Haven't noticed this brought up anywhere, so here goes; I always have a great deal of difficulty when stopped at traffic lights with the sensors in the street picking up my bike to change the light. Have been wondering, when I finally get the sidecar mounted, if this will give me enough metal mass to trip those pesky lights? Often I go in a roundabout route to miss the darn things.
It will depend upon the detection system used (Magnetic, pressure, heat, motion, etc.).
Like Lonnie says, hard to tell.
I drive a big old vintatge '67 Dodge truck with a '90 Cummins 4BTA diesel engine swapped in. The engine doesn't have electronic controls on the diesel's Bosch VE Fuel Injection. Despite a huge amount of mass it won't set off certain types of light sensors, frustrating at times! Just gotta sorta hide & watch....
When I lived in Washington state, the sensors could be fooled into thinking you were a car,(therefore allowed a green light) if you had a powerful magnet under the bike or sidecar.
Where I live now, there are sensors that look like cameras up above the road on the cables that support the lights. I think they sense heat as I have not had a problem at lights.
There are also red light cameras at some intersections, so I ride like a good boy all the time.
I think I have been a scorch of frustration to the police on this island as I do not give them probable cause to stop me.
I have been pulled over twice and they attempted to get me to confess in the standard word game they play but when they found I don't bluff very well they seem to have given up.
Some states have passed laws to address this problem. You might check your state.
Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 304
Traffic Regulations
Section 304.285
August 28, 2012
Red light violations by motorcycles or bicycles, affirmative defense, when.
304.285. Any person operating a motorcycle or bicycle who violates the provisions of section 304.281 or section 304.301 by entering or crossing an intersection controlled by a traffic control signal against a red light shall have an affirmative defense to that charge if the person establishes all of the following conditions:
(1) The motorcycle or bicycle has been brought to a complete stop;
(2) The traffic control signal continues to show a red light for an unreasonable time;
(3) The traffic control is apparently malfunctioning or, if programmed or engineered to change to a green light only after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle, the signal has apparently failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle; and
(4) No motor vehicle or person is approaching on the street or highway to be crossed or entered or is so far away from the intersection that it does not constitute an immediate hazard.
The affirmative defense of this section applies only to a violation for entering or crossing an intersection controlled by a traffic control signal against a red light and does not provide a defense to any other civil or criminal action.
(L. 2009 H.B. 683 merged with S.B. 368)
Joyce, if something like this modern legislation would work in Costa Rica we would have finally a method to sew and obligate the state's transportation ministry for to make things right.
Here nearly all traffic lights are a stupid time controled with the same too fast rithmn 24h/365. And in the capital the famous "intelligent" camera controled traffic light system is only good to make trafic jams worse.
I'd love to see in Costa Rica a demand controled or green wave traffic light control like I experience each time I come to Germany.
As Phenolius, I myself get pulled over for to lurke on the sidecar or Willies. And in 25 years the only occasion a traffic police officer asked me for "a small help" with my blue eyes I laughed into his face: "Young fellow, I will not compromise neither you, nor me. As my Grandmother used to say: A man is worth as much as his word and the principles have to last the hole life. Make me the ticket (1/2 month wage)." His low voice answer: "Go ahead and have a nice day."
So have a nice day and watch what my reflective vest tells.
"Courtesy helps everybody"
Sven
In central Ohio, some lights are definitely more sensitive than others. Oddly enough, one that a motorcycle does not trigger is the left turn signal that provides entry to a Harley Davidson dealer north of Columbus. Go figure.
Larry
