Red Light Jumping (but different to the normal ranty stuff)

[Saluki]

We have had roadworks with a sensor on the lights just recently. The lights were there for about 6 weeks. To trigger the lights we tried jumping up and down to see if it would detect us but that didn't work and just made us look like tits. In the end we pointed the bike light at the sensor on flash mode and it worked a treat. When the lights did pack up and were red at both ends, we were able to go on the inside of the cones and ride safely down the side of the traffic side. Sadly we were not able to do this all the time or we would have - unless there were workmen but unlikely at 7pm.

On proper traffic lights I have got off the bike and become a pedestrian to cross when I felt that I was waiting for an unreasonable length of time i.e. when they went round a full cycle and then didn't go green for me as there wasn't a big car there to trip the sensor.

 

[MontyVeda]

there's a contraflow cycle lane in town with a traffic light where cyclists can join or cross the one way system... thing is the traffic light is triggered by a pedestrian crossing round the corner... so the light won't change to green unless a pedestrian uses the crossing. It's not a problem in the day as it's a busy crossing, but in the evening one can either wait and wait and wait and wait... dismount, become a ped and walk round the corner to the 'button', or just carefully and cautiously jump the red.

 

[Tim Hall]

We have had roadworks with a sensor on the lights just recently. The lights were there for about 6 weeks. To trigger the lights we tried jumping up and down to see if it would detect us but that didn't work and just made us look like tits. In the end we pointed the bike light at the sensor on flash mode and it worked a treat.

I doubt very much that pointing a light at a microwave doppler sensor had any effect on it. They detect movement of things towards them, not light. I'd say you just got lucky.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I doubt very much that pointing a light at a microwave doppler sensor had any effect on it. They detect movement of things towards them, not light. I'd say you just got lucky.

Do some not also have a light sensor.

 

[SWSteve]

There's a set of lights a cross-roads near me which often fails to detect cyclists/people on horses, so they made one of the turnings controlled by a button as well. It's pretty good as I cannot stay with traffic (national speed limit) on this road so when I get to the end I can just press the button to cross.

 

[sidevalve]

Do some not also have a light sensor.

No. Many dream that they do and they are happy with that dream but the answer is no.
The pole mounted sensors [look like small cameras on the traffic light ploes detect down to about 4 - 5 mph but tend to be angled at the centre of the lane about ten - twenty yards behind the stopline. Creep by too near to the gutter [easy if you coming to a stop anyway] or just roll up to the lights at 3 - 4 mph and it might well miss you.
Riding on the inside of the cones is a fine idea but remember they are there for a reason. Holes in the ground, gravel, oil.the odd shovel can easily be left behind and if you hit something and come off it's purely your fault.
Secondly the cones are often strung together [it's to prevent someone pushing a barrow for example backing out into traffic] and if the light's poor and you don't see the string ?
If the detectors are faulty then they will usually go 'permanant detect' ie assume there is something there all the time not the other way around. It is very rare for a road however minor not to be 'served' at all even with no traffic although it may be missed for one complete cycle and only run for minimum time when finally the green appears, [the green times are constantly variable depending on traffic densities so to simply time the lights is a wast of time and will prove nothing].
The induction loop type detectors in the road work on the mass of metal passing over them and magnets you could realistically carry would have no effect.
The advice about riding along the 'cut' [or across the corner] is good however as this is where they are most sensitive.
If you asume the lights are faulty and have an accident and they are proved to be ok [and yes they are constantly monitored/recorded internally [and sometimes externally] then you wil be at fault and will have let yourself in for damages claims and possibly a criminal prosecution.
The safest way if in any doubt is simply to get off and walk around the junction, is it reall worth the grief for maybe thirty seconds of time ?

 

[Saluki]

I doubt very much that pointing a light at a microwave doppler sensor had any effect on it. They detect movement of things towards them, not light. I'd say you just got lucky.

A friend of ours, a traffic policeman, suggested it. He said that the flashing lights will sometimes trigger a faster change on temporary lights, which is why we tried it. Its not something that I would have thought of all by myself.

We could, of course, have just got lucky though

 

[chernij]

Luckily this has only happened once to me before. I moved backwards 20 yards then re-approached the lights while waving. Finally they picked me up.