Anyone tried the "Green Light Trigger Device"?

Adam Crawford said:

Hi,

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive traffic
sensors:

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗
ts/123656&2D2267901

It's made for motorcycles but the web site claims it works for bicycles too. Has anyone tried it?
Does it actually work?

Thanks, Adam

As a physicist, my guess is that it will work no better than a small magnet you can get at Radio
Shack for a couple of bucks.

You stop for a red light?

xs4all.nl20030511 28.jpgOpen ↗

"Adam Crawford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive traffic
sensors:

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗
a80138067e+EN/products/123656&2D2267901

Quoted message said:

It's made for motorcycles but the web site claims it works for bicycles too. Has anyone tried it?
Does it actually work?

Thanks, Adam

dr. dave said:

As a physicist, my guess is that it will work no better than a small magnet you can get at Radio
Shack for a couple of bucks.

You'd want the longest and thinnest magnet you can manage, mounted front to back though.

I ride a lot over a nearby hump-backed single-lane bridge, controlled by traffic lights. The steel
framed commuter triggers the loops easily, the titanium Habanero doesn't.

Loop sensitivity is adjustable. Those on slow roads are usually set to be more sensitive. If there
are a lot of cyclists having trouble with a fast commuter road junction, when there's no traffic at
night, then it's worth writing to the local twiddlers of such things.

You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

"Ronald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You stop for a red light?

xs4all.nl20030511 28.jpgOpen ↗

"Adam Crawford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive
traffic sensors:

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

a80138067e+EN/products/123656&2D2267901

Quoted message said:

It's made for motorcycles but the web site claims it works for bicycles too. Has anyone tried
it? Does it actually work?

Thanks, Adam

Quoted message said:

You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

Wow, that's a hefty fine. It's only 23 euros here (Holland) so almost everybody does it, most of the
time police doesn't even bother, some people think it as being their right by now. The fine for
running a red light by car is only 86 euros, i think that should be a lot higher though. The risk of
serious accidents is much higher than running a red light by bike/foot where it's wise to make sure
no traffic is coming.

"David Storm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

"Ronald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You stop for a red light?

xs4all.nl20030511 28.jpgOpen ↗

"Adam Crawford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive
traffic sensors:

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a80138067e+EN/products/123656&2D2267901

Quoted message said:

It's made for motorcycles but the web site claims it works for bicycles too. Has anyone tried
it? Does it actually work?

Thanks, Adam

"Ronald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

Wow, that's a hefty fine. It's only 23 euros here (Holland) so almost everybody does it, most of
the time police doesn't even bother, some

people

Quoted message said:

think it as being their right by now. The fine for running a red light by car is only 86 euros, i
think that should be a lot higher though. The risk of serious accidents is much higher than
running a red light by bike/foot where it's wise to make sure no traffic is coming.

In some ways Sacto is outright bike hostile. In some neighborhoods residents have complained to
police about all the bikes running stop signs...we're a real hazard to society. They have managed to
get stop signs placed at every street to discourage/slow traffic in their neighborhoods. As a
result, the police lay in wait specifically for bikes running lights. Its easier than stopping cars
or catching dope dealers in the park.

Quoted message said:

"David Storm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

"Ronald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You stop for a red light?

xs4all.nl20030511 28.jpgOpen ↗

"Adam Crawford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> Hi,
>
> I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive
> traffic sensors:
>
>

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a80138067e+EN/products/123656&2D2267901
>
> It's made for motorcycles but the web site claims it works for bicycles too. Has anyone
> tried it? Does it actually work?
>
> Thanks, Adam

In article said:

Not to mention threads being mangled by clumsy mechanics.

<g>

I never would have the confidence to claim to be a master bike mechanic, but I'm pretty handy with a
wrench, and I know how to read...

Quoted message said:

People who used good headsets, like Shimano or Chris King, with factory threaded forks, never
needed them.

Mine *was* a Shimano HS (older, XT, I believe).

Upon more reflexion, there was one little point that I neglected to mention: The fork was rigid
(hey, I stated that it was an older bike). The riding I do is in pretty rocky terrain, so the load
levels my HS was experiencing might well have had an effect, too.

Like I said, all of this is currently a non-issue anyway: Threadless HS's, for whatever reason they
were invented, are now the industry standard. I recently tried to acquire a new suspension fork for
my Bonty Race Lite (stock HS is 1" threaded); apparently, a threaded version is no longer available,
and that's not mentioning how difficult even finding a 1" steerer was...

cheers, john

"David Storm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ronald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

Wow, that's a hefty fine. It's only 23 euros here (Holland) so almost everybody does it, most of
the time police doesn't even bother, some

people

Quoted message said:

think it as being their right by now. The fine for running a red light

by

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

car is only 86 euros, i think that should be a lot higher though. The

risk

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of serious accidents is much higher than running a red light by

bike/foot

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

where it's wise to make sure no traffic is coming.

In some ways Sacto is outright bike hostile. In some neighborhoods residents have complained to
police about all the bikes running stop signs...we're a real hazard to society. They have managed
to get stop signs placed at every street to discourage/slow traffic in their neighborhoods. As a
result, the police lay in wait specifically for bikes running lights. Its easier than stopping
cars or catching dope dealers in the park.

It's basically a new tax, cops justify their overtime pay by writing tickets or they don't get it.

Hawke

"Hawke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:L0cwa.589588$Zo.129464@sccrnsc03...

Quoted message said:

"David Storm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ronald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

> You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

Wow, that's a hefty fine. It's only 23 euros here (Holland) so almost everybody does it, most
of the time police doesn't even bother, some

people

Quoted message said:

think it as being their right by now. The fine for running a red light

by

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

car is only 86 euros, i think that should be a lot higher though. The

risk

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of serious accidents is much higher than running a red light by

bike/foot

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

where it's wise to make sure no traffic is coming.

In some ways Sacto is outright bike hostile. In some neighborhoods residents have complained to
police about all the bikes running stop signs...we're a real hazard to society. They have
managed to get stop signs placed at every street to discourage/slow traffic in their
neighborhoods. As a result, the police lay in wait specifically for bikes running lights. Its
easier than stopping cars or catching dope dealers in the park.

It's basically a new tax, cops justify their overtime pay by writing

tickets

Quoted message said:

or they don't get it.

Hawke

Quit your freakin' whining and stop for the damn light!!!

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:O%9wa.869828$S_4.890821@rwcrnsc53...

Quoted message said:

"David Storm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In some ways Sacto is outright bike hostile. In some neighborhoods residents have complained to
police about all the bikes running stop signs...we're a real hazard to society. They have
managed to get stop signs placed at every street to discourage/slow traffic in their
neighborhoods. As a result, the police lay in wait specifically for bikes running lights. Its
easier than stopping cars or catching dope dealers in the park.

Cambridge, MA has had a similar "crack down" on cyclists. Funny thing is

that

Quoted message said:

the local cycling "advocates" supported it.

I can see that both ways. "Picking on cyclists" of course is lame given the general shape of society
and all the possible things police might be doing or not doing on any given day.(that gets quickly
political, doesn't it?)

However there is a lunatic fringe of cyclists who do not stop at stop signs nor even at red lights
who are a hazard in the roadway and might just as well be shot as ticketed for all I care. OK that's
a bit strong but I've been hit by a cyclist and have had many near-misses over the years both from
arterial violations and wrong-way riders.

The sad truth is that a ticket will hardly change the behavior of those so little civlized as to
argue that they should be exempt from normal traffic rules. And I am not exaggerating either.
Many cyclists here will tell you with a straight face that stop signs should not apply to
cyclists! As if!

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

Save your money. Pull up to one edge of the sensor ring, place one foot inside the ring and lean
your bike towards the center of the ring until the top tube is level with your knee.

Hold it there untill the light changes. (Note, this may not work if your frame is made of
carbon fiber).

For a more detailed explination (and many other tips) go to my website (see below).

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

"Ronald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You do in Sacramento. Running red light fine is same as car, $250.

Wow, that's a hefty fine. It's only 23 euros here (Holland) so almost everybody does it, most of
the time police doesn't even bother, some people think it as being their right by now. The fine
for running a red light by car is only 86 euros, i think that should be a lot higher though. The
risk of serious accidents is much higher than running a red light by bike/foot where it's wise to
make sure no traffic is coming.

In Quebec it's only a $27 fine (about 19$ US), and it's rarely enforced except maybe at the end of
the month. However, if you're caught and you happen to also have a driver's license, you get 3
demerit points (out of 15). So theoretically, roll through 5 stop signs on your bike and you lose
your driver's license. And each point you rack up raises your insurance too. I don't know whether
this is designed to get people to give up their driver's licenses and start biking everywhere, or to
give up their bikes and start driving everywhere.

-Adam

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:O%9wa.869828$S_4.890821@rwcrnsc53...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cambridge, MA has had a similar "crack down" on cyclists. Funny thing is

that

Quoted message said:

the local cycling "advocates" supported it.

I can see that both ways. "Picking on cyclists" of course is lame given the general shape of
society and all the possible things police might be doing or not doing on any given day.(that gets
quickly political, doesn't it?)

However there is a lunatic fringe of cyclists who do not stop at stop signs nor even at red lights
who are a hazard in the roadway and might just as well be shot as ticketed for all I care. OK
that's a bit strong but I've been hit by a cyclist and have had many near-misses over the years
both from arterial violations and wrong-way riders.

Yeah, I can see it both ways, too. I don't think cyclists represent the same threat as motorists
do. Unfortunately, I think these "crack downs" are over-reactions and seem to give cops an
outlet for their anti-bike sentiments. In the long run, red light running cyclists are a
self-correcting problem.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Adam

Crawford) said:

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive
traffic sensors:

The FAQ has (or at least, had) an article about this. If you know where the sensor is you can put
your wheel right on top of it and have at least some chance of tripping the light. It works
frequently where I live.

Tom Gibb <[email hidden]

In Adam Crawford said:

Hi,

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive traffic
sensors:

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗
3ec0971000199fba271fc0a80138067e+EN/products/123656&2D2267901

It's made for motorcycles but the web site claims it works for bicycles too. Has anyone tried it?
Does it actually work?

Thanks, Adam

So we know a lot of readers don't stop for red lights, stop signs, brick walls, etc. For those of us
who do stop, has anyone tried this green light trigger? Does it actually work? There's a left-turn
signal in Castro Valley that's about to put me into the wild-eyed lawbreaker category, and $9.95
seems like a small price to pay to stay off the front page.

"Erik Freitag" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In Adam Crawford said:

Hi,

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive
traffic sensors:

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗
3ec0971000199fba271fc0a80138067e+EN/products/123656&2D2267901

It's made for motorcycles but the web site claims it works for bicycles too. Has anyone tried
it? Does it actually work?

Thanks, Adam

So we know a lot of readers don't stop for red lights, stop signs, brick walls, etc. For those of
us who do stop, has anyone tried this green light trigger? Does it actually work? There's a
left-turn signal in Castro Valley that's about to put me into the wild-eyed lawbreaker category,
and $9.95 seems like a small price to pay to stay off the front page.

You're not a lawbreaker (wild-eyed, or otherwise), if the light doesn't change for you when it
should. Per California vehicle code, you can consider it a "broken signal", and proceed with
due caution.

GG

In GaryG said:

"Erik Freitag" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In Adam Crawford said:

Hi,

I was thinking of buying this magnetic "green light trigger device" for non-bike-sensitive
traffic sensors:

checkout.verisign.comePages.filereaderOpen ↗

... Does it actually work? There's a left-turn signal in Castro Valley that's about to put me
into the wild-eyed lawbreaker category, and $9.95 seems like a small price to pay to stay off the
front page.

You're not a lawbreaker (wild-eyed, or otherwise), if the light doesn't change for you when it
should. Per California vehicle code, you can consider it a "broken signal", and proceed with due
caution.

GG

.. and I do. I give up on trying to get an answer to the original poster's question. I'll probably
just buy one of the darned things and try it.

In article O%9wa.869828$S_4.890821@rwcrnsc53 said:

"David Storm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In some ways Sacto is outright bike hostile. In some neighborhoods residents have complained to
police about all the bikes running stop signs...we're a real hazard to society. They have
managed to get stop signs placed at every street to discourage/slow traffic in their
neighborhoods. As a result, the police lay in wait specifically for bikes running lights. Its
easier than stopping cars or catching dope dealers in the park.

Cambridge, MA has had a similar "crack down" on cyclists. Funny thing is that the local cycling
"advocates" supported it.

Well, I don't think cyclists should be cracked down on MORE for running red lights than motorists
are, but it's not a bad idea to show that the traffic laws apply to them the same as to the
motorists. If that means nabbing the ones who run the red, so be it.

Personally, I think every cyclist out there who doesn't follow the rules of the road when he's on it
makes the case for good cyclists weaker--because he convinces motorists that cyclists have some sort
of unfair advantage over them because they don't have to obey the traffic laws, or that cyclists
simply choose to disregard them. It's this kind of feeling that probably often spawns the "Get off
the f****** road!" mentality. True, some of these jerks don't want to share the road with their
fellow *motorists*--much less a cyclist--but some probably think cyclists don't belong on the road
because they don't follow the rules. They see guys running red lights, weaving from the road to the
sidewalk to bypass traffic stopped at the light and then getting back on the road, riding on the
left, not using hand signals, etc., and acting in otherwise completely unpredictable ways a motorist
could never get away with--and their reaction to all this is "!@#*%$!' bicycles..." And then they
yell at me--and here I am following all the rules.
--
Trudi "Just like Pagliacci did..."--Smokey Robinson
____
Say NO to secret judging and corruption in skating -- support SkateFAIR! skatefair.orgskatefair.orgOpen ↗

"Trudi Marrapodi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Personally, I think every cyclist out there who doesn't follow the rules of the road when he's on
it makes the case for good cyclists weaker--because he convinces motorists that cyclists have some
sort of unfair advantage over them because they don't have to obey the traffic laws, or that
cyclists simply choose to disregard them. It's this kind of feeling that probably often spawns the
"Get off the f****** road!" mentality.

I've heard this argument often, but I don't believe it. I think it's just a convenient
rationalization for motorists and cops to use to justify their dislike for cyclists. Motorists also
get real testy about cyclists slowing them down, even in stop & go traffic, where it's easy to see
that there's no real impact. Most hostile drivers seem to be suffering the misunderstanding that
cyclists are require to stay out of their way, or aren't allowed on the street at all. At least this
is what the communicative ones tell me.