| Author |
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Daves
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 11:29 am: | 
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You're supposed to stop for a red light?
The one by the HD shop in Waterloo really sucked. I stopped, looked both ways and then ran the red almost every morning I rode to work. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 11:36 am: |
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Wait 2 complete cycles of the light then treat it as a yield and advance at your own discretion.
I might be a little thick, but if the problem is that the light won't cycle, what good is the law if it requires you to wait for it to cycle twice?
Here in NY, to my understanding, we have the same "2 cycles" law, but it also adds that if the light isn't cycling that you have to wait the amount of time it would take for it to cycle twice.
Still a bonehead law, if it's not cycling, how are you supposed to know how long it takes to cycle?
There aren't many lights around here where this is a problem, but I can think of two off the top of my head and one of those is only a problem very early in the morning or in the middle of the night when there's no traffic. I do what Blake does - I give it an honest chance to change, and if it doesn't I go. I can't think of a time where it didn't change and there was a lot of cross traffic to deal with, if any (although that has happened in my car). |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 12:34 pm: |
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FWIW, I dont think the sensors detect a current created as you enter the loop.
They are probably a tuned capacitor / inductor resonant circuit. Think like a continually ringing bell.
You stick a quarter on the bell, and the tone changes slightly (because it is a little bigger bell).
Likewise, parking a vehicle on top of the loop changes the inductance of the loop, and the frequency changes, which is straightforward to measure with a phase locked loop (the guts of an FM radio receiver).
So that's how they don't work. 
I wondered why they don't use video technology, based on what Court says, sounds like they do. Requires more thinking and programming, but the parts are all cheap and off the shelf these days, and it can be self contained on the pole. No need for a wire running to a road that needs a big loop cut into it.
The way it also works is also why I am skeptical about the "big magnet" trigger devices sold. Magnet or not, it's just the presence of inductive material that will trigger the loop.
The inductive field drops with the square of distance though, so a little metal closer is much better than a lot of metal far away. So some steel in your boots might be as good as anything... not sure how much has to be there to register. |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 01:13 pm: |
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>>>They are probably a tuned capacitor / inductor resonant circuit. Think like a continually ringing bell.
Correct. They are in fact, Inductive Detector Loops. In addition, most are wound like a "figure 8" which insure that the center cut is canceled out and the pattern can be adjust to be "hot" in the center of the lane and "cool" (think insensitive) on the sides.
The information is all in the stuff I posted. I had about 40 annual loop contacts for cities, like Dallas, Texas, for years.
>>>I go when it's safe.
You are in good shape. The MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control) deals with non operating traffic control devices and signals that fail to operate . . .Cliff notes . . "treat it like a stop sign".
And now you know . . . . |
Stirz007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 02:08 pm: |
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Everything you'd want to know:
Patriot is the preferred loop provider for UDOT: http://www.patriotdetection.com/loopsgeneral.php
Different municipalities use different control systems. Some use the tuned capacitor/impressed current set-up, some use a 'dead' loop, wherein the loop itself will create a current when iron passes by. Most of the newer ones are going to the impressed current type but again, it varies quite a bit by jurisdiction.
Modern ATMS systems (Automated Traffic Management System) will link cameras, timers, and a bunch of other gizmos, but these are usually for larger systems that can afford that level of infrastructure investment. Small towns may have stand-alones, where the four sides of the intersection are connected to the signal box. Lots of variability, so no one answer is totally correct. Drag a manhole cover behind the scoot - - that should work most of the time. |
Seanp
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2011 - 01:01 pm: |
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NY state code says: § 1117. Traffic-control signals; malfunction. Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, every operator of a motor vehicle approaching an intersection governed by a traffic-control signal which is out of service or otherwise malfunctioning shall stop in the manner required for stop signs set forth in section eleven hundred seventy-two of this title, and proceed according to the rules of right of way for vehicles set forth in article twenty-six of this title.
I always treat a signal that doesn't recognize me as "malfunctioning" and proceed after a reasonable amount of time. I figure if I ever get pulled over, I'll explain my reasoning to the officer. If it goes further, I'll explain it to a judge. Luckily the only time I ever have problems with not enough traffic on my way to work is at 0500-0530, and there usually aren't any cops around either. |
Spank
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2011 - 12:15 pm: |
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"Wisconsin law is wait 2 minutes, then go if you're on a motorcycle.
It's Wisconsin law."
Actually it's only 45 seconds...it's Wisconsin law...
http://www.abatewis.org/docs/act466.pdf |
Xodot
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2011 - 12:38 pm: |
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I've got a light at the end of my street that does not recognize bikes. It used to be a stop sign at that intersection - so that is how I treat it on my bike, bicycle and occasionally when I am feeling naughty or rushed - my car. |
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