Triggering Traffic Lights

One of the problems with riding a scooter is that the automatic sensors on some traffic lights don't detect scooters. Contrary to some people's beliefs, they are not triggered by lights or by weight... they are magnetic metal detectors. There just isn't enough metal in a scooter to alter the magnetic field on these sensors unless they are adjusted very well. And most of them aren't.

The majority of the lights in downtown Lancaster are on timers instead of detectors. They are timed from the light at Penn Square so that someone traveling at approximately 25-27mph, without traffic, can get all the way across town without stopping. An exception to this system is the annoying light at Market and Orange. The only way out of Central Market is on one of these magnetic detectors.

In Pennsylvania, I have heard that if your bike is too small to trigger the light, it is OK to run it. Just wait for a clear path and go. Otherwise, you might have to wait for a car to come and trip the light. There are other ways and tips for triggering these types of lights; if only there were a place where they could be collected and shared... oh, wait, there is!