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Traffic Light Question For Motorcycles

This can be a problem at drive thru windows also.

The best product on the market is the Green Light Trigger HD.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Virginia's law changed back in 2011 to allow you go through a red light after 2 cycles or 2 minutes, whichever is shorter. :clap:

Virginia Code 46.2-833:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a driver of a motorcycle or moped or a bicycle rider approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic light, the driver or rider may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only if the driver or rider (i) comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for two complete cycles of the traffic light or for two minutes, whichever is shorter, (ii) exercises due care as provided by law, (iii) otherwise treats the traffic control device as a stop sign, (iv) determines that it is safe to proceed, and (v) yields the right of way to the driver of any vehicle approaching on such other highway from either direction.

​
 
Exposure.

The one thing that has 'always' concerned me most, and has, through many years of riding. Be it bicycling. Which for years I did in excess, (15K a year), plus motorcycle riding time.

That equates to a lot of hours out there and lots of stop signs/lights.

My point.

I spend as little time as possible in the target zone, and always leave myself an out.

Never ever pull up tight to the vehicle in front of you. Especially on a trike. I'd much rather have to take the side off the car next to me as I would have some idiot hit me from behind.

Something to think about. tol
 
My take. Does not happen very often to me--but it does occasionally. I will wait one cycle and then proceed on when it is safe. Have never had a LEO involved--but am guessing that after explanation and proper deference to the officer--that all should be well.
 
eaglemrpaul said:
AI would also suggest this problem be added to the Spyder "Dos & Don't" which I read several times before my first ride. It's a wonderful post and I think this would be a great addition.
Click to expand...

I hesitated to include this in the Do's and Do Not's since this is not directly solely to the operation of a Spyder, but rather many different vehicles that are affected.

However, I relented and added it, since it appears there are many new Spyder owners who do not come from a history of riding motorcycles, or at least not in recent times since these types of sensors have existed -- thus may not know this is a common problem. A common enough problem that many states have passed laws allowing motorcycles (and Spyders) to pass through a light that will not activate.

Good luck on not finding any of these in your travels... and have fun riding! ;)
 
eaglemrpaul said:
Recently I was in the left turn lane at the intersection of 2 state highways. The traffic lights were all red for thru traffic going in my direction. I was the first and the only vehicle waiting (On my Spyder) for the left turn arrow to turn green to proceed. From the opposite direction there was also a left turn lane which was not occupied. I waited and watched as the stop and go lights cycled through completely except for the left turn signals. A car arrived from the opposite direction to occupy the left turn lane across from me. On the second cycle while I watched and waited the left turn lane light lit and I was on my way. Then yesterday I was at another stop and go light intersection. I was turning left from a county road onto a state hwy on the outskirts of town. I waited an extended period of time for the light to turn green. After waiting for what I would estimate 30 seconds I was joined at the intersection by a second motorcycle right next to me. We both waited for about another 20 seconds. My counterpart got bored and since there was no cross traffic in site, proceed straight through the red light and on his way. I have been at both of these intersections mentioned in a car and never had what I've described happen. Is this my imagination or could someone explain what's going on.
Click to expand...

when I took the MSF course, my instructor brought up the question of "what do you do if the light won't change"? My response, "gun it and get on about your way". He laughed and said "you have tickets in your future". I have been pretty lucky with the traffic lights but I have had to make a right turn a few times to get around a light that wouldn't change for me.
 
Had to run a left turn light just today. Pulled up to red left turn light, while straight way was green, light turned red, cross traffic light turned green then red, and straight went to green, and left turn stayed red. No cars were coming, so off I went. I will not wait more than one cycle on some of the streets I travel, as they only change when a car comes up the other way.
 
eaglemrpaul said:
Recently I was in the left turn lane at the intersection of 2 state highways. The traffic lights were all red for thru traffic going in my direction. I was the first and the only vehicle waiting (On my Spyder) for the left turn arrow to turn green to proceed. From the opposite direction there was also a left turn lane which was not occupied. I waited and watched as the stop and go lights cycled through completely except for the left turn signals. A car arrived from the opposite direction to occupy the left turn lane across from me. On the second cycle while I watched and waited the left turn lane light lit and I was on my way. Then yesterday I was at another stop and go light intersection. I was turning left from a county road onto a state hwy on the outskirts of town. I waited an extended period of time for the light to turn green. After waiting for what I would estimate 30 seconds I was joined at the intersection by a second motorcycle right next to me. We both waited for about another 20 seconds. My counterpart got bored and since there was no cross traffic in site, proceed straight through the red light and on his way. I have been at both of these intersections mentioned in a car and never had what I've described happen. Is this my imagination or could someone explain what's going on.
Click to expand...

There are several loop detectors, as they're known, positioned in the lane beneath the asphalt. When a vehicle is sensed, a signal is sent to a computer. The problem is that they are not reliable.
Sometimes they are not positioned properly, damaged by road repairs or not sensitive to lighter vehicles such as motorcycles or Spyders. Even a car may not trip them if they stop to far back or over the stop line. For these reasons, in New Jersey, all new and revised intersections have cameras mounted next to the traffic light that take the place of the ground loop detectors. Many confuse them with "red light cameras" but they are not.
 
At work today I asked several of my automobile driving friends if they were aware of the fact that a motorcycle may not have enough metal to activate turn signal lights. Since none of them drive two wheelers they looked at me like I was telling a joke and they were waiting for the punch line.

I saw the article with the State of Illinois and their proposed solution of allowing motorcycles to proceed through red lights after a given amount of time. I believe laws like this are bandaids not solutions. When a motorcycle pulled up next to me while I was waiting for a light change and then proceeded through the red light my first thought was that "Here's another guy that thinks he's above the law." Maybe he was a priest driving to church that new of the issue and Wisconsin law better than I did but I think if you asked a majority of drivers they would say he just broke the law going through a red light.

The point is there are already plenty of drivers around here that must believe anything is legal until you get caught. There are plenty of young drivers that would look at what motorcycles have a right to do by going through a red light and do the same thing in automobiles without understanding why it's allowed. There are already plenty of times that I wish I had a hood emblem paintball gun so I could shoot the cars of drivers that do stupid things to let them know that somebody saw them.

While I'd love to have a bumper sticker that reads, "I drive through red lights and it's the law" signed by the governor my Spyder doesn't have a rear bumper.
 
:shocked: I guess that living up here in the sticks is looking better and better... :ohyea: Very few interactions with traffic lights, and none have ever given me trouble... :thumbup:
But I do try to land a wheel just about where I figure that sensor ought to be... :2thumbs:
 
eaglemrpaul said:
At work today I asked several of my automobile driving friends if they were aware of the fact that a motorcycle may not have enough metal to activate turn signal lights. Since none of them drive two wheelers they looked at me like I was telling a joke and they were waiting for the punch line.

I saw the article with the State of Illinois and their proposed solution of allowing motorcycles to proceed through red lights after a given amount of time. I believe laws like this are bandaids not solutions. When a motorcycle pulled up next to me while I was waiting for a light change and then proceeded through the red light my first thought was that "Here's another guy that thinks he's above the law." Maybe he was a priest driving to church that new of the issue and Wisconsin law better than I did but I think if you asked a majority of drivers they would say he just broke the law going through a red light.

The point is there are already plenty of drivers around here that must believe anything is legal until you get caught. There are plenty of young drivers that would look at what motorcycles have a right to do by going through a red light and do the same thing in automobiles without understanding why it's allowed. There are already plenty of times that I wish I had a hood emblem paintball gun so I could shoot the cars of drivers that do stupid things to let them know that somebody saw them.

While I'd love to have a bumper sticker that reads, "I drive through red lights and it's the law" signed by the governor my Spyder doesn't have a rear bumper.
Click to expand...

While you make an interesting point; laws cannot, and should not, make up for ignorance of the law; or ignorance -- period.

If someone decides to run through a red-light because they saw a motorcycle do it is simply someone who would likely do something stupid sooner or later anyway. A sensible person, who is ignorant of the law allowing motorcycles to pass through, should use some of their sensibility. Again, you cannot legislate this...

Tougher testing should be required to be licensed... as if that is ever going to happen. If anything, states have only made it easier for people to get their license. :roflblack:

I am, however, amazed you have never, in all your years of driving, wondered what the tar-boxes at stop-lights were. I wonder if you ever noticed them. Could be there are none in your area.

Awareness of your surroundings is important in any vehicle; but most certainly more so when riding a Spyder. You should know every bump and crack in the roads you ride most frequently. No offense is intended with this comment at all. Just a suggestion to remain acutely aware of your surroundings when riding so you remain safe on your Spyder.

Keep safe out there and ride often!
 
Law

tobor9 said:
SC law now(after ABATE got it changed)says motorcycles can treat a red as a stop sign after 2 min.,can proceed with caution. most of the time someone will trip the light from the other side.
Click to expand...


Hmmm....didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
 
Last edited:
Plyrod38 said:
It's not your imagination, happens to me often.
Traffic light sensors are often not triggered by motorcrcles and Spyders.
Some riders attach rare earth magnets in the bottom of the motorcycle frames to help trigger the sensors in the road.
In North Carolina, motorcycle riders are required to wait a reasonable amount of time, then proceed when it is safe to do so, regardless of light indication.
Click to expand...

Pennsylvania has also recently passed this into law. :clap::clap::clap:
 
So I wonder if all of those people who now have the super magnets of the Magic Mirrors will notice any difference, or are they too far from the road?
 
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