Not being able to trip traffic light sensor? Running Red?

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I run the red all the time. In fact a few lights in my area that I know won't change I'll just look to make sure there's no cars around and go.:)
 
I run the red after waiting a reasonable amount of time...

[video=youtube;irvRdvM5XJI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irvRdvM5XJI[/video]
 
There was another thread on here somewhere, in which a cop stated that after waiting a reasonable amount of time you can proceed through a red, the big debate was about what is the "reasonable amount of time" some people said 30 seconds which I think is too short, I would wait a maximum of 2 mins (lights generally change after 30 seconds to 1 min).
 
This happened to me on the week end, i was about to make a left turn from Mosbank to Lawrence, and the light did not change, after the second cycle of the lights i got off my bike ,walk over and press the cross botton by this time a cop car pulled behinde me and ask me what's the deal, i explained to her what happened, and briefly ask her what will happen if turned on the red.
She said it depends on the cop, she me gave a quick smile and said she would have let me off the hook with that explanation. It was Saturday early morning and hardly a car that time.
 
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The correct answer is still right turn U turn.
 
don't forget to complain to whoever manages that particular intersection as well. Sometimes it's the municipality, other times it's a highway management company like TRD. I have one set that i go thru every day on the way to work, and there's no crosswalk button. since the road I'm trying to turn on to is divided, I can't make a U-Turn. I either have to wait until another car shows up, or try to run it on an extremely busy road. It sucks, as it's the most direct route to work.
 
OpenGambit said:
The correct answer is still right turn U turn.
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Except if there's a divider/curb that prevents you from being able to do the u-turn. Then what? Travel all the way to the next block/intersection and do a u-turn in the intersection?

The light is defective if it doesn't change after a reasonable amount of time. Reasonable to me is at least 1:30. Some side streets onto majors just have a long cycle. If I see the crosswalk signal switch back and forth between walk and hand without the actual traffic light changing, then I consider the light defective/malfunctioning. Report it to the municipality or they'll never fix it, and get some kind of reference number. If you get caught running the malfunctioning red, at least you have a record of it's malfunctioning state.
 
OpenGambit said:
The correct answer is still right turn U turn.
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There is of course another correct answer involving neither of the above, running the red light or pressing the walk button..............Why not simply push your bike backwards from whence you came?
 
Old man here. Interesting thread that appears every year, and of course it'll appear again next year.

1. Buy a big magnet and fix it to the bottom of your bike. It will trip the sensor.

2. Stubborn - no magnet? Then wait reasonable time - a normal cycle - then when CLEAR proceed and cross the intersection. If you get a ticket - Dummy!! It wasn't CLEAR was it? It must be CLEAR and SAFE i.e., no traffic and no COPS!!

3. If there's a car behind you, be patient, the sensors are usually longer than one car length. If necessary, motion him/her to move up to the "stop line" and that car will trip the sensor.

Anyway,. I recommend the big magnet which is easily attached with a plastic tie - not White! You want to attract electro-magnetic waves, not curious idiots who want to see what's under your bike.

Have a great riding season!
 
beverage said:
Except if there's a divider/curb that prevents you from being able to do the u-turn. Then what? Travel all the way to the next block/intersection and do a u-turn in the intersection?

The light is defective if it doesn't change after a reasonable amount of time. Reasonable to me is at least 1:30. Some side streets onto majors just have a long cycle. If I see the crosswalk signal switch back and forth between walk and hand without the actual traffic light changing, then I consider the light defective/malfunctioning. Report it to the municipality or they'll never fix it, and get some kind of reference number. If you get caught running the malfunctioning red, at least you have a record of it's malfunctioning state.
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Do whatever you want, I just give the legal/no hassle way.

You may choose the "get the ticket and defend yourself in court" way if you wish.
 
If you running the red your obviously looking out for other cars, if you cant see a cop means you don't look out for other cars you deserve a ticket
 
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just_luc said:
This IS illegal. you can't get off your bike in traffic.
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A couple of friends n I got off our bikes n pushed 'em while we waited in traffic at the boarder. Could we really get dinged foR that? I'm sure a reasonable officer wudn't bother with a proper explanation.
But, What law would we be breaking?
 
what i am waiting for is the day i am at a red light and a cop is nearby or even behind me. i will proceed to make a left turn on the red and i wont get a ticket :)
special circumstances are. you have to wait until it is safe to do so, no cars coming and no pedestrians. AND you have to be turning onto a one way street. There are several
lights and streets like that around here. Most drivers i quiz do not believe me.
i would love for a cop to pull me over to give me a ticket for running the red and i will tell him to look at MVA 129-4b

[h=2]Motor Vehicle Act[/h]129
(4) When a red light alone is exhibited at an intersection by a traffic control signal,


(b) except when a left turn permitted by this paragraph is prohibited by a sign at the intersection, the driver of a vehicle facing the red light at the intersection of not more than 2 highways, and which in obedience to it is stopped as closely as practicable to a marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, as closely as practicable to the intersection, may cause the vehicle to make a left turn into a highway on which traffic is restricted to the direction in which he or she causes the vehicle to turn, but the driver must yield the right of way to all pedestrians and vehicles lawfully proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection
 
Skyway6 said:
what i am waiting for is the day i am at a red light and a cop is nearby or even behind me. i will proceed to make a left turn on the red and i wont get a ticket :)
special circumstances are. you have to wait until it is safe to do so, no cars coming and no pedestrians. AND you have to be turning onto a one way street. There are several
lights and streets like that around here. Most drivers i quiz do not believe me.
i would love for a cop to pull me over to give me a ticket for running the red and i will tell him to look at MVA 129-4b

Motor Vehicle Act

129
(4) When a red light alone is exhibited at an intersection by a traffic control signal,


(b) except when a left turn permitted by this paragraph is prohibited by a sign at the intersection, the driver of a vehicle facing the red light at the intersection of not more than 2 highways, and which in obedience to it is stopped as closely as practicable to a marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, as closely as practicable to the intersection, may cause the vehicle to make a left turn into a highway on which traffic is restricted to the direction in which he or she causes the vehicle to turn, but the driver must yield the right of way to all pedestrians and vehicles lawfully proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection
Click to expand...

completely miss the point much?
 
I hit another one of these unresponsive lights several hours ago on N Rivermede in Vaughan/Concord. Just ran it as usual. If there are no cars around, running it or pulling a U-ie are equally safe. I would never dismount to hit the crosswalk button, that method was meant for bicyclists.
 
I got pulled over for doing this once. It was in Whitby. It wasn't a large intersection, but I was pretty sure it didn't have a trigger. I looked both ways didn't see any car headlights (this was at night) and as soon as I crossed the intersection, the cop came out of nowhere and pulled me over.

First thing I said was .. I know that I went through the red but it wouldn't turn for me. He asked me how long I waited. I said about 2 minutes. (which was really about 30 seconds) He said to me, if you have to do this again ever, be really really careful doing it.

No ticket, just a friendly reminder.
 
Take a good look around for police or red light cameras.

Make your decision.

Accept consequences.

Problem solved.
 
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