New SC Legislation

[GunnyButch]

Published Wed, May 28, 2008 8:44 AM

COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina has joined six other states that let motorcyclists, mo-ped drivers and bicyclists run red lights that don't change within a couple minutes of their stopping.

 

Gov. Mark Sanford signed the bill into law Tuesday.

 

It requires motorcyclists, mo-peds and bicycles to stop for two minutes before entering an intersection if a traffic signal has not turned green. Motorcyclists pushed the legislation because they said automatic signal controls using sensor embedded in roads don't always detect their bikes.

 

The American Motorcyclist Association says Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin have similar laws.

[Venturous Randy]

Yep, Tennessee has had it for years.

RandyA

[gibvel]

Still, 2 min. is a heck of a long time to wait.

[Sailor]

They had the same problem here but they fixed it by changing the sensors. Bikes have no trouble tripping the sensor now.

[OB-1]

Hmmm... Traffic Lights? We ain't got no stinking traffic lights! The nearest traffic light is over 50 miles away. And I believe that I'd have to ride nearly 300+ miles to find one that my bike might have trouble tripping.

[GunnyButch]

2 minutes is a long time but if there is no other traffic who is keeping time, look both ways and go has been my rule in the wee hours. Most of the lights here will sense a motorcycle but there are still a couple that do not. However small it's still seems like a step in the right direction.

[SaltyDawg]

It is possible to trip the light by hitting the kill switch and then restarting your scoot. This forms an electromagnetic field which can trip the sensor. I have done it several times with a high rate of success.

[BuddyRich]

Many OLD loop detectors are still in operation. But breaking the loop for a split second such as starting the bike won't work well because it will be detected for only that second and the controller will sense it as the vehicle moved on if its a newer controller. Look at the cuts in the pavement. If there are 3 cuts such as in a large or small figure [|] (but all connected) then its a motorcycle loop and you should be fine. If it looks like [] without a line running thru the middle of your lane then it probably won't detect you no matter what you do. Also look at the mast running over the road on the other side of the intersection. Many newer ones are using radar and will have a small device sticking up so you should be fine there.

If the light won't change I usually wait for it to cycle all the way around twice and start back on the third. BE VERY careful when running a red light. If I'm waiting for a left turn I will go ahead and go straight and then do a U turn. But if going straight then I wait till the last of the cross traffic has cleared AND they still have a green. Remember if you have a left turn lane coming at you they may have a LAGGING or LEADING green arrow. If its LEADING and you take off across the intersection too late they will get a green a while your coming at them. If its lagging then both sides of the cross traffic will be red and stopped but now theoncoming left turn cars were stopped and get the green to go right across your path and your running the light.

And if its heavy traffic why do it at all ? Someone will pull up behind you in a minute. But I have seen where the bike had to move almost totally into the crosswalk for the loop detector to pick up the car too.They are affected by temp and rain.

[SilvrT]

Many OLD loop detectors are still in operation. But breaking the loop for a split second such as starting the bike won't work well because it will be detected for only that second and the controller will sense it as the vehicle moved on if its a newer controller. Look at the cuts in the pavement. If there are 3 cuts such as in a large or small figure [|] (but all connected) then its a motorcycle loop and you should be fine. If it looks like [] without a line running thru the middle of your lane then it probably won't detect you no matter what you do. Also look at the mast running over the road on the other side of the intersection. Many newer ones are using radar and will have a small device sticking up so you should be fine there.

If the light won't change I usually wait for it to cycle all the way around twice and start back on the third. BE VERY careful when running a red light. If I'm waiting for a left turn I will go ahead and go straight and then do a U turn. But if going straight then I wait till the last of the cross traffic has cleared AND they still have a green. Remember if you have a left turn lane coming at you they may have a LAGGING or LEADING green arrow. If its LEADING and you take off across the intersection too late they will get a green a while your coming at them. If its lagging then both sides of the cross traffic will be red and stopped but now theoncoming left turn cars were stopped and get the green to go right across your path and your running the light.

And if its heavy traffic why do it at all ? Someone will pull up behind you in a minute. But I have seen where the bike had to move almost totally into the crosswalk for the loop detector to pick up the car too.They are affected by temp and rain.

 

Such "high tech"... I just get off and go push the pedestrian walk button.