Don't you hate those red lights?

[Matthew_T]

To get back to the topic at hand, usually there's a cable in the floor which is triggered by (I believe) metal. If the cable isn't sensitive enough you can't trigger the lights, and if your bike is carbon you're stuffed. You can see it by the goo they put over it when they reseal the tar, usually a type of parallelogram-shape.

I've had success changing lights in the Manchester/Stockport area to be more sensitive. You just need to find the right person (and hope he/she is competent and bothered!). The Manchester guy was great.

My bike is steel so will keep an eye out for that strip on the floor.

My council is quite good with responses but I havent had any first hand experience of them fixing something.

 

[Christopher]

Your council may have an on-line page to report highway defects and obstructions. One of my local ones (Ribble Valley) have such a page, I reported a downed tree across the cyclepath one morning to them and it had been cleared by the same evening!

If you do contact the council, please make sure you have all the details first as it'll save time, and be exact as possible re location as it may only be one induction loop out of ~4 or so at one junction that isn't working properly.

 

[snorri]

My bike is steel so will keep an eye out for that strip on the floor.

To add to my earlier post on this thread, when reporting the defect tell them you are a cyclist, otherwise they might just test the sensor with a motor vehicle.

 

[Hip Priest]

I briefly worked for the council. I used to man the reception at the town's registry office. The main problem was not the staff - who were the same sort of mix of people you'd find in any workplace - but the sense of entitlement of the 'customer'.

Paying tax does not give us the right to have our every demand satisfied in an instant.

 

[Moderators]

Let's keep this on topic please everyone.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I can think of one set that just doesn't allocate a go to traffic turning right from the minor road without a motor vehicle on the sensor. There is no question of timing in the mix at all. I have sat there on my bike and watched 5 or 6 cycles with no go.
I would hope to be able to argue that this is inherently defective as designed and built even though apparently working.

3 of mine were like this, one by a rail station; one on a bike-only lane; and the last one in a bus lane at a rather busy junction. The lights would all go through a full cycle for everyone else without noticing your existence at all...

 

[summerdays]

I don't think you'll find anywhere where it says it is OK to proceed if the traffic lights are working, which is what was being suggested.

Traffic lights tend to be triggered in three ways:

1. Cable detection and timer: If no vehicle is detected the lights will still change they just take longer.
2. Camera detection and timer (tend to be used at junction with high volumes in one direction and temporary traffic lights): If no vehicle is detected the lights will still change they just take longer.
3. Timer only: Lights change on a set pattern. Intervals tend to be longer at night.

The fact that it doesn't always detect you and change doesn't mean that the lights are faulty. By all means, ask those responsible to change the settings but don't assume you will have a valid defence if you're caught.

As it is, I'd like to see a lot of traffic lights taken out. I've always found that traffic flows better when they're out of action anyway...

My problem set - now fixed, it was a busy main road cross roads. However if there was no traffic coming from one direction then it skipped that green phase completely and went immediately to the right filter for the opposite direction. So unless a vehicle came I was stuck there and I do know what the induction loops look like and normally make sure that I cross them (another good reason for being in primary and not the gutter at traffic lights). Normally because it was a busy junction I didn't have a problem, it was usually in the middle of the day or at night that I would get stuck at the red light.

(My other problem set are in the middle of town and are in a bus lane ... and seem to be set to be triggered by buses ... luckily someone pointed out that the entire paved area next to the road was permitted cycling and so I don't bother even going through that set of lights).

I will have to investigate more.

 

[Matthew_T]

Ignore this: (http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/EN/highlight.nsf/Streetlight?OpenForm)

Would the fact that both sets of lights have ASZ's at them be another point of arguement? As the lights are designed to encorporate cyclists, shouldn't the lights work for cyclists? Would this be another factor the council would take into account because if there wasnt any ASZ, they might argue that the lights arent designed for cyclists.

 

[david k]

tow a large steel object

 

[snorri]

Ignore this: (http://www.denbighsh...tlight?OpenForm)

Would the fact that both sets of lights have ASZ's at them be another point of arguement? As the lights are designed to encorporate cyclists, shouldn't the lights work for cyclists? Would this be another factor the council would take into account because if there wasnt any ASZ, they might argue that the lights arent designed for cyclists.

Has the council refused to accept your fault report? What is all this argument business? If the lights performed as you stated this morning, they are defective. You seem keen to make a mountain out of a molehill.
Denbigh say they investigate faults of this nature within four hours and clear them within eight, so all should be well by the morning, assuming you reported the defect this morning......you have reported it haven't you?

 

[SavageHoutkop]

because if there wasnt any ASZ, they might argue that the lights arent designed for cyclists.

rather unsuccesfully unless it was on a road that banned cycling! Traffic light not triggered by legal road user = faulty light!

 

[Matthew_T]

Has the council refused to accept your fault report? What is all this argument business? If the lights performed as you stated this morning, they are defective. You seem keen to make a mountain out of a molehill.
Denbigh say they investigate faults of this nature within four hours and clear them within eight, so all should be well by the morning, assuming you reported the defect this morning......you have reported it haven't you?

Well I didnt report it this morning because I was in college and need to go out and get the exact number on the lights (might use streetview). They havent refused it but I was wondering what would be the grounds for them to do so.

 

[Tim Hall]

Matt, earlier you mentioned light sensitive traffic lights. They're not. Those things that look like video cameras on top of the lights are doppler microwave detectors, bouncing microwaves off the approaching vehicle. Shining your light at them will have zero effect.

 

[Tim Hall]

Or a party popper filled with suitably sized bits of tinfoil strips fired at the crucial moment.

 

[Matthew_T]

That will by why it didnt work then!

I have reported both of them now though. Response expected within 5 days.