[net.cycle] more on lights

krm (11/17/82)

	From krm Mon Nov 15 13:21:42 1982
	(cwruecmp.270) net.cycles          : stoplights
	Four times now at three different lights I have been pulled over for
	running a red.  I pull up to the light in the left turn lane.
	I wait through three light changes then honk, look, and proceed with
	caution since my light hasn't changed.  I spent one night watching a
	light and found that it had a sensor that my bike would not set off so
	the light would never change for me unless a car pulled up behind me
	close enough to sit on the sensor.  Anyone else ever have this problem?
	What should I do?

	**** mail me ****
	i will digest if interest warrants.

	Rich.

I got enough replies from auto owners that read my earlier message
since it was posted to the wrong group, that I'm posting this to
net.autos.  Many of the replies I got about not tripping sensors were
I-had-the-same-experience type.  Several suggestions were made about
right turns or walking the bike.  Think about it though.  I'm in the
left turn lane with a constant red light.  ***anything*** I do now is
illegal.  I thought this letter had enough interest to warrant
posting.  I haven't tried it but it looks reasonable.

Date: Wed Nov 17 09:57:13 1982
To: harpo!decvax!cwruecmp!krm
Subject: Stoplights

I had the same problem at stoplights with my bicycle until a was shown
the trick to the sensors.  Many (most?) sense traffic by using a
magnetic field.  Metal moving through this field causes a disturbance.
The problem with bike (of any kind) is that they a so much narrower that
they are not picked up if they go through the sensor in the wrong spot.
The trick is to move across the sensor at the corners.  Most sensors are
shaped like this
           ____________
          /            \
          |            |
          |            |
          \____________/

To trigger the sensor, and thus change the light, move across the
slashes on either side.  It never failed for me.

					Tim Tjarks
					harpo!ihuxx!tjarks


Rich.
decvax!cwruecmp!krm