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Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights

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infmom
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
I have a similar gizmo on the bottom of my Vespa. It works, except for one intersection where I don't think an armored truck would have enough inductive mass to make the light change.
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Gillonde
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
We, in the Netherlands, have buttons that cyclists can press instead of the wiring in the street. And cyclists have to follow all traffic laws.
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m4ximusprim3
11/07/08

@Gillonde: Yeah, that's supposedly how it works here too.

In practice, pushing buttons and obeying traffic laws requires effort, so nobody takes the time.
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Purple Dave
11/07/08

@m4ximusprim3:
That depends on where you live. The last place I lived, yeah, traffic was light, and they didn't enforce regular traffic laws for bike traffic (but they did have city ordnances against riding on the sidewalks, which I did have at least two idiot drivers tell me I should be doing anyways). Where I live now...well, you're only moderately safe in a car. Pulling that stunt on a bike equals certain death. Unless it's late at night (when it's not generally smart to be biking on major roads in the first place), there's pretty much a non-stop stream of traffic from the moment the light turns green to 2-3 cars after it's turned red. And by the time those stragglers clear out, cross-traffic is already halfway through the intersection.
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VideoVampire
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
That bike rider better hope there are no bumps or curbs because its sticking way down, first rough patch and Wammo! FACEPLANT!!
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Kaiser-Machead
11/07/08

@VideoVampire: Actually, I don't think it would end in a faceplant, but more like snapping that hunk of junk off of the frame, and possibly just tipping over.
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Kaiser-Machead
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
Pfff. Fuck that. I use my eyes. I guess I'm one of the dying breed that actually stops at every red light. I figure, I'm riding on the street as other vehicles are, so I might as well abide by the signs, lines and lights, licensed or not.
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Kaiser-Machead
11/07/08

@Kaiser-Machead's Cookie-Powered LEGO Machine: Now, I want a TV-B-Gone remote that actually changes the lights to green as I'm going. Just stick it on the handlebars or a helmet.
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LastAndLeast
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
I always figured they were pressure sensors...
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IN THE FACE!
11/07/08

@LastAndLeast: That are installed with a stone-saw, blowtorch and tar?
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PerspectiveX
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
These devices don't let you whiz through lights any faster than driving a car up to an intersection. All it does is allow the sensor to recognize the bike as a vehicle waiting for a light change.
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IN THE FACE!
11/07/08

@PerspectiveX: Very useful if you are the only one waiting for a left turn signal as wezelboy was lamenting...
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wezelboy
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
I've actually gotten a ticket for waiting for the light in the left turn lane as the signal cycled through all of other lanes of traffic except mine a few times, then finally going when there were no cars around after waiting about 2 minutes.

Lame.
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Monty
11/07/08

@wezelboy: I wait for one signal, and if no car pulls up behind me to tag it, I will try to find a lull and go through. But it is the worst part of my commute is the waiting at lights that will never change, so this is a very exciting concept.
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GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
The is something called the Green Light Trigger, which gives your motorcycle/bike the appearance of a armored car to the magnetic loops. [www.greenlightstuff.com]
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IN THE FACE!
11/07/08

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->: Don't forget to stock up on blinker fluid, I bet that thing uses a LOT!
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iaintgoingthere
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
Why? Bicyclists never stop for a red light signal, or maybe just slow down to make sure they don't get pancaked by a semi-truck.
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Monty
11/07/08

@iaintgoingthere: Let me see if I have the logic right here:

Traffic signals do not change because you are on a bike so cyclists do not bother waiting for a light that will never come. So, it makes no sense at all to give them a device that might allow them to use intersections like everyone else.

Do I have that right?
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IN THE FACE!
11/07/08

@iaintgoingthere: I do the same thing in my car to fcuk with the bikers (slow down at a green light, then gun it while they are in the intersection)...

Hahaha, so much fun, so many compound fractures.
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IN THE FACE!
11/07/08

@Monty: They should be ticketed whenever they don't wait for the light (unless the light is never going to change for them i.e. they esp. need this product), so this item does have a purpose.

So, no, ideally you don't have it right, but in areas where the cops don't enforce traffic laws for cyclists this item is pretty useless.
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Curves
11/07/08

@iaintgoingthere: You are so right. A guy on a bike blew through a red light and then when I slammed the brakes to keep from killing him, he flipped me off (he was not wearing a helmet either). He would have made a nice hood ornament.
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Jesustron
11/07/08

In reply to Traffic Loop Sensor Trigger For Bikes Gets You More Green Lights
Apparently the maker of this device don't cycle. If they did they'd know that your average urban biker doesn't see intersections in colored lights, but Cars/no Cars.
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IN THE FACE!
11/07/08

@Jesustron: Oh, so that's why I hate bikers whenever I'm in downtown KC.

The bikers in my town (not KC) actually have to follow traffic laws, because they are actually enforced here, so this item although bulky could be useful.
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DirtyBits
11/07/08

@bpapa9013:

I'll ride a bike just to avoid traffic laws :)
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Darthvinder
11/07/08

@DirtyBits:

Going out of your way to live by the phrase "fuck the police." Epitome of badassery, sir.
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