| If you own a motorcycle, scooter, ride a bicycle or | | | | identify the exact location of the traffic light sensor. |
| even drive a mini hybrid car you've probably been | | | | Look for the tell tale 'saw cut' markings in the road |
| frustrated by lengthy waits at traffic lights. Not only | | | | near the intersection. Using a process of trial and |
| is this annoying it's also unnecessarily adding to your | | | | error, providing of course that it is safe to do so, |
| journey time, costing you extra fuel and can present | | | | you could position and then reposition your bike to |
| an additional risk to the most vulnerable road users. | | | | find the best place to trigger the sensor. However |
| The probable cause for your frustration is the traffic | | | | this does have the obvious drawback of being rather |
| lights controller sensor failing to pick up your smaller | | | | time consuming and is reliant upon you finding the |
| vehicle. These 'demand actuated' traffic light sensors | | | | exact same spot every time you pull up at the |
| are a perfectly sensible way to avoid unnecessary | | | | intersection. It also has to be said that your bike may |
| disruption to traffic flow. However that's pretty | | | | simply not have sufficient ferrous metal mass to |
| useless to know if your stuck at the intersection, on | | | | trigger the light sensor no matter where you place it. |
| your bike waiting for the next truck to pull up to | | | | Another option is to construct your own |
| trigger the sensor. The real problem is that most of | | | | electromagnetic triggering system and attach it to |
| these are placed at busy intersections to ensure | | | | your bike. In order to do so you need to get hold of |
| vehicles can turn left or cross the predominant traffic | | | | some neodymium magnets and fix them to the |
| flow. So if your on a bike that's a very important | | | | underside of your bike. However extreme caution |
| safety issue. | | | | should be taken if you decide to take this approach. |
| So what can you do about it? There are solutions | | | | The magnets are extremely strong, very brittle and |
| available such as 'the Light Knight' or you could | | | | can shatter easily. It is always advisable to wear eye |
| consider your own. However before you chose you | | | | protection when handling them and never let children |
| first need to understand how most of the 'demand | | | | or animals come into contact with them (they can be |
| actuated' traffic light sensors work. The vast | | | | fatal if ingested).They will wipe electro magnetic data |
| majority use something called a 'loop detector' or, to | | | | from pretty much any media can even disrupt |
| give them their full name 'inductive loop traffic | | | | pacemakers so caution is very important. You can |
| sensors'. This is basically a metal detector buried in | | | | not simply stick them to the underside of you |
| the road. Ever noticed the circular, square, | | | | motorcycle as they will be eroded by the elements. |
| rectangular, or diamond-shaped saw cuts in the road | | | | A good idea is to place each inside a metal case such |
| surface approaching the intersection? Well that's your | | | | as a small pill dispenser, fixed within an epoxy resin |
| 'loop detector.' | | | | (again take all recommended precautions when |
| Essentially these consist of a electromagnetic coils | | | | working with such resins and always follow the |
| that detect the presence of ferrous metal. | | | | manufacturers guidelines). You can then attach the |
| Unfortunately most motorcycles do not have enough | | | | encased neodymium magnets to the underside of |
| permeable metal in their frames to reliably disrupt the | | | | your bike using a heat hardened resin or similar fixing |
| magnetic flux and consequently trigger the traffic | | | | agent. |
| light controllers. There are a number of different | | | | However, if neither of those solutions sound |
| types of the 'loop detector' but, whether they are | | | | particularly appealing, you may be relieved to know |
| dipole, quadrupole or diagonal quadrupole in design | | | | that you can buy a relatively cheap solution called the |
| they all work on the same fundamental principle. | | | | Light Knight. This light sensor trigger incorporates a |
| Despite many urban myths, waving your arms about, | | | | uniquely designed high flux magnet that acts like a |
| flashing your lights or repeatedly kicking your kick | | | | small signal generator when it passes over the loop |
| stand in and out will make no difference whatsoever. | | | | detector. This then induces a voltage spike triggering |
| However, as previously mentioned, there are a | | | | the 'loop detector' and allowing you to get that all |
| number of solutions such as the 'Light Knight' that | | | | important green light. |
| can help you overcome this problem. Firstly if you | | | | So whatever solution you choose there is no longer |
| regularly get stuck at the same place and you have | | | | any need for you stay stuck to the whims of the |
| the time available you could take some time to | | | | traffic light sensor. |