Modern Vespa

What do you do when you are sitting at a stop light to turn left and never get the green arrow?
I think that you have to be on/in something heavier than a scooter to trip the sensor that will give you the green arrow.
I usually wait until a car coming the other way gets their left green arrow and then I go (actually running a red light).
Any thoughts?

From what i have experienced, and also learned from my MSF course, the sensors in the ground, usually u can see the cutout, is actually tripped by magetics, not by weight. I have figured if you stop on one of the corners of the cutout, the sensors sit higher in the ground and it usually trips. I have seen where places sell magnets and strips of metal you can attach to the bottom of your scoot, and i have heard both ways that it works and it doesnt. one of the scooter shops here is selling them now, called green light triggers, but for 20 bucks, i have heard they are not worth it, so i would just shoot for stopping over the corner of the rectangular cutout and see if that helps you trip the lights any better..

I hope that helps you.

Scott

There are some that I can never trip on the scooter, or on the motorcycle.

The best trick I know is to hit your starter button for a couple of seconds. With some luck, the starter's electromagnetic field may trigger the light's magnetic loop.

Being a cyclist too, I encounter this problem a lot, on my bike and on my scooter. I usually wait for one turn of the lights, and if that doesn't work, I take the next safe opportunity to make the turn, even against red.

I'm a cyclist as well and this is occures at certain intersections in my area in right of way directions as well as left turn lights. You can sit waiting to cross an intersection and the light will NEVER turn green your way unless a larger vehicle happens to pull up in your direction. Usually, I just run the red when it's safe to do so. I kind of hope to be pulled over from a cop one day, especially on the bicycle.

Fact is, a bicycle or motorcycle is a legal vehicle for the road and has to abide by the same traffic laws as four-wheeled vehicles. It's not the 2-wheeled operator's fault the traffic control infrastructure has defective features and doesn't provide for all legal vehicles.

I once saw some stuff on about.com on this. I went back and looked it up:

http://motorcycles.about.com/cs/beginners/ht/tripatraflight.htm

and here's a thread on a blog that deals with the issue:

http://dan.hersam.com/archives/2003/10/28/red-light-green-light

Kevin

I bought one of these at my local motorcycle shop. http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=GLTRIG
It works great!

I have had no luck with the "Green Light Trigger" on my ET4. I mounted it under the floorboard toward the front. Has anyone had any luck with this mounted somewhere else on an ET4 ?

Tim

I have no firsthand knowledge, but this consumer reporter concluded that "The Green Light Trigger" doesn't work:
http://kutv.com/letbillbuyit/local_story_196170128.html

Kevin

There's a few things I try at those type of left turn lights.

1. Flash your headlights - I'm originally from Europe and a lot of lights over there can be tripped this way. However, not many places over here in the US have those light sensors, but they're getting more popular with municipalties.

2. Rev your engine-don't forget to hold in the brake on an auto. This works most of the time. Roll the bike around too if you're not sure where the sensor is.

3. Kill the engine, and use the electric start to restart it - this has worked many times when revving hasn't worked.

4. If none of the above works I check behind, and go straight ahead through the green light, and do a series of right turns. I never ever run a left turn red light after having a nasty arguement with a particularly officious cop.

In my exerience don't waste your money on those magnetic green light triggers. They're a waste of time.

Also, if you have a persistently stubborn light sensor, make a written complaint to the town, and complain again and again till they fix it.

Andrea

If you follow the instructions on the product it does work, in the article all they did was slap one on expect a miracle to happen you need to follow the directions. "The technique to use with the Trigger is to locate the sensor (you can usually see saw cuts where the coils were buried in the pavement), and MOVE the magnet across the coils. Stopping dead on top of them will do very little - it's the moving magnet that does the trick." I stop just before the cuts and rock my scoot (magnet is in line with the lock loop on my GT) back and forth over the cuts works for me.

I wish we had the general US highway rule 'you can turn right on red when clear' here in the UK
Its a great way to keep traffic moving at junctions.

Are you talking about turning across oncoming traffic? Our lefts are like your rights, in that respect. We can't turn left (across traffic) on red, however we can, in most places, turn right on red.

Mongoose, you are correct, but I think rabiedmushroom was being kind enough to translate equivalent lane directions between the US and UK so most people would understand.

Two countries separated by a common language.

You want something more absurd than your scooter not triggering a light? Here in Phoenix, my delivery truck won't trigger the left turn at the Grand Ave/Bethany Home/N 59th Ave left turn light, and its a damn Class 3 (maybe 4) cab over delivery truck.Regular cars and trucks will, but not mine, I guess its too heavy. Why oh why do I think my scooter is going to be a barrel of laughs (got a $300 on my scooter)?

Here is a method for triggering a light that has never failed me. Put your right foot firmly on the ground and lean slightly to that side. Then take your left foot and depress the center stand so it touches the ground. Keep it held down for a while. Somehow it affects the sensors in the ground and changes the light. As I said, it works every time for me.

bryce, i know just the place to try that this afternoon. thanks.