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Now we are three

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  1. Uberuce
    Member

    Giant: I understand they work from either IR cameras or by induction loops just under the tarmac. If the junction has no cameras on the lights but does have a pattern of ~1cm lines of tarmac filler, then it's the induction coil.

    The IR camera needs the waste heat of a car engine to trigger and the induction loops need more metal than a normal bike.

    I will further speculate that they use induction coils on bus routes since I imagine their front ends aren't that warm. All half-informed guesswork, this post.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  2. ruggtomcat
    Member

    I find that the 'bent and the trailer will generally get seen, thats for sure. Oh look, the birthday thread has derailed in the first page!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  3. Darkerside
    Member

    Your trailer does incorporate a decent chunk of metal, it's true...

    Posted 11 years ago #
  4. cb
    Member

    The cameras at traffic lights are just Radar not IR as far as I know. They usually pick me and my bike up OK.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Induction loops are simple to spot - just look for the rectangles formed from buzz-saw cuts in the tarmac sealed with rubbery goop, into which the wires have been laid.

    It's apparently an urban myth that they won't detect an aluminium bike - aluminium is conductive so will still trigger the detector.

    Apaprently the best way to trigger these is to cycle along the saw-cut. If you (sensibly) take primary in the middle of the box, you are lease likely to induce the field and trip the switch. Also if the wire is laid in a "Z" shape across the road this is meant to detect 2-wheelers better. Basically, the further your wheels are from the wire of the loop, the less likely you are to trip the switch.

    There's also an urban rumour that if you attach a high-power magnet to your shoe and put your foot down over one of the wire-cuts you're more likely to trigger the field.

    At the last building where I worked, to open the security gates and barriers to get out of the basement car park you had to ride exactly across the intersection of the saw-cuts forming the rectangle. If you missed it, you had to loop back around and try again. My current building has a proximity detector in the ceiling, which is mounted in such a way as to be obscured by a roof support until you're just below it. If you approach too slow, you don't trigger it either.

    I also think that the "flash your lights at the detector and it will think it's an ambulance and will change" advice is also an urban myth.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  6. Darkerside
    Member

    Certainly I haven't noticed an increase in green lights when approaching them in an ambulance.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  7. Dave
    Member

    There's also an urban rumour that if you attach a high-power magnet to your shoe and put your foot down over one of the wire-cuts you're more likely to trigger the field.

    I think this is also a myth, because the sensor works on mass rather than induced current, but I can't remember the details (sorry, useless comment!)

    Posted 11 years ago #
  8. jcoutts
    Member

    Hi All

    I've been posting on CCE for about two years - it has been a massive helpful thing! So far I've:

    * Bought a bike off another forumite
    * Found out where to get a replacement seat pad for my kids child seat
    * Been given a rear rack when I needed a spare
    * Been given a pair of handlebars for my bike
    * Given tickets away to help fill up an event up at work
    * Gave away the swept back bars I was replacing (!)
    * Got advice on the best way to get my 4 year old on a bike
    * Advertised bikes (and houses/flat) for sale, rent, swap and exchange
    * The best one: borrowed a wheelbarrow from a member when I didn't need one forever, just a few weeks.

    CCE - what a great forum and a fab group of forumites!

    JC.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  9. chdot
    Admin

    Times 3.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  10. SRD
    Moderator

    a good celebration would be to get dave, uberuce, anth etc out.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  11. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Agreed, though Life has a habit of getting in the way.

    I see Uberuce periodically on my commute. Even though we live mere minutes away from each other I've yet to bump into him locally.

    Amazing legacy, chdot. Nine already!

    Posted 5 years ago #

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