Dont know how many saw this but its in todays USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-10-red-light-laws_N.htm
If we didn't have the right to go on red, I would have died of starvation, dehydration, or exhaustion waiting at a light a long time ago.
I hope we don't see a rise in red-light running accidents as a result - who is at fault in that case? The guy who ran the red, legally, or the guy who was going through the green, legally?
I used to just hop off the bike and run over to press the pedestrian crossing button. Here in Montreal we don't have those stupid trip lights, thank jebus.
Best idea ever, must forward this to South African department of transport [thumbsup]
I love how the picture at the top of the article shows a guy Lane-Splitting on his Honda. [laugh] [laugh]
(http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2008/06/10/redmeansgostoryx-large.jpg)
Maybe that's the next Moto law that some states will consider?
Oh yeah! I'm gotten in the habit of doing that on my own a lot more lately. I didn't know it was actually sanctioned in some states. Cool. Now to write my state legislator...
Quote from: bluemoco v2.0 on June 11, 2008, 08:12:12 AM
I love how the picture at the top of the article shows a guy Lane-Splitting on his Honda. [laugh] [laugh]
Maybe that's the next Moto law that some states will consider?
At least he's in full gear -- a nice representation of us careful riders. Lane splitting, I think is a long way off. It requires a whole social paradigm shift for motorists. When I was in California I noticed drivers on the freeways hardly ever changed lanes. I think that's out of fear of hitting/respect for the bikes that could be zipping past them. Put that on the books on the east coast and the cagers would be making martyrs out of us for the first few years :-\
I didn't see CA mentioned as allowing the redlight running but I think they do. Something about having to wait 2 cycles of the light or 5 minutes I think. Could be wrong. It's usually not a problem except at night for me. During the day most lights are timers. I did have one incident where this old lady behind me refused to move forward to trigger the light so we amassed a line of 20 cars before I finally busted an illegal U in the middle of the road. I sat at that light for 15 minutes. Literally. I even got off my bike to ask the lady to move forward to try and trip the sensor but she wouldn't budge. >:(
Quote from: ODrides on June 11, 2008, 08:20:57 AM
When I was in California I noticed drivers on the freeways hardly ever changed lanes. I think that's out of fear of hitting/respect for the bikes that could be zipping past them.
You must not have been in Ventura. I've almost been killed 5 times lane splitting through there. They wait until there's a semi coming up from behind you and then veer into you to try and push you into it. :o >:( Good lesson to always move faster than both lanes of traffic your splitting between.
Quote from: erkishhorde on June 11, 2008, 08:21:31 AM
I didn't see CA mentioned as allowing the redlight running but I think they do. Something about having to wait 2 cycles of the light or 5 minutes I think. Could be wrong. It's usually not a problem except at night for me. During the day most lights are timers. I did have one incident where this old lady behind me refused to move forward to trigger the light so we amassed a line of 20 cars before I finally busted an illegal U in the middle of the road. I sat at that light for 15 minutes. Literally. I even got off my bike to ask the lady to move forward to try and trip the sensor but she wouldn't budge. >:(
Ok, THAT is hilarious! "Young man, I am not falling for that trick! You and your gang member friends are going to steal my pension check!"
i've heard of people putting rare earth magnets on the bottom of the bike to trip the inductive sensors
See... sometimes having all these old, non-synchronized lights in Chicago works out for the best! [beer]
Quote from: ODrides on June 11, 2008, 08:36:40 AM
Ok, THAT is hilarious! "Young man, I am not falling for that trick! You and your gang member friends are going to steal my pension check!"
LOL
Quote from: NeufUnSix on June 11, 2008, 07:29:01 AM
I hope we don't see a rise in red-light running accidents as a result - who is at fault in that case? The guy who ran the red, legally, or the guy who was going through the green, legally?
The guy who ran the red is at fault. It's only legal if the path is clear.
I asked a moto cop in Los Gatos, CA about going through a red light if my moto didn't trip the light. He said that if he saw me he may ask me to go to the light again to see if it doesn't trip it. He did say that any cop could legally write you a ticket regardless how long you have to sit there. Some will and some won't.
I will go through a light if I have to wait more than one cycle. Those magnetic things aren't very good (according to a couple of people I know who have tried them). I've never had a problem with our small Metro triggering a light. On my bicycle I go through most lights unless there is a lot of traffic [evil].
Quote from: NeufUnSix on June 11, 2008, 07:29:01 AM
I hope we don't see a rise in red-light running accidents as a result - who is at fault in that case? The guy who ran the red, legally, or the guy who was going through the green, legally?
I used to just hop off the bike and run over to press the pedestrian crossing button. Here in Montreal we don't have those stupid trip lights, thank jebus.
Quote from: Triple J on June 11, 2008, 08:58:04 AM
The guy who ran the red is at fault. It's only legal if the path is clear.
As mentioned, there are rules as to when you can "ignore" the red light. The laws are written in such a way so that you are "protected" from getting a ticket for it but if you get in a wreck while doing it, you are at fault.
Quote from: ODrides on June 11, 2008, 08:20:57 AMWhen I was in California I noticed drivers on the freeways hardly ever changed lanes. I think that's out of fear of hitting/respect for the bikes that could be zipping past them.
I don't know which California
you went to, but it doesn't resemble the one
I live in... :P
Quote from: erkishhorde on June 11, 2008, 08:21:31 AM
I didn't see CA mentioned as allowing the redlight running but I think they do.
Nope. Car, motorcycle, or bicycle, you're risking getting popped for that kind of maneuver. The advised alternative is to make a right turn and then do a U-turn. [roll]
Quote from: x136 on June 11, 2008, 09:24:54 AM
Nope. Car, motorcycle, or bicycle, you're risking getting popped for that kind of maneuver. The advised alternative is to make a right turn and then do a U-turn. [roll]
The problem is if you only discover that you don't set off the light after you've gotten into the front of the left-turn lane. Then it's a bit hairy to dart across to make a right turn. :P
I would normally wait a couple of cycles and then go, but a few weeks ago was at one in Santa Cruz, a left turn off of Hwy 1, which was such a busy intersection that there was no chance for me to make it through. I just had to sit and wait for a car to come up behind me.
Quote from: ODrides on June 11, 2008, 08:20:57 AMWhen I was in California I noticed drivers on the freeways hardly ever changed lanes. I think that's out of fear of hitting/respect for the bikes that could be zipping past them. Put that on the books on the east coast and the cagers would be making martyrs out of us for the first few years :-\
California drivers change lanes more than almost anywhere else I've been, I think. Don't forget that passing on the right is legal here, so you get slow drivers in any lane, and people zooming around them on either side.
It seems that the vast majority of CA drivers are clueless that there may be bikes splitting [roll], there are a few who look out for you and move over to make room (mostly fellow riders I suspect) [thumbsup], and then there are a very few that try to block your way out of spite. >:(
Now, in Europe, it seems that everyone there knows to look out for bikes/scooters, splitting feels safer there. :)
QuoteMotorcyclist Splatt Ratt of Palm Springs, Calif.
If my name were Splatt, I wouldn't be riding a motorcycle.
My observations about CA traffic were made during a few days around LA. Apparently not a very scientific sample size. Comments withdrawn from the record ;)
There are some intersections where I feel a lot more safe running a red light to make a left turn, rather than sitting in the middle of a highway, at a complete stop, waiting for the light to change with cars zooming by you at highway speeds going both directions.
I've heard that putting your kickstand down on the traffic sensor will trip it quicker than any of the magnet gizmos will. I haven't had much of a chance to test it as I don't have much of a problem tripping lights.
i've also had luck with getting off the bike, running over and pushing the cross walk button. Of course my kickstand is probably down on the sensor at that point too. I just look cool running around the intersection too [laugh]
Quote from: eVilTWIN on June 11, 2008, 11:35:07 AM
I've heard that putting your kickstand down on the traffic sensor will trip it quicker than any of the magnet gizmos will.
+1 that works pretty well for me, plus it confuses the car behind you [evil]
Quote from: Ducatiloo on June 11, 2008, 12:48:01 PM
+1 that works pretty well for me, plus it confuses the car behind you [evil]
So you put it on the seam in the road or in the middle of the patch?
Quote from: eVilTWIN on June 11, 2008, 11:35:07 AM
i've also had luck with getting off the bike, running over and pushing the cross walk button. Of course my kickstand is probably down on the sensor at that point too. I just look cool running around the intersection too [laugh]
I was told by an Oregon cycle cop... that this was illegal... no clue what the ticket would be for... but it is something similar to having the whole party in a car get out and run around the car, and hopping back in, during a traffic stop. But I believe in the wait two cycles and then gun it.
Quote from: erkishhorde on June 11, 2008, 01:08:33 PM
So you put it on the seam in the road or in the middle of the patch?
It's the seam that triggers it. The seam is the only part that will read your bike, so if you are not over a seam... but in the middle of the patch... you are pretty much invisible.
Quote from: ryandalling on June 11, 2008, 01:13:54 PM
It's the seam that triggers it. The seam is the only part that will read your bike, so if you are not over a seam... but in the middle of the patch... you are pretty much invisible.
Not true.
Quote from: erkishhorde on June 11, 2008, 01:08:33 PM
So you put it on the seam in the road or in the middle of the patch?
If there is a square patch I put it down in the center of the patch.
Quote from: eVilTWIN on June 11, 2008, 11:35:07 AM
I've heard that putting your kickstand down on the traffic sensor will trip it quicker than any of the magnet gizmos will. I haven't had much of a chance to test it as I don't have much of a problem tripping lights.
i've also had luck with getting off the bike, running over and pushing the cross walk button. Of course my kickstand is probably down on the sensor at that point too. I just look cool running around the intersection too [laugh]
It works. I started doing that after I got hassled by a cop In Corte Madera one night about 2AM. Stopped for the light and there was No one anywhere. after waiting for a few minutes and looking around i went. Then the lights came on so I stopped and he gave me a bunch of S*&$ and told me he'd write me up if I did it again etc...
So after that I tried the kickstand thing on the seam and it works.
Quote from: silentbob on June 11, 2008, 01:38:15 PM
Not true.
Care to elaborate? I've got 1 vote for the seam and 1 vote for the middle but I don't know which one you're voting for.
I Middle might work, but you cant go wrong with the seam.
Quote from: erkishhorde on June 11, 2008, 03:05:48 PM
Care to elaborate? I've got 1 vote for the seam and 1 vote for the middle but I don't know which one you're voting for.
I'll have to search for the info but the center of the induction loop is actually more sensitive than the seam and it doesn't have to be metal to trigger it either.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question234.htm//
Kickstand, YES! Such a better idea than that anvil I've been lugging around!
So the field is focused on the center so that says you should be putting your kickstand down in the center, right?
Hrmm, that's interesting. The article doesn't mention Washington State, yet I do this all the time. ... I think this "loophole" is just common sense (I could have sworn that in Washington, if you allow a full cycle to go without getting a green, it's legal to proceed if yielding to all traffic).
hmmm, it's legal here... didn't know that. if i see the seams in the pavement or have been waiting for a while and there is no one around i just go, safely of course. have been doing it for years and have never had an issue.
I've used this form to get a few red light triggers adjusted for motorcycles.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html (http://www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html)
They are pretty responsive. It takes about a week and they send someone out to adjust the sensitivity, paint a mark on the pavement indicating where the loop is, and send an email back to you telling you it is fixed.
Quote from: silentbob on June 11, 2008, 08:57:34 PM
I've used this form to get a few red light triggers adjusted for motorcycles.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html (http://www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html)
They are pretty responsive. It takes about a week and they send someone out to adjust the sensitivity, paint a mark on the pavement indicating where the loop is, and send an email back to you telling you it is fixed.
Now that is a valuable post, thank you! [drink] I'll definitely use that, there's a few by my place at major intersections that I always get stuck at (going off and on Laguna Canyon Road Hwy 133).
Which Maintenance Request Type did you use? My first inclination would be "TRAFFIC SIGNAL-Not Working"...
Quote from: Evil_Ductator on June 11, 2008, 09:15:53 PM
Now that is a valuable post, thank you! [drink] I'll definitely use that, there's a few by my place at major intersections that I always get stuck at (going off and on Laguna Canyon Road Hwy 133).
Which Maintenance Request Type did you use? My first inclination would be "TRAFFIC SIGNAL-Not Working"...
That's what I use.
In Ohio unless it says you can't ....you can turn right on red after you stop first. One day I was at an Intersection of a 4 lane and I wanted to turn left. The light did not cycle for what seemed 5 minutes so I turned right and immediately went left. Probably would have got a ticket but I didn't run a red light.
Where I go to get fuel is perfect for me on the way to/from work, The only problem is when I fuel up on the way to work I have to go through the traffic lights and they will not pick up a motorbike, There are no Pedestrian crossings because it is on a highway out of town, I've tried to pull up on or over the loop in the road, put my side stand down on it, I have contacted the Main roads office and asked for it to be checked and then received an Email back advising "because of the mainly Heavy Haulage traffic at that intersection we can not make the Pickups any more sensitive as this causes a lot of false signals and holds up traffic when there are no vehicles waiting to turn at the Intersection"
To which I asked what would happen if I got fined for running the red light because the Loop would not detect me on the bike.
As usual from a Government Dept, After 6 months and repeated requests, I have yet to receive an official response.
I'll just keep running the light and If I get fined I'll present the Emails as evidence. [bang]
With the increase in advances in proximity sensors, motion sensors, etc, thats where the movement needs to go.
Take motorcycles out of the equation for a moment and look forward toward composite cars and modes of transportation. The old method has got to go.
BOT I agree that with the current technology implemented at light controlled intersections there should be a stipulation in the law allowing any vehicle at a stoplight for "X" amount of time, no cross traffic and no change in the ligth that they should be alloted the ability to proceed as if the intersection was posted with a stop sign with a full stop required and proceed with caution.
I leave it to the cops to determine what "X" time should be safe and tolerable for enforcement.