Yea!! Motorcycles can run red lights
 

Kansas House Approves Bill Allowing Motorcycles to Run Red Lights

Published February 23, 2011

| FoxNews.com

Ever been itching to run a red light that just won't change? Kansas lawmakers think motorcycle riders should be able to do just that.

The Kansas House on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow bikers to run a red light if the signal "fails" to turn green after a "reasonable period of time." The proposal leaves the discretion in the hands of the motorcyclist, but is aimed at ensuring riders don't get trapped in perpetuity at intersections because of signals that either malfunction or don't detect the motorcycles.

Motorcycle riders testified this month that their bikes were often not big or heavy enough to trigger the sensors that cause red lights to switch. For fear that riders would have to choose between being stuck on the Kansas tundra or running a light and risking a ticket, they urged the legislature to approve the so-called "Dead Red" bill giving them a free pass. The riders testifying in support of the bill belonged to a group known as ABATE, or A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments.

"Cars and trucks have no problem with it, but motorcycles have always been an issue," Crawford County Sheriff's Deputy Bob Peters said, according to Fox 14. "You may be on a section or roadway where you may wait for five minutes and there may not be other traffic along to trigger the sensor."

Though Peters supported the bill, it was opposed by Kansas police organizations that want their officers, not motorcycle riders, to have the discretion. One Republican lawmaker unsuccessfully tried to strip the red-light provision, saying, "I see no skeletal remains of motorcyclists sitting at red lights that never change," according to The Wichita Eagle.

The bill passed the House Tuesday as part of a broader road safety package. The other component in the package would prohibit local jurisdictions from imposing extra fines on drivers for seat-belt violations. The bill kept the statewide fine at $5 -- that would eventually rise to $10 or $60 depending on the severity of the violation.

The language in the motorcycle bill also covered bicycle riders.

In Kansas.. Do people live in Kansas?

there nothing more frustrating than sitting at a light that refuses to change:lol

I've been there... I always just ran the red

me too.....

Rezin (from CF/Tricktape at the time) used to sell these large magnets that you could put on your frame that made light sensor loops pick you up properly.

In reality, it was nothing more than the large square magnet you can buy at the Radio Shack. I recognized it immediately, as I happened to have some. I stuck one on my frame, and never again had to wait.

Yeah just read this..... I saw there was some static from the police union that wanted the officers to have the say in "what's a justifiable wait" -- as if we, as riders, needed another reason to have cops try to pull us over and deem what's acceptable.... so many can't make an unbiased decision when it comes to bikes....

Its weird Theres a light i come to Often that picks up the bike everytime...Then others that just plain refuse to turn green.

I agree with the law, I usually give it one cycle and if it doesnt turn green and there isnt anyone coming and I can proceed safely...I go through the red light.

No shit. Because we don't sit there and wait forever, dumbass. We make sure nothing is coming, then we just go, even though the light stays red. We want this law because we don't want to get a ticket for running a red light that never fucking changes to green for us.

Could you find it ( part number ) again at Radio Shack? There is one light that won't change until a heavy vehicle trips the buried wired. I bought a magnet off enay, added two cow magnets and I still end up running the red light.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...DCP_4081-1.jpg

I was going to say the same thing.

I'm pretty sure a lot of the lights around my area have a buried wire and just won't trip until something heavy crosses it. You should see the look on the drivers face behind me if I start moving up and motioning them to pull up. They just don't get it... until the light never f-ing changes. :bash:

The light I mentioned, I pull ahead of the white line so the idiots in the car behind will actually cross/trigger the wire to activate the light.

I've already got off the cycle and told the idiot to pull up to trip the light or prepare to wait until dark. :lol:

Kansas has stop lights?

Pavement?

Roads?

Yes, you mofo's, people live in Kansas :p

Yes, we have pavement. There are no curves, but there is pavement.

I can't wait till this gets passed. Not that I sit too long waiting, but the local cops are asshats about this and I will have a copy of this law in my wallet at all times to throw in their face. :bash:

Sweet, it gives bikes a reason to make Red lights, a stop sign. LOL

Yep...that and the fact that EVENTUALLY a cage will roll up behind us and the light will change but not always and it may take a while. Some politicians just need a big ole glass of STFU...well actually most of them.

People who live in New Jersey are, by definition, not allowed to make fun of ANYONE based on residency.

Just say'in.....

Sure there are....you just have to look harder for them. Stony Creek Road in Cowley County....Grouse Creek Road, also in Cowley County....Route 4 between Alta Vista and Dover....Carnahan Road in Manhattan...all very nice.

Lessee...Jersey, or KS?

You're kidding, right? Unless you're looking for a vast area to land a fucking plane in, there ain't shit in KS.

Hey...if you wanna live in NYC's garbage dump, knock yourself out. :lmao:

Apparently, you think all of Jersey is what surrounds NYC.

This is called "The Garden State" for a reason.

The foul stench that exists in Elizabeth NJ is because of the refinery and port traffic required to support the city. Away from NYC, NJ is not at all "smelly" nor filled with garbage.

I personally live in the Pinelands. Nothing but trees and nature here.

KS might as well be paved. Not a fucking thing there.

I cant even see New york from where I live

Been to the East coast when I drove truck. It sucks. Too many people. I'll take Kansas anyday.

And it's called the GARBAGE state by everyone who doesn't live there..

I'd love to say that we have a clever name to disparage KS...but frankly we don't, as it's pretty insignificant as viewed from here (or anywhere, I suspect), unless you're talking about funny School Board headlines.

I was thinking the same thing.

Well If you live in TN then you already have this privilege. And i utilize it quite often. Damn lights on my way to work are all pressure triggered so there is no way my bike could set off the sensor. Ive managed to get it to change once or twice by hitting the brakes right as i'm about to come to a stop to force all my momentum downward but that could have a negative outcome (front tire could slide in oil).

Its good to hear more states are coming around and passing this kind of law. Its very beneficial to a motorcycle rider.

1. We don't roast in the heat waiting for light to change
2. Our bikes don't overheat.
3. A freaking light doesn't waste our time.
4. WE CAN RUN RED LIGHTS lol

I picked up a couple of bikes in Jersey over the years - was a bit surprised by how much remote pine-carpeted area & some nice-looking small towns we drove through - I'm guessing Newark is a little different. :lol:

I had heard the magnets were snake-oil - do they really work?

And what annoys me is how many left-signal only intersections there are which were and still should be stop & proceed when clear. Jacks up traffic worse than necessary, but promotes 'safety' (for/because of increasingly shitty inattentive drivers who can't figure things out for themselves so well). 'Course, it does cut down on how many motorcyclists get killed by the common "didn't see them so I turned right in front of them".

That's the one thing I appreciate about those kinds of lights - so far, those types of intersections are the only place some homicidal maniac Hasn't attempted to flatten me on a semi-regular basis (with the exception of the occasional "I didn't see the red light because I was yapping on my phone" assholes)

I wish they wold allow that here.

They do now - though having to wait 3 minutes seems a bit excessive. :shrug:

http://www.bikernewsonline.com/2007/...-red-light.htm


Hey - that stuff keeps it interesting, at least! http://www.twowheelfix.com/images/sm...e%20smiley.gif :lol:

Well dayum..guess since it was off season I wasn't paying attention.:doh: I had heard they were considering it but didn't know it took effect.

Agree about the 3 minutes being a bit excessive but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Keeps the ol' heart muscle healthy for sure...