Cycling to Reading station this morning I stopped at some traffic lights at a crossroads as usual and waited for the sequence to come round to my direction. But it didn't - it missed me out, so I had to wait another couple of minutes in the driving rain. Yuk.
As there were no cars with me at the lights initially, I can only assume that the lights depend to an extent on sensors, which aren't triggered by the presence of a bike. Haven't they been calibrated correctly, or aren't they ever going to be that sensitive?
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The lights are triggered by induction loops in the road. You are not big enough or metalic enough to induct.
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You need to be directly over the loop.In the past access to our works was by a roundabout that also had lights.If only one or two cars were waiting,it would be a long time before they changed-someone would have to stop over the first loop(150 yds. from lights) to make them think that there was a major hold-up.
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The lights are triggered by induction loops in the road. You are not big enough or metalic enough to induct.
Oh well - might as well just ignore them then :-)
I wonder if there's a limit to the number of times they'll miss out a direction?
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Some work, some don't when you are on a bike. I guess you made sure you were stopped on top of the sensor.
I once emailed the council about the problem and they passed this on to some relevant department, so definately worth complaining.
The interesting point to this is that if a traffic light is not working (I assume if it does not recognise you and stays on red then this means it is not working!!) the highway code says: ".. treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care." Hmmmmm.
DinUK
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Thanks DinUK - interesting.
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If it's an induction loop won't it have to sense movement?
Fleming's right hand rule and all that.
I cycle over several visible loops in the ground at the approach to traffic lights. I often see cyclists ignoring red lights having missed passing over the loops.
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I did wonder if they were still induction loops as in the Exige with the alloy chassis and plastic body I seem to be left waiting more often than when driveing other cars.
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Still more ferrous metal than a bike I suspect. Many bikes also now have ally frames, wheels and pedal cranks.
Would an induction loop work with a non-ferrous metal? Memories of eddy current operation of speedos and retarders.
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I often see cyclists ignoring red lights having missed passing over the loops.
I know lots of cyclists ignore red lights and most drivers don't, but on the back from the station yesterday evening (on my bike) I stopped for a red light at a pedestrian crossing. But some seconds later a large people carrier just sailed straight through! No, the lights hadn't just changed, nor were they just about to.
There was no one on the crossing when the vehicle went through, so I would imagine the driver would argue with some justification that no one was put at risk. But it still surprised and slightly shocked me.
Edited by Focus {P} on 01/12/2009 at 08:31
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