the same scenario of thinning out takes place and then they come to a stop and cross traffic begins to move again. You begin to see red. Literally. In more ways than one.
This is a problem everywhere. The sensors buried in the pavement are supposed to detect the metal mass above them to trigger a light change. Most cities have the sensitivity set to detect automobiles which have far more mass to them than a motorcycle. So, you do not get detected sitting there and you see more and more red as the lights cycle. So, what options do we have when faced with this predicament? Wait for a car to pull up or run the light are about our only options outside of purchasing a “Green Light Trigger”, a device that proclaims the ability to trigger the sensors. I am somewhat skeptical of this, but if any of you readers have first hand knowledge, let us know.
California has taken measures to mandate that any new installations have sensitivity settings that will detect motorcycles and even bicycles. Other states have passed red-light laws. These laws allow you to safely proceed through the red light if the light is not being triggered. My experience has been that most occurrences happen in left turn lanes, but my research has shown that it often happens at throughways as well. Either way, it is a frustrating experience when your choice is to wait or illegally run the light.
The states that are allowing motorcycles to safely proceed through the light, legally, if it will not trigger have provided a simple approach to solving the problem without spending taxpayer money. Hats off to Minnesota for leading the charge to allowing this law back in 2003. Since then, Tennessee, Arkansas, Idaho, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and South Carolina have seen the light as well (no pun intended). There are currently proposed bills in Oklahoma, Georgia, and Missouri. I like this law. My only problem is that there are irresponsible motorcyclists out there that will not safely check for traffic and will lose their lives. When this happens, the cries will not cease to echo in the halls of the state legislatures. If you live in one of the states that allow this action, please be responsible and be safe. Let’s show the safetycrats that this can work and see if we can’t get it adopted in other states as well.
As always, I encourage your comments whether you agree with me or not!
Ride Safe
Steve & the MC Nation
Tags: green, green light triggers, light, red, red light laws, triggers
June 13th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I have never had this problem. In Michigan our lights seem to be timed rather than triggered. In my MSF class we were taught a couple of things.
1) Look for the lines in the pavement where the mechanism was installed and try to drive right over those lines. This may place the metal of your bike as close to the magnetics as possible.
2) Make a legal “right turn on red.” Of course, this doesn’t help if you’re in a left turn lane.
But I’ve also heard folks talk about using strong, rare-earth magnets on the bottom of your bike. Here’s a blog post with some really good discussion about that idea. I’d like to hear if this really works.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Thanks for the comments. We also touch on some tips that help to trigger the sensors. I tend to rock my motorcycle back and forth right over the top of the sensor marks in the pavement. It could be all in my head, but I believe that the movement sometimes helps the sensors read. We also suggest that if you are riding in a group that you try to get more than one bike over the top of the sensor.
I too would like to hear if the magnets work. I am somewhat skeptical as to the performance of these magnets but would be willing to buy one if I was convinced. Anyone out there have one and feel that they work? Drop your comment and let us know.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
[…] are riding on roads that were designed for four-wheeled traffic, which puts us at a disadvantage at sensor-based traffic lights. Even the simple act of balancing the bike can be thwarted by a careless pedestrian or curious dog. […]
July 7th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
The super strong rare earth magnets do work, but you need a rather large one slung very low to the ground, and you still need to stop directly above the sensor.
I can also see how moving your bike might work, seeing as the sensor is basically a giant ‘hall-effect sensor’ that detects changes/movement in it’s own magnetic field.