Red lights?

[Power_Man]

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Coming up to a set of traffic lights that is controlled by sensors in the pavement.

Seems like 97% of the time i come to a red light in one of these intersections, I end up waiting for 10 minutes or i turn right and lap back around a different way.

Anyone else have the same problem, and how do you solve the problem?

 

[emortal1333]

Run it... . If there's no one there to change the light, there's really no one there to see you run the red. However, I may change routes accordingly to avoid such a scenario if I'm riding at a time of day where fewer people may be around.

 

[Sushii]

When that happens, i usually take a right and do a U-turn. Works every time

 

[black06r6]

i finish work at 2am the red light never changes for me. I normally wait till i cant see anyone then go through the red light

 

[FitzR6]

When that happens, i usually take a right and do a U-turn. Works every time

+1...

 

[Stewart]

if the intersection has a red light camera, and you sit through 1 cycle of red lights and you dont get yours because a car hasnt pulled up beside you, go through the red- the sensor doesnt know your there, so it wont take your picture.

 

[silverbullet132]

When that happens, i usually take a right and do a U-turn. Works every time

what happens if there is a no right on red? lol

 

[Stewart]

do it anyway ,just do it safely what ever to the turn

 

[ride2rideagain]

Roads usually have these sensor strips, in the lane which are clearly visible, try to stop directly on one. Also, putting the kick stand down is another trick that i've had success with.

 

[rideitlikeyoustoleit]

The kickstand trick didn't work me. Neither did 8 motorcycles at one time.

 

[dmode]

I find that most lights in Mississauga work for a motorcycle. Someone else mentioned my trick. There is usually three black strips parallel with the road. These are the sensors that pick up a car. I find that if i line my bike up right over top of the middle one it works 80 - 90% of the time. There are a few that dont work, maybe they buried the sensor too deep? One that I always have problems with is northbound Mississauga road at Dundas. I also do the same trick that other people mentioned, I pull a right then a U turn.

I asked my cop friend once if you could get out of a ticket for running a red that didn't change as I had heard that turning on hazards and going through safely was ok. He told me he would still pull me over as he has no proof that you waited at the light for 10 minutes.

 

[jay-d]

I don't recall where I heard this.. but if you're a resident of said city, you can try sending a letter to the traffic department(?) of the city to increase sensor sensitivity for that intersection. It will take them a little bit but it should eventually get changed.

 

[harald]

When i encountered this problem, I searched the forums - found all of the advice posted above (and lots more!)...

 

[Sushii]

I don't recall where I heard this.. but if you're a resident of said city, you can try sending a letter to the traffic department(?) of the city to increase sensor sensitivity for that intersection. It will take them a little bit but it should eventually get changed.

You can also do that by calling 311

 

[mmmnaked]

if the intersection has a red light camera, and you sit through 1 cycle of red lights and you dont get yours because a car hasnt pulled up beside you, go through the red- the sensor doesnt know your there, so it wont take your picture.

lol no

 

[sundancekid]

Why not put the bike on the sidestand, and walk over and hit the cross-walk button. IMO its a lot more effective and probably won't get you a ticket. If a cop did witness you doing this you'd have a reasonable explanation and a less dangerous way of resolving it. I doubt you would be able to explain (as easily) the justification behind running the red.

 

[ETR]

I don't recommend running through the light even if there are no cars, & not to ride through the cross way, or make a right and then u-turn, simply because on a red light you get seen your busted, with the pedestrian cross manuver its a careless driving ticket, and if you get caught pulling the u turn move a cop will not flash you but he WILL follow you and unless you are up to date and clean and bike is in excellent working order at night after 10pm again get ready to get pulled over for anykind of ticket. The only non-police bet is to get off your bike to change the signal by pressing the pedestrian crossing, but even then a cop can write you a ticket because you're not a pedestrian,but a driver who just left his vehicle running and un-attended in the middle of the road, again a hefty ticket can be slapped on you. If by any chance a cop is around or parked, your screwed either way, and if not, no cop around you can use anyone of those ways to pass through. In York most lights won't turn no matter what, only option that works at times is beaming the sensors repetitively on the top of the traffic light posts. the sonsors think its an emergency vehicle and the light eventually changes, like it would for a a car or two waiting at a light late at night. i got a careless driving ticket for doing the u-turn thing.

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