Comments on: 10/25/2012 – Invisibility Box

By: JaFO

JaFO — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 21:27:49 +0000

In theory they probably could detect tiny bits of metallic content.

However they can’t risk setting the trigger-level too low, because that would cause seemingly random activations.

I do wonder if there is a standard at all by which these things can be tested. I doubt there is one as they’re meant for cars by default.

By: Fencer1964

Fencer1964 — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 22:10:00 +0000

My 1996 Trek 1200 (“ALUMINUM” spelled out proudly along the top tube) and my 1994 Specialized Sirrus (back when that was a road racer, not a flat-bar hybrid) both trigger induction loop signals, so long as I get right in the lane and center myself in the field.

My 2010 Cervelo S2? Um…not so much. ^_^

By: persia

persia — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:15:08 +0000

Having said that, I know how Yehuda feels. When they don’t work it makes me very cross.

By: persia

persia — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:11:20 +0000

There’s one in North Melbourne that never works. I used to go through there at night and wait and wait, then just gave up and went if no-one was coming, on the tree and the forest principle. They’re usually pretty good though.

By: Stefan

Stefan — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:51:52 +0000

Rats! in my town, they placed the cables as in rectagular under an agle of 45deg. so it is hard to hit them.

By: jctcool1@yahoo.com

jctcool1@yahoo.com — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 05:20:41 +0000

*ahem* “Loop Detector” It depends in large part to the weight of the metal in your bike, and the design of the detector, e.g. on a multi-lane road the detectors won’t be as sensitive such that a nearby car won’t trip the detector. Some bike heavy cities install extra (smaller) loops and turn up their sensitivity, to detect your bike.

By: Brrr

Brrr — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 04:07:10 +0000

I can align myself all day, but the inductive loops they use around here do not ever detect my bicycle. Maybe it only works for steel bikes?

Waiting for the light that never changes is not the only reason I don’t wait at red lights though. The biggest one is safety. Every incident I’m aware of where a cyclist has been jumped and beaten/robbed (unfortunately there have been a lot of them in the area of my commute to work), happened where the cyclist was stopped at a light. Because of this, I now treat all red lights and stop signs as yields. I look very carefully, but I also make a concerted effort to keep moving whenever possible.

By: AdamDZ

AdamDZ — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:14:50 +0000

There are A LOT more people riding these days so it’s more noticeable. And there are two basic ways to ride through a red light: speed through the intersection with little regard to pedestrians and cross traffic and slow-and-look then cross method. The first one is more prevalent in NYC and that’s what bothers people. I narrowly avoided cyclists blowing red lights many time when riding through intersections.

By: bicyclerepairman13

bicyclerepairman13 — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:04:01 +0000

i have noticed that they put them in all different spots. i think its a conspiracy against us bicyclists, just to confuse us.

By: John A. Ardelli

John A. Ardelli — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 22:25:33 +0000

I know this feeling…