Motorcycles in Illinois can now run red lights after 2 minutes

[dmcowen674]

Motorcycles in Illinois can now run red lights after 2 minutes

Some people have heard about this new law that went into effect Jan 1st.

http://www.chicagonow.com/motorcycl...-law-allows-red-light-running-by-motorcycles/

New Illinois traffic law allows red light running by motorcycles



This is in regards to traffic actuated signals (red light sensors). Often times, these signals do not pick up on motorcycles, scooters, or mopeds because they either do not weigh enough, or do not have enough metal to trigger the sensors.


Here is the language:
3.5. After stopping as required by paragraph 1 or 2 of this subsection, the driver of a motorcycle or bicycle, facing a steady red signal which fails to change to a green signal within a reasonable period of time because of a signal malfunction or because the signal has failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle or bicycle due to the vehicle's size or weight, shall have the right to proceed subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign as required by Section 11-1204 of this Code.

Illinois also passed a law that legalizes motorcyclists to run red lights.

Most lights are set at the default of 5 minutes in Illinois.

They don't have sensors that can tell if there is a car waiting at a light or not so they are all just running on a timer cycle.

There are so many intersections where there are no cars come through during that entire 5 minutes wasting so much gas and time.

Somehow the Motorcycle lobbyists got the Politicians to make a law that they can run the light after 2 minutes of sitting at the light and there is no cars.

Why the fuck they are special and can go through while people in a car have to still waste gas and time is beyond my little brain comprehension.

This is yet another infuriating Revolution tipping point.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Do you have any idea how the sensors/loops work for controlling the on-demand signals?

 

[Doppel]

beyond my little brain comprehension.

Most things are beyond your little brain comprehension mcowned. If you realized that motorcycles often don't trip the sensor, but cars do, maybe you could piece the rest of it together.

Of course, there are no lights that require a person to sit there for 5 minutes with non sensored lights. That's total nonsense, you have an infatuation with the number 5.

 

[dmcowen674]

Do you have any idea how the sensors/loops work for controlling the on-demand signals?

Most lights here do not have sensors and not synchronized.

Hwy 59 is insane. They have lights nearly on every driveway into the stores, sometimes only two cars fit between the lights because the parking lots are not connected. It takes 2 hours to go 5 miles.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Try talking to the DOT that is responsible for that set of lights. They should be able to provide answers. They are a government body responsible to the public.

 

[SwiftWind]

I hear that putting the kickstand down will sometimes trip the sensor. Never actually tested it.

In Japan the sensors are above ground normally so some bikers will usually put the kickstand down and then walk over to the pedestrian button and push it in order to make the light change.

 

[fskimospy]

Yeah, when the revolution happens it's totally going to be because of motorcycles and sensor operated stoplights.

 

[dmcowen674]

Yeah, when the revolution happens it's totally going to be because of motorcycles and sensor operated stoplights.

So when you are sitting at a light for 5 minutes and the Motorcycle next to you takes off leaving you sitting there for another 3 minutes is not going to perturb you in the least?

Shens

 

[fskimospy]

So when you are sitting at a light for 5 minutes and the Motorcycle next to you takes off leaving you sitting there for another 3 minutes is not going to perturb you in the least?

Shens

1.) The average light is most certainly not set on a 5 minute timer.

2.) Even if it were, that would probably inspire me to petition to have the timers on those lights changed, not start a revolution.

What is wrong with you?

 

[Doppel]

This 5 minute timer idea was pulled out of mcowen's ass.

 

[EagleKeeper]

1.) The average light is most certainly not set on a 5 minute timer.

2.) Even if it were, that would probably inspire me to petition to have the timers on those lights changed, not start a revolution.

What is wrong with you?

Most lights will operate on a max 256 second cycle around the intersection.
That does not mean that side of the street gets 1 minute. It is based on priority.

Check the local DOT for timing specifics

 

[Triumph]

As a motorcyclist, you know what other law I support that would piss you off, DM? I would love for them to make lane splitting legal. Where I can go between cars while you sit there in your cage, stuck in traffic with nowhere to go. That would be awesome.

 

[blackangst1]

Phoenix has had this type of law for some time. Good thing too. Otherwise I'd be sitting at a light waiting for a left turn for a long, long time.

Very good law.

 

[blackangst1]

As a motorcyclist, you know what other law I support that would piss you off, DM? I would love for them to make lane splitting legal. Where I can go between cars while you sit there in your cage, stuck in traffic with nowhere to go. That would be awesome.

I <3 lanesplitting. One of the few things CA has done right

 

[Jeff7]

1) Affix ginormous ceramic magnet or small neodymium magnet to bottom of motorcycle.
2) Magnetic signature achieved.




*Note - I'd expect that this should work; I've not actually tested it. If those loops can detect the change in inductance due to a chunk of iron moving by, I would think that a powerful little magnet would produce a sufficient disruption to also trigger a loop. (I wonder if there'd be some law against "interfering" with a traffic signal by standing over the sensor with a magnet?)

 

[XZeroII]

You've obviously never ridden a motorcycle and don't understand the article. In WI, they passed a law that you only have to wait 45 seconds and only if the traffic is 100&#37; clear. However, it has to be a sensored light that is not registering that someone pulled up so it's not like after 2 minutes you can just go. The law is designed to assist in a very specific situation.

The ignorance of this thread is astounding.

 

[cubby1223]

Most lights are set at the default of 5 minutes in Illinois.

They don't have sensors that can tell if there is a car waiting at a light or not so they are all just running on a timer cycle.

There are so many intersections where there are no cars come through during that entire 5 minutes wasting so much gas and time.

Somehow the Motorcycle lobbyists got the Politicians to make a law that they can run the light after 2 minutes of sitting at the light and there is no cars.

Why the fuck they are special and can go through while people in a car have to still waste gas and time is beyond my little brain comprehension.

This is yet another infuriating Revolution tipping point.

I heard this law does not apply to Cook County.

When you get out of the city, many lights are not on a 5-minute timer, and especially overnight a minor road crossing a major road sometimes is only triggered by the sensors, no timer what-so-ever.

This law also applies to bicycles, iirc.

 

[Soundmanred]

Hwy 59 is insane. They have lights on every driveway into the stores, and only one car fits between the lights because the parking lots are not connected. It takes 12 hours to go 3 miles to get $10 milk and bootleg vinegar. I spend $60 in gas (@ $23 per gallon, naturally) getting through that area.

 

[fskimospy]

CARS CAN'T DRIVE FOR FIVE. (minutes)

 

[blackangst1]

CARS CAN'T DRIVE FOR FIVE. (minutes)

Good one!

 

[cybrsage]

Fixed time control
Cycle lengths of signalized intersections are determined by small gears that are located within dial timers. Cycle gears, as they are commonly known as, range from 35 seconds to 120 seconds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_light_control_and_coordination

The reason they chose two minutes is because that is the longest time they are set to remain on any one color. Longer than two minutes means it is never going to change.

Crisis averted, end of the world as we know it is no longer going to be caused by motorcycles at traffic lights.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Dumbest. Thread. Ever.

OP, it doesn't say 2 minutes. It says "reasonable time" and specifically mentions signal malfunction/failure to detect. So no, this doesn't cover any timed signals -- if you blow through those you have obviously not waited a reasonable time.
The cops in the area are going to know what signals are sensored if they've been paying any sort of attention as they've been driving around.

This is a very good law. I wish Connecticut had one like it. There are several intersections around here where, if the light doesn't turn, there's simply no legal means to proceed. You're stuck sitting there with traffic backing up behind you.

 

[mattpegher]

This law is specificly designed to allow passage through a sensor light when no other traffic exists. Most motorcyclist already do this after waiting at a light for about 3 minutes when there is no other traffic, this just makes it so that they wont get a ticket if a cop sees them do it. It is not meant to allow one to pull into traffic, which would be dangerous. It treats the stop light like a stop sign. At that point the same rules apply that apply at a stop sign, esp regarding right of way.

 

[waggy]

good law. I hate sensor lights that don't register a motorcycle.

as mattpegher said if im sitting there 2-3 minutes and no traffic i just go. This is not a free ride to blow red lights.

 

[WelshBloke]

So when you are sitting at a light for 5 minutes and the Motorcycle next to you takes off leaving you sitting there for another 3 minutes is not going to perturb you in the least?

Shens

You get unreasonably angry about the weirdest shit.

Time to kick back and try to enjoy life.