Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique "camera controlled" green arrow left turns!!

I happened to be in the big city yesterday, well "big" by MT standards anyway. Pulled up to a green left turn arrow just as it cycled yellow to red. I patiently waited as the intersection cycled through the colors. A city police car pulled up to my right. I asked the officer how the arrow was controlled, he pointed up at a camera and drove off on green. I was tempted to "screw it" when a suv got in behind me and the computer chip gave us the green left. And yes, I did little jigs and moved around to catch the attention of the motion detector.

It reminded me of driving back here on highway 200 where 2 miles of highway construction out in the country was controlled one lane at a time with temporary lights. It was 2 am and I had met maybe 3 vehicles in 35 miles. Patiently waiting on red for 5 minutes, I thought "this is nuts, the light is stuck on red and any sane person is home in bed". Driving though about halfway somebody 'beamed' me with a spotlight where a road entered from the left. No harm, no foul.

We used to have a few sonar controlled lights here. Fortunately, they got rid of them after a local politician bought an XKE and found out they only worked with trucks and Imperials.

I can control the trafic lights with a switch in the heel of my boot.

Some days it seems that no matter how I judge my approach and balance there waiting for it to change, the bloody thing only does it when I put my foot down and operate 'the switch'.....

I bought one of those fancy little $20 magnets for the underside of the bike, it triggers the electrical sensors under the road. It works pretty good too. It is really small and I could not believe how strong this thing is. It came with this super stickum stuff that helps it adhere to the frame, but as soon as it got near the frame, WHACK it was stuck for good due to the strength of the magnet. Never falling off that's for sure.

Hey Pat, which one did you get and where'd you get it?

Being very much into magnets and how cool they are, I am betting that it is a rare earth magnet (which are neither rare nor earth!). These man-made magnets are extremely strong and the big ones can actually hurt you!! (and no, I don't believe magnets can cure aches and pains)

There are two types. One is Neodymium (NdFeB) and is composed of neodymium, iron, boron and other lesser metals. The other Samarium cobalt (SmCo) and is composed of samarium, cobalt and iron. The Samarium ones are more expensive and stronger. The rare elements in them are what give them their generic name.

Here's one place you can get them:

http://www.wondermagnets.com/cgi-bin/eda...ets%3BNeodymium

They have one that is 2"x1"x.5" for $10 on page 3

I have two of the "wonder magnets" tie wrapped to the bottom right side of my frame in-line with the oil filter, so as not to obstruct my lift. After waiting three light rotations, before eventually turning left on red when I was sure none of Virginia's finest were looking, I deduced they are crap.