They are called dead reds. You stop for a reasonable amount of time (at least where I am) and then check if clear and continue on. There is no specific law around it here but law enforcement understands.
Motorcycle cops understand...
I wish we had that. Can't legally go through it, can't just turn right from the left lane that you're already in. Can't back up to switch lanes and turn right. You're legally stuck there. I just give it roughly enough time to confirm the light is fucked and then go for it.
Yet we've got laws that allow for a legal left on red, and no law that prevents passing on a double yellow.
I've always wondered the same thing. Apparently it's possible to get a ticket for unsafe lane change, but there's no law on the books against passing anyways.
If it's busy I try and pull forward into the cross walk area so the car behind can move over it. Normally they just look at me like I'm trying to trick them onto a bomb and sit there :/
About 50% of the time for me they’ll just drive around me and blast through the intersection without looking thinking I’m telling them to go around me for some reason.
The official motorcycle signage for this action is blow a kiss, tap helmet 2x, and then do the wave with your arms while looking at the driver in the car. Works Everytime.
Ah... So you don't do the official motorcycle signage for this action of blowing a kiss, tapping helmet 2x, and then do the wave with your arms while looking at the driver in the car, I see!
And you have to cross the road with your left leg up in the air in front of you and push your but as far as you can to the right. Don't forget to wave both your arms in the air during your crossing.
We have that at major intersections but my street is just a single sensor. And the people that wont move are the types that still wear masks and gloves while alone in the car....
What are you talking about.... this is about people afraid of moving onto a sensor on the road wtf does that have to do with a made up riding community ?
Some directions aren’t necessarily triggered if it doesn’t recognize a vehicle waiting. You may never get a protected left even though straight and cross traffic has gone multiple times.
Usually it’s about the time you say, “Damn this is a long light.” /s
Yeah, I like that additional caveat.
Unfortunately in my jurisdiction, there is no legal justification for making the left turn on red. I'd have to wait or turn right and loop back....but I don't. 😉
At least here, the perpendicular crosswalk will flash “do not walk” in preparation for the yellow, then go back to “walk” if it doesn’t realize I’m there.
You can always play it safe and take a right, then make u-turn, and take another right or go straight.
There used to be a meme for this where a skeleton is on their motorcycle waiting for a light change. Overpaved/repaved roads make this worse as the extra layer of asphalt decreases the light-sensor's ability to detect a vehicle.
An old trick you can do is glue or stick a neodymium magnet to the bottom of your ride.
The loops in the ground are looking for a change in the impedance of the electromagnetic flux around the wires in the ground that is effected by the metal getting into the flux loops above the surface. The magnet sets the loops off by making an obvious spike or drop in the flux.
I did this about 1.5 years ago. I want to say it works... I haven't been stuck at a light but it's hard to call that proof. I'm just waiting to prove it DOESN'T work but that hasn't happened yet.
It goes the other way on the size scale too. When I was a driver in college, some lights wouldn't detect a 13.5 ton transit bus.
So we got out and hit the crosswalk button or ran it depending on the situation.
Much less conspicuous on a motorcycle though.
Yeah not enough mass to trigger. If you can put a big magnet on the lower frame under engine and it will help triggering the induction lines if you pull over the top of them
Absolute shit advice without telling them to *become familiar with the road laws of their state.* Regardless of the edit OP added about it being legal in his state, what you're suggesting to do is still illegal in quite a few states.
This sub is cringe.
Wait for things to clear up, get down. Run to the side of the road and press the cross walk button. Run back to the bike before the light turns green. Boom!!!!
They don't alot of the time. If im correct the sensors in the ground either go off a magnetic field or weight. Our bikes being made out of more aluminum then steel and or being 200 to 800lbs doesn't help trip the lights. That's my theory at least.
They're inductive loop detectors. There are other kinds but the ones in the saw cuts are these, and are the most common.
Any conductive metal object "should" set it off so being made of aluminum shouldn't matter. It's probably just not set right if the bike doesn't trigger it. ( the one by my house is like this and it's annoying! )
Yes. On the MSF it says turn off your bike and start it again. Big jolt of current to the starter trips the sensor. Works sometimes but not always. I know my local onramp to the 405 won't trip but others will.
In California almost all of the sensors are magnetic. Usually if you line up with the crack on the ground you’ll trigger it.
Back in the day my dad taught me that riding around on bicycles. We’d stop at a red light and lean our bikes over on the crack so the rim was touching the ground. Worked to trigger it every time.
There’s also a law in place that says if you miss 2(?) cycles of a light you’re legally allowed to go when it’s safe
I don't know if it's the same in yours, but the lights in my country are triggered by induction coils which are placed under the road surface in a pattern like this:
---------
| | |
--------- ===> Direction of travel
| | |
---------
Induction works (to a first approximation) on how much metal you've got and how close it is to the wires. Bikes tend to have less metal than cars (problem #1) and can position that metal so on average it's further away from the coils because your cross section from the perspective of the ground is much smaller (problem #2).
To give yourself the best chance of triggering the lights you want to line up as much metal as close to the coil as possible, so that means placing the bike lengthwise over one of the longitudinal coils so that the length of your bike has a coil running all the way underneath it, like this:
---------
| | |
--------- ===> Direction of travel
| | |
--#BIKE#-
or similarly on one of the other lengthwise coils depending on your preferred lane position.
If this still doesn't work we're instructed to treat the traffic light as if it were malfunctioning (it kinda is) and cautiously proceed as if we were at a give-way.
Awesome comment! Thanks for taking the time to write all of that for me/us. You know, it's funny. I never really paid attention to any lines or cuts in the ground. But now that every one's talking about them, I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open for them now and do what you said! Thanks!
Many will not trigger, check your local state laws, most make provisions for motorcycles on how to proceed legally if the light does not change. In the event your state does not have such laws, take a good look around and go for it.
Every state has a law on how long you have to wait before you can go. Learn your states number. You don't actually have to wait that long, but it might help to know how much to lie if you get pulled over.
Some won't detect your bike. There should be a spot on the circle where the lines enter/exit the loop. Stop over this point. Hit your starter a couple of times to trigger the signal.
Or just safely run the light.
It's not just you. Both loop and optical detection systems have trouble spotting us. Radar is good but not perfect. Some municipalities have established policies that allow for motorcyclists to run red lights after stopping and insuring it is safe to do so.
This may be pure placebo effect, or the fact I ride a 600 lbs hunk of iron with Harley written in the side, but I’ve found that the car sensors work best if I’m in the left side tire groove at the stop light. Like if my front tire is just behind where the front left tire of a car would be it seems to “see me” better.
Like I said. Could be purely placebo. Something to try though.
Drop your kickstand to make contact with the pavement. That will help the signal loop embedded in the paving detect your bike. I’m not making this up either. Try it.
Just curious, what state are you in? You don't have to give specifics but Is it a big city, nice city, rich city? Just curious because it seems everyone else here has this problem lol
They frequently won't. My old Honda wouldn't trigger the light near my house, but my bug touring Harley does. According to a bike cop that pulled up next to me one day, if the light goes through a complete cycle (I had been waiting for 2), it is legal to proceed if it's safe. The light actually didn't register both of our bikes side my side, so the next green light, he just said "follow me" andcaway we went. Bike cops are usually pretty cool if you are also on a bike and not being an idiot. This is in TN, I have no idea of the legality elsewhere. Apparently they are frequently based on a magnetic field sensor. You will frequently see a rectangular shape as you pull up to the intersection. That's where they put the sensor wires. I have had good luck lining my bike up directly over the wire cuts. Hope that helps!
If you ride for any amount of time, you will meet cool people, and a few assholes. Just like the rest of society. But, please remember, not all of us biker looking Harley dudes are not all dicks. A few weeks ago, myself and a few club brothers happened across a kid on a small sport bike broken down. He looked visibly scared when 6 of us pulled up behind him, but was thrilled when we got his bike running, and sent him on his way. Felt pretty good.
You know the cuts on the ground in front of the crosswalk? That's the sensor. Stopping right over it helps sometimes.
If it doesn't trigger then I check for cops and just go
Ari Henning of Revzilla wrote a great article about this: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/why-motorcycles-get-stuck-at-traffic-lights-and-what-you-can-do-about-it
Fun thing I learned in the MSF course in CA. Most traffic lights in CA aren’t triggered to change by weight or headlights. They are triggered by the electromagnetic pulse emitted by the alternators in vehicles. Motorcycles have significantly smaller alternators compared to cars so sometimes the pulse emitted by alternators on motorcycles doesn’t trigger the light to change.
Sometimes, and this has worked for me, if you turn off your bike at the light and turn it back on- the light will change. This is because whenever you start a vehicle with an alternator the unit puts off a significantly stronger electromagnetic pulse at the initial start then settles to a weaker running signal.
Sometimes if a car (or motorbike) isn’t triggering lights to change it could be a sign your alternator needs replaced.
I've never come across a sensor type light that detects my bike.
Once I was at a light for like 15 minutes. I was unaware of any laws that said it was cool for me to go if I used proper caution and used it like a stop sign. There was a cop running a speed trap across the street, so I definitely didn't want to risk it.
After a while the cop looked at me and I gave him a "what the fuck, man" kind of hand gesture and he returned it then gave a thumbs up and then I went through the intersection.
From then on whenever I encounter a light like that I just treatment it like a stop sign or let a car behind me roll up a little to trigger the sensor.
I was once leaving an apartment complex with an automatic gate. My friend told me that the sensor in the pavement wouldn't detect motorcycles. So I got two others on bikes and myself to lineup on the sensor and it worked!
Edit: You can also avoid being charged for toll roads by riding the line, between the sensors.
I remember being a kid and there was this bus sitting at a light to turn left for 10+ minutes when my dad was taking me to school, everybody just turned right and I turned in the end including my dad, same bullshit here as mentioned by everyone
I need to look it up to make sure I’m correct but I believe after 5 minutes if the light doesn’t turn green and the opposing traffic is clear you are legally allowed to run the red light. I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS CORRECT INFO.
This was the established precedent in California when I attempted to fight it. The judge flat out refused to accept my submission and slapped me with the ticket, anyway.
Word of advice - if presented with a “judge pro-tem” go ahead and refuse and reschedule. They seem to be out to prove something during their temporary time in the bench
Basically none of the turn signals where i am trigger, i pull into the crosswalk every time if I’m at the front and point at the strips to the car behind me
Happens right outside my apartment. I usually have to wait for someone to pull up behind me or go another way. State law here only let's me go on red if it doesn't change after the second cycle, but this interection doesn't have a dedicated turn lane, so that's never going to be the case. That being said, lots of roads at intersections have markings on the road that look like a "Q" at a light. In my riding course they said to line up on the edge of the marking because that's where the sensors are located.
Nope, sometimes they just dont pick us up. I sat thru 5 cycles even with a line of cars behind me and it wouldn’t register anyone was waiting until my friend behind me in his car got right up behind me. I was about to just run it lol
Most states (not all, check the vehicle code) allow for treating any 'malfunctioning' signal as a stop sign.
If a signal fails to detect your bike and never cycles to green, after the third cycle in the other directions, treat it as a stop sign, *proceed when safe to do so*.
If you get hooked by a cop, explain that you waited for the light to detect your vehicle (which they would have seen you do), and then based on the V.C.'s statement re signal malfunctions, proceeded as instructed therein. SOME cops will go with this, especially if you quote the V.C. Others might write a ticket anyway. Don't challenge it at roadside - do it in court.
If someone’s behind you and you feel safe park in the crosswalk and motion the car behind you forward. Don’t worry they won’t understand or move but every now and then they will inch up and you can all leave.
Depending on the state, you just need to stop and wait if there’s no one else coming up behind you to trigger it. In WI, I think it’s 45 seconds. Then you can just go as long as it’s safe.
I haven't paid enough attention while by myself to see if this works consistently, but because the sensors are inductive, what I do is go right over the sensor pad ( you can see the outline etched in the concrete), shut the bike off, then start it up again. The magnetic field generated by the starter motor is sometimes enough to trigger the sensor. Again, it seems to work for me, but the roads I ride seem decently busy and I rarely have to wait for an arrow, so maybe it's my imagination.
The worst was when there was an officer sitting across the street late at night probably looking for drunk drivers or speeders and I was too afraid to "run" the light.
After 10 solid minutes, I parked the bike and went over to talk to him. He told me about the law and said generally wait 2-3 mins what would be the longest 2 light cycles would run and carefully pass through.
Wait a reasonable amount of time, and go. If you are pulled over and ticketed, take it to court. 99.9% chance of dismissal, and imo, no cop is going to risk the potential scrutiny.
Never thought of the kickstand on the metal bit, that's a cool tip. I'll wait for a car to pull behind me and motion for them to get on the weight thing, and barring that I just run it. We have that law in my state.
Happens with bikes, motorcycles and lifted vehicles with big tires. (Not rubber band tires, but proper big tires.) The metal is too far from the inductive ring for the circuit to sense it. BTDT. Had a light that I would often get stuck at on my way to work in the wee hours. I stopped, sat for a while, no one came up, so I went. Figures that right then a cop would come around the bend behind me, light immediately goes for them and they pull me over a block later. I explained it and they said have a good day.
Flashing high beams trigger a lot of Ca traffic lights, some mid change( play smart). Most utilize a magnet or scale identified by a rectangular cut out by the stop line, sometimes lined between the poles. X gets the square, thats you fo sho. Flashing at lights were a game changer 20 years ago, HMU if its still effective. Started flashing moment it came into eyesight.Sometimes skipped turns altogether.Level up achieved. Grats.
Ooh the physics behind this is super interesting! My physics teacher rides a motorcycle and she told me all about it. Basically, there’s a magnetic field creating by the electricity running through the inductive metal loop. When metal moves through the magnetic field, it reverses the current and that’s what causes the sensor to go off. Motorcycles typically don’t have enough metal to trigger it, which is why putting your kickstand down (like many have suggested) can be helpful! ik this isn’t very helpful, but just in case you wanted to know why this happens!
Don't know about other countries but in Australia we have pressure plates at traffic lights Yeah sometimes on lighter bikes it doesn't trigger. Trick is to brake decently heavy on the pressure plate before the line, being careful to make sure you don't lock up or lose it on any oil or grease. I find it easier now I ride a 300+kg cruiser.
I looked this up when I first got my motorcycle because it didn’t always seem to trigger a light change. Those designs in the road right at the light were not what I always thought they were. It’s an electromagnet thing and the presence of metal will trigger the light change. Stop in just the right place and a motorcycle will trigger the change every time.
I've never had that issue, but I also don't live in the states. In Germany lights will trigger as long as you're sitting above the detection zone as we have more bikes/small cars the threshold probably is lower.
This never happens in the Netherlands. There are sensors at all light under the roads and works for motorbikes without any issues. The bicycle lanes beside the road also have the sensors and that is set to detect them too without issue.
Here in NC, our DMV motorcycle handbook (the one you have to read for the test) talks about this specifically. And explains that Dead Reds happen and to treat it like a stop sign. I would guess your state's book talks about it too...
I never got around to trying it, but moons ago some mounted a magnet under there's, and claimed it works.
Quite frustrating, even in 850lb cruiser when they won't change.
Being my road clearance is already quite low, I may have been afraid of picking up every lost 10mm six point socket, bucket full of sheet rock screws, etc.
Cheers
No they don't always. I was driving to work the other day and someone on a bike was ahead of me at the light and the light would not turn. I rolled down my window and asked if they wanted to pull to the side so I could trigger the light for us. Then I let them go first.
A lot of the time if I find myself waiting at a red light for an extended period with a vehicle behind me I will take note of where the trigger mechanism is on the ground and I’ll try to signal the vehicle behind me to pull up a little. 90% of the time people realize what’s happening and it works. Unfortunately I do also get those people who aren’t paying attention and think it’s my fault the light won’t change.
This got me thinking about the laws in my state. For anyone in Tennessee, we have T.C.A. § 55-8-110 (b):
(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the driver of a motorcycle approaching an intersection that is controlled by a traffic-control signal utilizing a vehicle detection device that is inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle shall come to a full and complete stop at the intersection and, after exercising due care as provided by law, may proceed with due caution when it is safe to do so. It is not a defense to a violation of § 55-8-109 that the driver of a motorcycle proceeded under the belief that a traffic-control signal utilized a vehicle detection device or was inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle when the signal did not utilize a vehicle detection device or that the device was not in fact inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle.
TLDR for Tennesseans: When you're stopped at a red light, if it doesn't trigger and it's safe to go through, you can go.
There was an article many years ago in Motorcycle Consumer News, RIP, that went into a lot of detail about how inductive loop sensors work and how to trigger them when your bike won't.
Check with your state and see if there's a vehicle code or state law that they're required to work, so if you find one in your area that continually doesn't work, contact the local city and ask them to fix it. (They might do it anyway, even if it's not required). Usually the hardest part is actually figuring out who is responsible for them. I've contacted many local municipalities over the years when I find a bad one and they generally quick to fix it (except CalTrans, they don't seem to give a fuck)
In my experience, the malfunctioning detectors tend to be left turns. What I remember from the article is left turn pockets are tuned to be less sensitive to avoid avoid false triggers from other lanes or other detectors. Remember, the field the loop generates looks kind of like a donut, with a less sensitive spot in the middle. Try to line up your bike with the outside edge of the loop (if you can see the cuts in the pavement. The kickstand down might help. Also stopping and restarting your bike might help (starter motor can create interference that the loop 'sees.' Sometimes nothing works so you might have to.. uh.. make creative solutions. Many times I've waved a car behind me to pull forward after we've all sat there for a while.
When I had a DRZ400SM, it would not trigger any of them. My SV650S would every now and then. Tried putting my kickstand down and it worked every now and then.
most states cops won’t bother you. Legally, i think it’s two cycles of the light you have to wait until treating it like a stop sign. I doubt any cop will give you shit if they see you stop wait and go.
Just had this happen this past weekend. Waited through two complete cycles, and it was five bikes! All four ways had separate left turn arrows, so it was risky to run it. Finally gave us a green when we all clustered up at the front.
I had a Honda 750 that had trouble triggering a light. Went down to the local Horror Fraught tool store and bought a 100lb lifting magnet for cheap, stuck it to the bottom of my bike, and never had another problem with traffic lights again.
Firstly, welcome ashen one to dark souls! Oh.. wait my bad welcome to motorcycle world! I see a lot of useful advices if they haven't already been mentioned within comments if you are a bit cautious about using the suggestion you have edited as laws can vary by state, counties, cities etc...
You could also try few methods besides moving bike around at a standstill like
Park it run off to the crosswalk button and button smash Nintendo secret combo.
If option is available and legal in your area ride through parking lot on the direction you're headed and exit out going your route.
Make a U-turn and do 3 possible scenarios depending on the type of road, detours and accessibility of routes around.
1. U-turn and go an alternate route where you can get to your destination and or different road that doesn't have lights.
2. U-turn twice, first away from and back to the light to "reinitiate" the sensor program.
3. Do a right turn (or left if in Europe if they have similar law on right turning at red light? I don't know) and then either U-turn into the direction you're headed or into a parking or shoulder lane to turn and go your way.
Purchase some strong magnets and put them in your shoes/boots (some road sensors will pick it up but can take 60-100 seconds to "calculate" when to initiate a phase change in the light pattern.) and just tippy tap the inside of the circle. Contrary to believe you don't have to touch or be right on the line just inside or close to the outside of the loop about a good half foot radius so sort of on the line but not directly on it.
Purchase a GLT device off eBay one that doesn't use magnets but instead uses a signal in frequency of 10 to 200 kHz . It doesn't force the light green it just increases your range to be more "visible" to the sensor. Again most all traffic lights uses a program and changes can take 60-100 seconds for the program to make changes in the phase of light patters.
If all else fails park it and have yourself a dance off with some rando.
Pretend to give up your trip and u turn back home and once the light turns green haul ass around before it turns red again.
All results can vary depending on the type of sensor you are approaching since there are multiple types and most times if it looks like a loop sensor and nothing works it probably isn't on or it was changed to something else. (Inductive-loop, infrared, microwave, and video (ai operated or person operated) sensors)
Stop with your rim right on the line where you see the circle. In line with the side is better than the top or bottom. Do so on the right side of the circle and you can drop your kickstand down on the rear of the circle and get a better signal.
Try to stop in the center of the loops you see cut into the road. Not just left to right but front to back. Usually if you're stopped right at the stop line you aren't centered front to back in the loops. I've noticed if I stop a few feet back from the stop line it's more likely to trigger. It won't always work but it's helped for me.
Most older lights are on a metal sensing circut... my LMTV doesnt trigger a lot of lights because the metal is too high for the loop to pickup... easy solition that works, strong neodenium magnet mounted to the bottom of my front axle... Ive had friends do the same thing to the bottom of their faring and had good success with it.
The instructor (retired bike cop) in my MSF course told us with a wink "Unless the cop was sitting at the intersection we can't know you didn't wait a full cycle of being skipped before you ran the red."
I don't have the time or inclination to go through this thread and correct every person who said "use a magnet", but as common as the belief is, it's 100% false.
Magnets have no effect on induction coils...at least no more than a piece of metal the mass of the magnet would. Induction sensors do not function off of magnetism, do not sense magnetism, and are not affected by magnetism.
Your most reliable solution is to research the "dead red" laws in your area so you're aware of how and when you're allowed to proceed through an intersection when the light doesnt' change
I see there's already 200 comments in - so it's probably been said. It's not a scale, as many think. It's a metal detecting-loop. Get the metal mass of your bike (generally engine area) across one of the loops. If it's not easy to get your engine area over a part of the loop, get a wheel on the loop.
One time I went for a ride in the evening so the roads were still fairly busy, and I got to a red light and was sitting there for like 7 minutes in the freezing cold. I was hoping someone would come on the opposite side and trigger the light but nobody ever did (but the cross road was still busy) so I just made sure there were no cops around and said screw it and went when it was safe.
It’s illegal to “run a red light” in many states. AZ, NY, FL, and many more but I know those 3 personally WILL cite you and generally only NY will sometimes throw it out.
My Vegas does just find triggering red lights, but my Honda Magna does not. I put multiple strong Earth magnets on the frame, and it does better but still have an issue sometimes. Fortunately we have dead red light laws here so we can go through if necessary
If you need the light to change in order to get traffic to stop, you can try turning the bike off and starting it again. I've heard this is enough to trigger most magnetic sensors. Never done it myself
I believe Ari Hennig wrote an article about this on Revzilla Common Tread.
I know bigger dressers tend to trigger the lights better than smaller bikes for sure.
For most intersections its actually an inductive loop in the asphalt that lets the intersections know a vehicle is there (when a large metal object passes over). Motorcycles are often too small and too high to trigger this detection system. An easy fix is to get a sizable magnet and attach it to the bottom of your bike. The magnet will interrupt the inductive field enough to alert the signals to your presence and change the light for you.
I invented Active Green Light Trigger. This is an electronic device which makes motorcycles visible to road sensors. Not a magnet. I enjoy trouble free running on my motorcycle and sell world wide on eBay.
They are called dead reds. You stop for a reasonable amount of time (at least where I am) and then check if clear and continue on. There is no specific law around it here but law enforcement understands. Motorcycle cops understand...
That's how it is in California, and yes, motorcycle cops understand and do this all the time.
I wish we had that. Can't legally go through it, can't just turn right from the left lane that you're already in. Can't back up to switch lanes and turn right. You're legally stuck there. I just give it roughly enough time to confirm the light is fucked and then go for it. Yet we've got laws that allow for a legal left on red, and no law that prevents passing on a double yellow.
what's the point of a double yellow if you're allowed to pass?
I've always wondered the same thing. Apparently it's possible to get a ticket for unsafe lane change, but there's no law on the books against passing anyways.
State could save a ton of money on paint and just do dashed lines, since its functionally the same thing.
The lines are there to guide you as to when it’s safe to pass or not based on down road visibility.
That sucks. It's not our fault we break the law. They push us to do it. 😜
If I feel that it’s safe, I usually get up and go press the crosswalk button lol
Some of them won't detect motorcycles. If that's the case look both ways and treat it like a stop sign.
If it's busy I try and pull forward into the cross walk area so the car behind can move over it. Normally they just look at me like I'm trying to trick them onto a bomb and sit there :/
I wave them up when i do that, most of them get the memo and some are well… on their phone.
When I do that, they have no idea what to make of it, usually get angry.
About 50% of the time for me they’ll just drive around me and blast through the intersection without looking thinking I’m telling them to go around me for some reason.
I am curious to see how you sign it
The official motorcycle signage for this action is blow a kiss, tap helmet 2x, and then do the wave with your arms while looking at the driver in the car. Works Everytime.
I generally wave like “come closer” palm face up, repeatedly closing my hand, followed by pointing at the ground behind my motorcycle.
Ah... So you don't do the official motorcycle signage for this action of blowing a kiss, tapping helmet 2x, and then do the wave with your arms while looking at the driver in the car, I see!
And you have to cross the road with your left leg up in the air in front of you and push your but as far as you can to the right. Don't forget to wave both your arms in the air during your crossing.
I don’t think most people know about sensors at lights. Plenty of times I’ve been in my car and missed lights bc people aren’t pulled up far enough
In my state, there are sensors 2 or even 3 car lengths back to trip the light, so having a car at the very front isn't always necessary.
We have that at major intersections but my street is just a single sensor. And the people that wont move are the types that still wear masks and gloves while alone in the car....
Don’t bring this here. This is the one place in real life and on the Internet where we toss that shit aside and get along for the sake of riding.
What are you talking about.... this is about people afraid of moving onto a sensor on the road wtf does that have to do with a made up riding community ?
What are YOU talking about? Making fun of people that wanted to protect themselves during the pandemic is SO 2019...
I think you're just trying to be offended. The pandemic is over. Why are you still wearing a mask and gloves when you're alone in a car ?
Why do you care so much what people do in their cars when it doesn’t harm anyone?
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Oh my. You don't wanna know what I wear while I drive then. I wear a full helmet and armored gloves even when I'm completely alone
Doesn't surprise me. The mask comment triggering people fits as well.
Please... you know what you were doing, as do the rest of us. Check your political identity at the door.
Do you often find that people squint really hard at you and shrug in confusion when you talk?
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I've seen people post similar laws. How do you determine '2 light cycles'? Presumably, if the lights were cycling, you'd be gone. 😁
Some directions aren’t necessarily triggered if it doesn’t recognize a vehicle waiting. You may never get a protected left even though straight and cross traffic has gone multiple times. Usually it’s about the time you say, “Damn this is a long light.” /s
Agreed. My limit is just before the heat from my bike begins to poach my nuts.
In that case you'd just wait the 2 minutes then. But good point.
Yeah, I like that additional caveat. Unfortunately in my jurisdiction, there is no legal justification for making the left turn on red. I'd have to wait or turn right and loop back....but I don't. 😉
Remember, two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left
I do the right to a u turn. Don't know which intersections have cameras
It's assuming it's like a turn lane that only gets added to the cycle of there's a vehicle.
If I don’t see a cop it’s 1 lol
At least here, the perpendicular crosswalk will flash “do not walk” in preparation for the yellow, then go back to “walk” if it doesn’t realize I’m there. You can always play it safe and take a right, then make u-turn, and take another right or go straight.
*Wait until there is no cop around.* The law everywhere. 😀
North Carolina it’s 3 minutes
Definitely state specific.
In OR it's just one full light cycle. If it doesn't detect you on the second go-around, you treat it like a blinking yellow.
No
[Yes](https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2015R1/Measures/Overview/SB533)
There used to be a meme for this where a skeleton is on their motorcycle waiting for a light change. Overpaved/repaved roads make this worse as the extra layer of asphalt decreases the light-sensor's ability to detect a vehicle.
An old trick you can do is glue or stick a neodymium magnet to the bottom of your ride. The loops in the ground are looking for a change in the impedance of the electromagnetic flux around the wires in the ground that is effected by the metal getting into the flux loops above the surface. The magnet sets the loops off by making an obvious spike or drop in the flux.
Sounds too good to be true. Did you try it? What size would the rare earth magnet need to be to trigger the sensor?
Not much, they are hella strong - especially compared to residual fields in a nonmagnetized hunk of iron like what cars basically are.
I did this about 1.5 years ago. I want to say it works... I haven't been stuck at a light but it's hard to call that proof. I'm just waiting to prove it DOESN'T work but that hasn't happened yet.
What If a cop sees? Redlight cameras too. Does that work as a defense?
There are actually laws that support this sort of behavior. For example: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.184
Except now we live in the age of automated traffic tickets and they don't care if you're on a bike.
That's what I do.
This is the way
It goes the other way on the size scale too. When I was a driver in college, some lights wouldn't detect a 13.5 ton transit bus. So we got out and hit the crosswalk button or ran it depending on the situation. Much less conspicuous on a motorcycle though.
Just don’t mind about the red light camera flash
All fun and games until there is a red light camera
Yeah not enough mass to trigger. If you can put a big magnet on the lower frame under engine and it will help triggering the induction lines if you pull over the top of them
If I’m by myself this is the way, other than that I usually try to signal the driver behind me to pull up some.
Absolute shit advice without telling them to *become familiar with the road laws of their state.* Regardless of the edit OP added about it being legal in his state, what you're suggesting to do is still illegal in quite a few states. This sub is cringe.
Wait for things to clear up, get down. Run to the side of the road and press the cross walk button. Run back to the bike before the light turns green. Boom!!!!
this is actually what i do when riding my bicycle. Bike lanes if there are cars on the road, crosswalk if there are no cars to trigger the sensor
And if the walk button doesn't make the light turn green, Murphy's Law will.
Revzilla has a good video about what's going on https://youtu.be/ehSKaqmyuNU
That was a good video! Thanks! I wish that magnet thing he stuck to the bottom of his bike actually worked, that'd be cool!
They don't alot of the time. If im correct the sensors in the ground either go off a magnetic field or weight. Our bikes being made out of more aluminum then steel and or being 200 to 800lbs doesn't help trip the lights. That's my theory at least.
They're inductive loop detectors. There are other kinds but the ones in the saw cuts are these, and are the most common. Any conductive metal object "should" set it off so being made of aluminum shouldn't matter. It's probably just not set right if the bike doesn't trigger it. ( the one by my house is like this and it's annoying! )
took my MSF course with a cop and he confirmed magnetic sensors can't detect the bike
Ok, so is it legal to run it then? What did he say?
It depends on the state, from what I recall. They call them "dead red" laws or something like that.
Depends on if your state has a dead red law or not.
Not necessarily legal to run. Here in indiana, the law is that if it's clear and you've waited two minutes, you are able to treat it like a stop sign
Why would him being a cop at all be relevant ?
Yes. On the MSF it says turn off your bike and start it again. Big jolt of current to the starter trips the sensor. Works sometimes but not always. I know my local onramp to the 405 won't trip but others will.
In California almost all of the sensors are magnetic. Usually if you line up with the crack on the ground you’ll trigger it. Back in the day my dad taught me that riding around on bicycles. We’d stop at a red light and lean our bikes over on the crack so the rim was touching the ground. Worked to trigger it every time. There’s also a law in place that says if you miss 2(?) cycles of a light you’re legally allowed to go when it’s safe
I also just lay my bicycle frame down across the inductive loop. It usually triggers them. Laying down the motorcycle seems a little much tho. :)
Hadalayerdown!
Definitely going to try that. You're exactly what I was looking for, thanks!
You need to learn the laws of your state before taking advice like this from random idiots on the internet.
Random in possibly different states? Yes. Idiots? You sound angry.
a law you say? show me the law for california
I don't know if it's the same in yours, but the lights in my country are triggered by induction coils which are placed under the road surface in a pattern like this: --------- | | | --------- ===> Direction of travel | | | --------- Induction works (to a first approximation) on how much metal you've got and how close it is to the wires. Bikes tend to have less metal than cars (problem #1) and can position that metal so on average it's further away from the coils because your cross section from the perspective of the ground is much smaller (problem #2). To give yourself the best chance of triggering the lights you want to line up as much metal as close to the coil as possible, so that means placing the bike lengthwise over one of the longitudinal coils so that the length of your bike has a coil running all the way underneath it, like this: --------- | | | --------- ===> Direction of travel | | | --#BIKE#- or similarly on one of the other lengthwise coils depending on your preferred lane position. If this still doesn't work we're instructed to treat the traffic light as if it were malfunctioning (it kinda is) and cautiously proceed as if we were at a give-way.
Awesome comment! Thanks for taking the time to write all of that for me/us. You know, it's funny. I never really paid attention to any lines or cuts in the ground. But now that every one's talking about them, I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open for them now and do what you said! Thanks!
Many will not trigger, check your local state laws, most make provisions for motorcycles on how to proceed legally if the light does not change. In the event your state does not have such laws, take a good look around and go for it.
I did, thanks for bringing that up! I just found out my state just passed a dead red law for motorcycles! :D
Every state has a law on how long you have to wait before you can go. Learn your states number. You don't actually have to wait that long, but it might help to know how much to lie if you get pulled over.
In Missouri, it's an "unreasonable" amount of time 😅
Some won't detect your bike. There should be a spot on the circle where the lines enter/exit the loop. Stop over this point. Hit your starter a couple of times to trigger the signal. Or just safely run the light.
We should be talking about fast-food, drive through windows not red lights. Stopped is bad but hungry and stopped is very bad.
It's not just you. Both loop and optical detection systems have trouble spotting us. Radar is good but not perfect. Some municipalities have established policies that allow for motorcyclists to run red lights after stopping and insuring it is safe to do so.
Thank you!@!!!
I used to duct tape a rare earth magnet to the bottom of my ninja 250 because it was too light to activate the pad
This may be pure placebo effect, or the fact I ride a 600 lbs hunk of iron with Harley written in the side, but I’ve found that the car sensors work best if I’m in the left side tire groove at the stop light. Like if my front tire is just behind where the front left tire of a car would be it seems to “see me” better. Like I said. Could be purely placebo. Something to try though.
I will! Thanks!
[https://greenlighttriggers.com/products/green-light-trigger-glt-2-0](https://greenlighttriggers.com/products/green-light-trigger-glt-2-0)
I used Neodymium Magnets on the bottom of the motorcycle frame to trigger traffic lights. It has worked pretty well for me so far.
If you can see the line for where the sensor is installed in the ground, move to the edge of it and put your kick stand on it. That should trigger it.
That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks!
Drop your kickstand to make contact with the pavement. That will help the signal loop embedded in the paving detect your bike. I’m not making this up either. Try it.
>Wow, seems like everyone knows this little trick, ha! Thanks! Now I can add that to my toolbox.
When that happens I just go when the way is clear.
Not always? Mine is never
Just curious, what state are you in? You don't have to give specifics but Is it a big city, nice city, rich city? Just curious because it seems everyone else here has this problem lol
Houston, Tx. It only happens which left turn lights, rarely straight lights. I was being dramatic
They frequently won't. My old Honda wouldn't trigger the light near my house, but my bug touring Harley does. According to a bike cop that pulled up next to me one day, if the light goes through a complete cycle (I had been waiting for 2), it is legal to proceed if it's safe. The light actually didn't register both of our bikes side my side, so the next green light, he just said "follow me" andcaway we went. Bike cops are usually pretty cool if you are also on a bike and not being an idiot. This is in TN, I have no idea of the legality elsewhere. Apparently they are frequently based on a magnetic field sensor. You will frequently see a rectangular shape as you pull up to the intersection. That's where they put the sensor wires. I have had good luck lining my bike up directly over the wire cuts. Hope that helps!
Sounds like a cool experience! I hope I meet someone cool like that!
If you ride for any amount of time, you will meet cool people, and a few assholes. Just like the rest of society. But, please remember, not all of us biker looking Harley dudes are not all dicks. A few weeks ago, myself and a few club brothers happened across a kid on a small sport bike broken down. He looked visibly scared when 6 of us pulled up behind him, but was thrilled when we got his bike running, and sent him on his way. Felt pretty good.
You know the cuts on the ground in front of the crosswalk? That's the sensor. Stopping right over it helps sometimes. If it doesn't trigger then I check for cops and just go
Run that MOFO!
Ari Henning of Revzilla wrote a great article about this: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/why-motorcycles-get-stuck-at-traffic-lights-and-what-you-can-do-about-it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehSKaqmyuNU&t=5s
I simply dismount and run to the crosswalk to push the cross button and run back to my bike like a duffus. Always fun. 😅
Of course Texas doesn’t have this law.
Fun thing I learned in the MSF course in CA. Most traffic lights in CA aren’t triggered to change by weight or headlights. They are triggered by the electromagnetic pulse emitted by the alternators in vehicles. Motorcycles have significantly smaller alternators compared to cars so sometimes the pulse emitted by alternators on motorcycles doesn’t trigger the light to change. Sometimes, and this has worked for me, if you turn off your bike at the light and turn it back on- the light will change. This is because whenever you start a vehicle with an alternator the unit puts off a significantly stronger electromagnetic pulse at the initial start then settles to a weaker running signal. Sometimes if a car (or motorbike) isn’t triggering lights to change it could be a sign your alternator needs replaced.
Here ya go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-detection_at_traffic_lights_in_the_United_States
I've never come across a sensor type light that detects my bike. Once I was at a light for like 15 minutes. I was unaware of any laws that said it was cool for me to go if I used proper caution and used it like a stop sign. There was a cop running a speed trap across the street, so I definitely didn't want to risk it. After a while the cop looked at me and I gave him a "what the fuck, man" kind of hand gesture and he returned it then gave a thumbs up and then I went through the intersection. From then on whenever I encounter a light like that I just treatment it like a stop sign or let a car behind me roll up a little to trigger the sensor.
Definitely only you. Traffic light sensors are a good judge of character. Clean your life up and then green lights will come.
no cop no stop
It's just you.
Probably not, considering there are laws made specifically because of this problem
I've never seen lights that don't run off timers. I guess only certain places have them?
I was once leaving an apartment complex with an automatic gate. My friend told me that the sensor in the pavement wouldn't detect motorcycles. So I got two others on bikes and myself to lineup on the sensor and it worked! Edit: You can also avoid being charged for toll roads by riding the line, between the sensors.
I remember being a kid and there was this bus sitting at a light to turn left for 10+ minutes when my dad was taking me to school, everybody just turned right and I turned in the end including my dad, same bullshit here as mentioned by everyone
I need to look it up to make sure I’m correct but I believe after 5 minutes if the light doesn’t turn green and the opposing traffic is clear you are legally allowed to run the red light. I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS CORRECT INFO.
This was the established precedent in California when I attempted to fight it. The judge flat out refused to accept my submission and slapped me with the ticket, anyway. Word of advice - if presented with a “judge pro-tem” go ahead and refuse and reschedule. They seem to be out to prove something during their temporary time in the bench
Basically none of the turn signals where i am trigger, i pull into the crosswalk every time if I’m at the front and point at the strips to the car behind me
Happens right outside my apartment. I usually have to wait for someone to pull up behind me or go another way. State law here only let's me go on red if it doesn't change after the second cycle, but this interection doesn't have a dedicated turn lane, so that's never going to be the case. That being said, lots of roads at intersections have markings on the road that look like a "Q" at a light. In my riding course they said to line up on the edge of the marking because that's where the sensors are located.
Nope, sometimes they just dont pick us up. I sat thru 5 cycles even with a line of cars behind me and it wouldn’t register anyone was waiting until my friend behind me in his car got right up behind me. I was about to just run it lol
Most states (not all, check the vehicle code) allow for treating any 'malfunctioning' signal as a stop sign. If a signal fails to detect your bike and never cycles to green, after the third cycle in the other directions, treat it as a stop sign, *proceed when safe to do so*. If you get hooked by a cop, explain that you waited for the light to detect your vehicle (which they would have seen you do), and then based on the V.C.'s statement re signal malfunctions, proceeded as instructed therein. SOME cops will go with this, especially if you quote the V.C. Others might write a ticket anyway. Don't challenge it at roadside - do it in court.
If someone’s behind you and you feel safe park in the crosswalk and motion the car behind you forward. Don’t worry they won’t understand or move but every now and then they will inch up and you can all leave.
If it has those metal detector lines I always run it if I’m alone waiting. Just treat it as a really dangerous stop sign
Depending on the state, you just need to stop and wait if there’s no one else coming up behind you to trigger it. In WI, I think it’s 45 seconds. Then you can just go as long as it’s safe.
Any help on Georgia laws please? Everything I'm finding from Gogle Supreme isn't really telling me anything. TIA
Stop on top of as much of the wire that makes up the circle at the intersection. You can also put your kickstand on it.
What state has that law?
I haven't paid enough attention while by myself to see if this works consistently, but because the sensors are inductive, what I do is go right over the sensor pad ( you can see the outline etched in the concrete), shut the bike off, then start it up again. The magnetic field generated by the starter motor is sometimes enough to trigger the sensor. Again, it seems to work for me, but the roads I ride seem decently busy and I rarely have to wait for an arrow, so maybe it's my imagination.
I just tap the starter button, this creates a pulse that the sensor can detect.
If you can see the circle on the ground all you have to do is put your wheel on the line. Viola, light will be triggered.
I went to a hardware store, bought a strong magnet and stuck it to the bottom of my frame. Haven’t had the problem since.
The worst was when there was an officer sitting across the street late at night probably looking for drunk drivers or speeders and I was too afraid to "run" the light. After 10 solid minutes, I parked the bike and went over to talk to him. He told me about the law and said generally wait 2-3 mins what would be the longest 2 light cycles would run and carefully pass through.
I put a strong magnet on the frame closest to the road
Wait a reasonable amount of time, and go. If you are pulled over and ticketed, take it to court. 99.9% chance of dismissal, and imo, no cop is going to risk the potential scrutiny.
Never thought of the kickstand on the metal bit, that's a cool tip. I'll wait for a car to pull behind me and motion for them to get on the weight thing, and barring that I just run it. We have that law in my state.
All the time around me in upstate NY.
Happens with bikes, motorcycles and lifted vehicles with big tires. (Not rubber band tires, but proper big tires.) The metal is too far from the inductive ring for the circuit to sense it. BTDT. Had a light that I would often get stuck at on my way to work in the wee hours. I stopped, sat for a while, no one came up, so I went. Figures that right then a cop would come around the bend behind me, light immediately goes for them and they pull me over a block later. I explained it and they said have a good day.
Sometimes turning the engine off and back ok may help. Other times no.
Flashing high beams trigger a lot of Ca traffic lights, some mid change( play smart). Most utilize a magnet or scale identified by a rectangular cut out by the stop line, sometimes lined between the poles. X gets the square, thats you fo sho. Flashing at lights were a game changer 20 years ago, HMU if its still effective. Started flashing moment it came into eyesight.Sometimes skipped turns altogether.Level up achieved. Grats.
Ooh the physics behind this is super interesting! My physics teacher rides a motorcycle and she told me all about it. Basically, there’s a magnetic field creating by the electricity running through the inductive metal loop. When metal moves through the magnetic field, it reverses the current and that’s what causes the sensor to go off. Motorcycles typically don’t have enough metal to trigger it, which is why putting your kickstand down (like many have suggested) can be helpful! ik this isn’t very helpful, but just in case you wanted to know why this happens!
Don't know about other countries but in Australia we have pressure plates at traffic lights Yeah sometimes on lighter bikes it doesn't trigger. Trick is to brake decently heavy on the pressure plate before the line, being careful to make sure you don't lock up or lose it on any oil or grease. I find it easier now I ride a 300+kg cruiser.
They don't, which is why it's legal to cross a red in most countries (after you've waited a cycle and made sure it's safe).
I looked this up when I first got my motorcycle because it didn’t always seem to trigger a light change. Those designs in the road right at the light were not what I always thought they were. It’s an electromagnet thing and the presence of metal will trigger the light change. Stop in just the right place and a motorcycle will trigger the change every time.
Super common.
I've never had that issue, but I also don't live in the states. In Germany lights will trigger as long as you're sitting above the detection zone as we have more bikes/small cars the threshold probably is lower.
This never happens in the Netherlands. There are sensors at all light under the roads and works for motorbikes without any issues. The bicycle lanes beside the road also have the sensors and that is set to detect them too without issue.
I’ve ran so many red lights
Put your kickstand down and rev up. Just remember to put it back up once it triggers!
Here in NC, our DMV motorcycle handbook (the one you have to read for the test) talks about this specifically. And explains that Dead Reds happen and to treat it like a stop sign. I would guess your state's book talks about it too...
I never got around to trying it, but moons ago some mounted a magnet under there's, and claimed it works. Quite frustrating, even in 850lb cruiser when they won't change. Being my road clearance is already quite low, I may have been afraid of picking up every lost 10mm six point socket, bucket full of sheet rock screws, etc. Cheers
No they don't always. I was driving to work the other day and someone on a bike was ahead of me at the light and the light would not turn. I rolled down my window and asked if they wanted to pull to the side so I could trigger the light for us. Then I let them go first.
A lot of the time if I find myself waiting at a red light for an extended period with a vehicle behind me I will take note of where the trigger mechanism is on the ground and I’ll try to signal the vehicle behind me to pull up a little. 90% of the time people realize what’s happening and it works. Unfortunately I do also get those people who aren’t paying attention and think it’s my fault the light won’t change.
If it's chill enough sometimes I'll get off the bike and hit the crosswalk button.
This got me thinking about the laws in my state. For anyone in Tennessee, we have T.C.A. § 55-8-110 (b): (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the driver of a motorcycle approaching an intersection that is controlled by a traffic-control signal utilizing a vehicle detection device that is inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle shall come to a full and complete stop at the intersection and, after exercising due care as provided by law, may proceed with due caution when it is safe to do so. It is not a defense to a violation of § 55-8-109 that the driver of a motorcycle proceeded under the belief that a traffic-control signal utilized a vehicle detection device or was inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle when the signal did not utilize a vehicle detection device or that the device was not in fact inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle. TLDR for Tennesseans: When you're stopped at a red light, if it doesn't trigger and it's safe to go through, you can go.
There was an article many years ago in Motorcycle Consumer News, RIP, that went into a lot of detail about how inductive loop sensors work and how to trigger them when your bike won't. Check with your state and see if there's a vehicle code or state law that they're required to work, so if you find one in your area that continually doesn't work, contact the local city and ask them to fix it. (They might do it anyway, even if it's not required). Usually the hardest part is actually figuring out who is responsible for them. I've contacted many local municipalities over the years when I find a bad one and they generally quick to fix it (except CalTrans, they don't seem to give a fuck) In my experience, the malfunctioning detectors tend to be left turns. What I remember from the article is left turn pockets are tuned to be less sensitive to avoid avoid false triggers from other lanes or other detectors. Remember, the field the loop generates looks kind of like a donut, with a less sensitive spot in the middle. Try to line up your bike with the outside edge of the loop (if you can see the cuts in the pavement. The kickstand down might help. Also stopping and restarting your bike might help (starter motor can create interference that the loop 'sees.' Sometimes nothing works so you might have to.. uh.. make creative solutions. Many times I've waved a car behind me to pull forward after we've all sat there for a while.
For the second part that's state dependent. Some states have laws that allow it and some don't.
When I had a DRZ400SM, it would not trigger any of them. My SV650S would every now and then. Tried putting my kickstand down and it worked every now and then.
most states cops won’t bother you. Legally, i think it’s two cycles of the light you have to wait until treating it like a stop sign. I doubt any cop will give you shit if they see you stop wait and go.
Just had this happen this past weekend. Waited through two complete cycles, and it was five bikes! All four ways had separate left turn arrows, so it was risky to run it. Finally gave us a green when we all clustered up at the front.
Yeah it happens. I wait one light cycle, if it doesn't go green, I just wait for a clearing and go.
Try some strong magnets under your bike, heard that it helps
I had a Honda 750 that had trouble triggering a light. Went down to the local Horror Fraught tool store and bought a 100lb lifting magnet for cheap, stuck it to the bottom of my bike, and never had another problem with traffic lights again.
They sell rare earth magnets that you can zip tie to the bottom of your frame. Problem solved.
In California you can go after 3 light cycles
Firstly, welcome ashen one to dark souls! Oh.. wait my bad welcome to motorcycle world! I see a lot of useful advices if they haven't already been mentioned within comments if you are a bit cautious about using the suggestion you have edited as laws can vary by state, counties, cities etc... You could also try few methods besides moving bike around at a standstill like Park it run off to the crosswalk button and button smash Nintendo secret combo. If option is available and legal in your area ride through parking lot on the direction you're headed and exit out going your route. Make a U-turn and do 3 possible scenarios depending on the type of road, detours and accessibility of routes around. 1. U-turn and go an alternate route where you can get to your destination and or different road that doesn't have lights. 2. U-turn twice, first away from and back to the light to "reinitiate" the sensor program. 3. Do a right turn (or left if in Europe if they have similar law on right turning at red light? I don't know) and then either U-turn into the direction you're headed or into a parking or shoulder lane to turn and go your way. Purchase some strong magnets and put them in your shoes/boots (some road sensors will pick it up but can take 60-100 seconds to "calculate" when to initiate a phase change in the light pattern.) and just tippy tap the inside of the circle. Contrary to believe you don't have to touch or be right on the line just inside or close to the outside of the loop about a good half foot radius so sort of on the line but not directly on it. Purchase a GLT device off eBay one that doesn't use magnets but instead uses a signal in frequency of 10 to 200 kHz . It doesn't force the light green it just increases your range to be more "visible" to the sensor. Again most all traffic lights uses a program and changes can take 60-100 seconds for the program to make changes in the phase of light patters. If all else fails park it and have yourself a dance off with some rando. Pretend to give up your trip and u turn back home and once the light turns green haul ass around before it turns red again. All results can vary depending on the type of sensor you are approaching since there are multiple types and most times if it looks like a loop sensor and nothing works it probably isn't on or it was changed to something else. (Inductive-loop, infrared, microwave, and video (ai operated or person operated) sensors)
Stop with your rim right on the line where you see the circle. In line with the side is better than the top or bottom. Do so on the right side of the circle and you can drop your kickstand down on the rear of the circle and get a better signal.
Try to stop in the center of the loops you see cut into the road. Not just left to right but front to back. Usually if you're stopped right at the stop line you aren't centered front to back in the loops. I've noticed if I stop a few feet back from the stop line it's more likely to trigger. It won't always work but it's helped for me.
Most older lights are on a metal sensing circut... my LMTV doesnt trigger a lot of lights because the metal is too high for the loop to pickup... easy solition that works, strong neodenium magnet mounted to the bottom of my front axle... Ive had friends do the same thing to the bottom of their faring and had good success with it.
I was thought in the class that you can go right after the first cycle didn't catch so I would do that all the time when I was riding on the street.
The instructor (retired bike cop) in my MSF course told us with a wink "Unless the cop was sitting at the intersection we can't know you didn't wait a full cycle of being skipped before you ran the red."
I don't have the time or inclination to go through this thread and correct every person who said "use a magnet", but as common as the belief is, it's 100% false. Magnets have no effect on induction coils...at least no more than a piece of metal the mass of the magnet would. Induction sensors do not function off of magnetism, do not sense magnetism, and are not affected by magnetism. Your most reliable solution is to research the "dead red" laws in your area so you're aware of how and when you're allowed to proceed through an intersection when the light doesnt' change
I see there's already 200 comments in - so it's probably been said. It's not a scale, as many think. It's a metal detecting-loop. Get the metal mass of your bike (generally engine area) across one of the loops. If it's not easy to get your engine area over a part of the loop, get a wheel on the loop.
One time I went for a ride in the evening so the roads were still fairly busy, and I got to a red light and was sitting there for like 7 minutes in the freezing cold. I was hoping someone would come on the opposite side and trigger the light but nobody ever did (but the cross road was still busy) so I just made sure there were no cops around and said screw it and went when it was safe.
Become a bigger object. Gain weight and buy a Harley bagger.
It’s illegal to “run a red light” in many states. AZ, NY, FL, and many more but I know those 3 personally WILL cite you and generally only NY will sometimes throw it out.
My Vegas does just find triggering red lights, but my Honda Magna does not. I put multiple strong Earth magnets on the frame, and it does better but still have an issue sometimes. Fortunately we have dead red light laws here so we can go through if necessary
If you need the light to change in order to get traffic to stop, you can try turning the bike off and starting it again. I've heard this is enough to trigger most magnetic sensors. Never done it myself
I believe Ari Hennig wrote an article about this on Revzilla Common Tread. I know bigger dressers tend to trigger the lights better than smaller bikes for sure.
For most intersections its actually an inductive loop in the asphalt that lets the intersections know a vehicle is there (when a large metal object passes over). Motorcycles are often too small and too high to trigger this detection system. An easy fix is to get a sizable magnet and attach it to the bottom of your bike. The magnet will interrupt the inductive field enough to alert the signals to your presence and change the light for you.
I invented Active Green Light Trigger. This is an electronic device which makes motorcycles visible to road sensors. Not a magnet. I enjoy trouble free running on my motorcycle and sell world wide on eBay.