Traffic Light at SW Murray and Hart rd? (Beaverton)

[elmangaso]

Hey everyone! I haven't been on this board in awhile (or any other for that matter). Hope everyone is doing well.  I took a unwanted break from riding at the start of the season due to a rather inglorious back injury. Now that I'm feeling better, I've taken the monster out a few times and I'm renewed my enthusiasm (weather ain't helping though). One of the things that has been driving me slowly mad since last year though is the left turn light at Murray & Hart rd in Beaverton (westbound). I live in that neighborhood so I'm at this light often. If I am the first vehicle in the turn lane, the light refuses to go green. I've tried different spots on the pavement, jumping up and down like an idiot, etc. I'm assuming the underground sensor isn't detecting the combined weight of the Monster and I (380lbs? + 200lbs ). I've had to u-turn the last 3 times and take a different route. The detour is not a big problem, but I refuse to be disrespected by a traffic light. Anyway, I was wondering if any of the talented and wise members of this board had experienced something similar. Maybe even at the same light. Sorry for the ranting...

Peace,

-Tyler

[krolik]

Contrary to popular belief, traffic light sensors are not weight activated. They use electromagnetic induction to trip the signal. Most motorcycles don't have a strong enough magnetic field to trip the sensor.

Either put a large magnet underneath your Monster or find a different route.

[elmangaso]

Contrary to popular belief, traffic light sensors are not weight activated. They use electromagnetic induction to trip the signal. Most motorcycles don't have a strong enough magnetic field to trip the sensor.

Either put a large magnet underneath your Monster or find a different route.

Cool. I had no idea. Maybe it's time for giant new chrome exhaust pipes. Maybe some ape hanger handle bars. That ought to get me noticed 

Thanks.

[scott_araujo]

It sometimes helps to get the engine right over the sensor, that way the crankshaft is spinning right over it.  Sometimes.

Otherwise, I think Oregon law allows you to proceed through cautiously after two full cycles of the light have not recognized you.  I can't remember the exact wording but most states realize that not all traffic sensors see motos.  Inconvenient but legal.

Scott

[Bendy]

Yeah. Maximize the amount of bike over the sealed up round/square/triangle crack in the ground, if there is one.

That's good to know, Scott. I oughta look that up. I generally just go and assume it's illegal. I've put my sidestand down and ran over to the crosswalk button before. Just for the comedy of doing so. That's what Bendies do.

I remember back in Team Oregon being told that you can complain about lights that aren't tripping for bikes and ODOT can make adjustments. Might be a wives' tale.

[elmangaso]

Krolik inspired me to dig this up off the web. I was parking right in the middle of the diamond, thinking it was a giant scale. No wonder

From:

http://www.odot.state.or.us/forms/dmv/6367.pdf

Traffic Sensors
Many intersections have an electric sensor, called a “loop,” which is a wire imbedded in the road surface to trigger a traffic light.
Sometimes these sensors have trouble detecting motorcycles. Oregon usually uses two loop designs; round and diamond. The
sensor is most likely to detect a motorcycle if the largest portion of the motorcycle, such as the lowest part of the frame, is directly over
the outline of the loop. Do not stop in the middle of the loop as there is a “dead zone” in the middle. If the loop is not visible in the pavement,
position your bike one-third of the lane width away from the lane line with the front wheel stopped just before the stop line.

[scott_araujo]

Good to know.  And the side stand works sometimes.

Scott

[el_loco]

+1 = put as mush of the bike over as long of a section of the sensor wire as possible.  Works for me, I've been at that light on Murray/Hart!  I'd love to be coincidentally at that particular cross walk on your next encounter and see your reaction when the light turns green for you. 

p.s. Don't stall and drop out of excitement!

[duc_fan]

I've had sensors miss my SS, no matter how I position it over the wire.

One solution: get one of those rare-earth magnets designed just for such problems, and stick it to the bottom of your oil filter.  1) it'll pull any ferrous metal shavings out of your oil and trap it in the filter, 2) it'll significantly increase your magnetic footprint, thus tripping those sensors.  Here is something along these lines, though it's not designed to stick to the bike magnetically.  I wouldn't want to trust an adhesive, especially on something as vibey as a Duc twin.  A good strong rare-earth magnet stuck to the bottom of the oil filter is what I would try.

Another thing I've done: when a cager pulls up behind me and the light skips me, I will roll forward until I'm almost (or partly) into the crosswalk, then turn around and wave the cager forward until they're over the sensor.  Done this a few times.  I got a weird look from a couple of the more clueless drivers, but one or two appeared to understand (fellow motorcyclists, perhaps?).

One thing I've learned in web research is that the inductive sensors don't detect static magnetic fields.  They detect a change in the inductance of the coil when a large amount of metal is nearby.  So... the strong magnet on the bottom of the bike could work, but it's only doing something if you're moving.  Once the magnet sits still, it's no longer altering the inductance of the buried wire loop.  So... even with the magnet, try rolling your bike back and forth over one of the seams.  Moving the magnet over the wire will induce a (small) current, triggering the sensor.