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Illinois New Law would have Bikers going through red lights!

The Giant Noodle

The Giant Noodle

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Who in the freakin HELL thought this would be a good idea!??! They make me buckle my seatbelt but a bike that has no collison protection can go through a RED LIGHT!?!? :doh
This State sucks. If anything they should LIMIT what bikers can do.

SPRINGFIELD — Motorcycle riders and bicyclists would be able to go straight on a red light after coming to a complete stop under a measure sent to Gov. Pat Quinn on Sunday.
The proposal, approved on a 101-11 vote, is designed to address sometimes lengthy waits faced by bikers when they approach stop lights that change based on sensors in the roadway.
Motorcycle rights groups say riders sometimes can get stuck at a light for several cycles because the lighter weight of the two-wheel vehicles won’t trigger the sensors. If a stoplight fails to turn green within a “reasonable period of time,” the legislation would a biker could proceed through the intersection after making sure it is clear.
Chicago would be exempted from the proposed law.
The measure was sponsored in the Senate by state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton. The legislation is House Bill 2860.
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Straight-on-red measure heads to governor
 
The Giant Noodle said:
Who in the freakin HELL thought this would be a good idea!??! They make me buckle my seatbelt but a bike that has no collison protection can go through a RED LIGHT!?!? :doh
This State sucks. If anything they should LIMIT what bikers can do.



Straight-on-red measure heads to governor
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Actually this is a good law. I have sit at many turn signal lanes only to have the light sequence pass me up. When the light turns green for the traffic going straight adjacent to me I often will turn if safe. It is no different than Left Turn Traffic Must Yield To Traffic.
 
'after coming to a complete stop' quickly turns into just slowing down to just going through...

The above is just hypothetical obviously.

I dunno, i don't bikes, and i cant really say whether this is the best idea or not.

But hey, here's a great law in Canada, we can turn right on a red light :mrgreen:
 
I like how they use the phrase "reasonable amount of time." So basically, a biker can pretty much decide when they're tired of waiting?

Cop: Why'd you ride through a red light straight into traffic?
Bike: I GOT TIRED OF WAITING SO IT'S LEGAL!
 
Jetboogieman said:
'after coming to a complete stop' quickly turns into just slowing down to just going through...

The above is just hypothetical obviously.

I dunno, i don't bikes, and i cant really say whether this is the best idea or not.

But hey, here's a great law in Canada, we can turn right on a red light :mrgreen:
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Usually, motorcycles, scooters and other forms of 2 wheel conveyance don't trigger red lights.
So you sit there, until something does or until you run it.
 
It's not a problem in the UK, what kind of sensors do they use in N America?
 
Curious the things that twists peoples noodle.

This law is a response to a problem. Bikes seldom set off the light sensor. I run red lights on a regular basis. Its a matter of necessity. When you are the sole vehicle at a light and there is no other traffic, you go or you stay there til another vehicle comes. Its a non issue. I highly doubt the law is giving carte blanche to bikers to avoid all traffic rules. Chillax a little bit and think it through.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
Usually, motorcycles, scooters and other forms of 2 wheel conveyance don't trigger red lights.
So you sit there, until something does or until you run it.
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The only time I have that problem is with left turn lights
 
Manc Skipper said:
It's not a problem in the UK, what kind of sensors do they use in N America?
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Depends on the area, but a lot of our sensors aren't strictly timed based, but are pressure plates or magnetic plates under the road to make the traffic lights actually work with traffic.

This law isn't going to increase accidents, it basically stops cops from handing out tickets.
 
I think this is a really stupid law. It's dangerous, and it also would be confusing as bikers could argue that they had the right of way at an intersection during a red light. A bike being able to legally run a read light is really foolish in my opinion. Also, it makes the law unfair. What if for some reason a car doesn't register at the stoplight and has to wait several cycles? Could they run it as well? It would be unfair under the law, it would be dangerous, and I foresee many accidents and insurance fights when a biker argues that he had the right of way at a red light if an accident were to happen.
 
digsbe said:
I think this is a really stupid law. It's dangerous, and it also would be confusing as bikers could argue that they had the right of way at an intersection during a red light. A bike being able to legally run a read light is really foolish in my opinion. Also, it makes the law unfair. What if for some reason a car doesn't register at the stoplight and has to wait several cycles? Could they run it as well? It would be unfair under the law, it would be dangerous, and I foresee many accidents and insurance fights when a biker argues that he had the right of way at a red light if an accident were to happen.
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How long are you prepared to sit at a red light? How many cycles of everyone else going are you going to just sit there?

Make that sit there on a 90 degree day with a roasting oven between your legs.......
 
Dont like sitting at the light? Dont buy a bike. I was really hoping they would come out with a law that the mufflers couldnt make much noise. In any case, this crap of going through red lights is very dangerous!!
Just put those VERY strong magnets on the bottom of your bike.... Neodynium I think they are called.
 
The Giant Noodle said:
Dont like sitting at the light? Dont buy a bike. I was really hoping they would come out with a law that the mufflers couldnt make much noise. In any case, this crap of going through red lights is very dangerous!!
Just put those VERY strong magnets on the bottom of your bike.... Neodynium I think they are called.
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Do you ever make a right hand turn at a red light?
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
I don't ride heavy bikes, with lots of chrome.
Doesn't work all the time for me.
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Does not matter. New technology is replacing magnets and weight type of sensors. These still can leave bikes hanging in left turn lanes
 
The Giant Noodle said:
Dont like sitting at the light? Dont buy a bike. I was really hoping they would come out with a law that the mufflers couldnt make much noise. In any case, this crap of going through red lights is very dangerous!!
Just put those VERY strong magnets on the bottom of your bike.... Neodynium I think they are called.
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Sorry but loud pipes save lives because cars do not watch for motorcycles and bikes are easy to miss in blind spots.

Trust me you will hear my bike
 
digsbe said:
I think this is a really stupid law. It's dangerous, and it also would be confusing as bikers could argue that they had the right of way at an intersection during a red light. A bike being able to legally run a read light is really foolish in my opinion. Also, it makes the law unfair. What if for some reason a car doesn't register at the stoplight and has to wait several cycles? Could they run it as well? It would be unfair under the law, it would be dangerous, and I foresee many accidents and insurance fights when a biker argues that he had the right of way at a red light if an accident were to happen.
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Gads...the dreaded 'fair' word again...

Are you folks really so simple or single minded you cannot see the value in this? The law requires bikers to stop, wait, then proceed safely. I hope every state passes a similar law. Some MAY abuse it...but you should understand...bikers already do this of necessity.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
If the way is clear, run the light.
Bikes are more "green" energy, we should use it to our advantage. ;)
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I have never had to wait long if going straight. The problem is going left where you get stuck. I have left the left turn lane and went straight and found another route in times like these.
 
VanceMack said:
Gads...the dreaded 'fair' word again...

Are you folks really so simple or single minded you cannot see the value in this? The law requires bikers to stop, wait, then proceed safely. I hope every state passes a similar law. Some MAY abuse it...but you should understand...bikers already do this of necessity.
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I agree.

The one point people here are missing is that a biker is most likely not going to run a red light to challenge someone's Sherman tank SUV. It is rare you read about a biker running a red light and killing a family of four.
 
ptif219 said:
I have never had to wait long if going straight. The problem is going left where you get stuck. I have left the left turn lane and went straight and found another route in times like these.
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Most of the bikes I'm interested in riding tend to be less than 500lbs, gross weight.
With the mix of plastic and a mostly steel/aluminum frame, they have a high probability of not triggering any light.

Depending on locality of course.
I've had to sit through lights, that would have never ended, had I not run it.
 
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