Veloloop Tricks Traffic Lights Into Turning Green for your Bicycle!

Yes! I’ve been dreaming/wishing for something like this for years. Let’s hope it gets smaller. Key fob sized? Hidden in carbon frames?

Hit YouTube for the instructional video “How To Trigger a Traffic Light on your Bike”. The only people who need this are rocking full carbon rims, and I just don’t see them pairing the two.

One of the reasons I love commuting on a steel frame. It may not have the “magnetic signature of a two-ton car”, but it’s enough to trigger lights. Noticeably easier than when I’m on a carbon rig.

There’s a couple of lights at side streets here in the Seattle area that absolutely fail to change for cyclists no matter how long you wait. Out of frustration I eventually called the police departments in both of those communities to ask how you’re supposed to legally handle such a situation and both informed me that under Washington state law the light can be considered defective in such a situation and you can legally proceed through the red light provided you yield the right of way and it is safe to do so. Makes this device a bit pointless in such a situation. I suspect the law is similar in other states.

Check your state laws:

States with safe-on-red laws

Arkansas – In effect since 2005, state law allows a motorcyclist to proceed with caution, after coming to a full and complete stop, through a red light that fails to detect the bike. (Arkansas Code section 27-52-206)
Idaho – (2006) If a signal fails to operate after one cycle of the traffic light that a motorcyclist may proceed, using due caution and care, after coming to a full and complete stop at the intersection. (Statute 49-802)
Illinois – (2012) Permits a driver of a motorcycles or bicycle facing a red light that fails to change within a reasonable period of time of not less than 120 seconds to proceed after yielding the right-of-way to any oncoming traffic. However, this law doesn’t apply to municipalities of over 2,000,000 people – such as Chicago. (625 ILCS 5/11-306)
Minnesota – (2002) A person operating a bicycle or motorcycle who runs a red light has an affirmative defense if the driver first came to a complete stop, the traffic light stayed red for an unreasonable amount of time and appeared not to detect the vehicle and no motor vehicles or people were approaching the street. (Statute 169.06)
Missouri – (2009) State law tells both motorcyclists and bicyclists that run red lights that they have an affirmative defense if they brought their vehicle to a complete stop, the light was red for an unreasonable time period, and there were no motor vehicle or person approaching. (Statute 304.285)
Nevada – (2013) Those using motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, and tri-mobiles are allowed to proceed through an intersection with a red light after waiting for two traffic light cycles, and they yield to other vehicle traffic or pedestrians. (Statute 484B.307)
North Carolina – (2007) Motorcyclists are permitted to move cautiously through a steady red light after coming to a complete stop and waiting a minimum of three minutes and if no other vehicle or pedestrians are approaching the intersection. (NCGS 20-158)
Oklahoma – (2010) Motorcycles can proceed cautiously through a steady red light intersection after a making a complete stop and if no other motor vehicle or person is approaching the roadway. (Statute 47-11-202)
South Carolina – (2008) After making a complete stop and waiting for a minimum of 120 seconds, the driver of a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle may treat a steady red light that doesn’t change as a stop sign and proceed with caution. (S.C. Code 56-5-970)
Tennessee – (2003) After coming to a complete stop, motorcyclists and bicyclists may proceed through a steady red light when it is safe to do so. (Tennessee Traffic Control Signals 55-8-110)
Virginia – (2011) Drivers of motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles may move with caution through non-responsive red lights as long as they yield the right-of-way to others approaching the intersection, and have come to a complete stop for two complete light cycles or 120 seconds, whichever is shorter.(Statute 46-2-833)
Wisconsin – (2006) A motorcycle, moped or bicycle is permitted to run a steady red light after making a complete stop and waiting at least 45 seconds and then yields the right–of-way to any vehicular traffic or pedestrians using the intersection. (Statute 346.37)

If magnets worked, every commuter bike would have them pre-installed, and we would have to keep magnets away from wi-fi laptops, routers, radios, and cellphones. This is not the case because wi-fi, bluetooth, and radio devices run at high frequencies, just like inductive loop sensors. I put a video online to demonstrate magnets vs. the Veloloop. It’s at http://youtu.be/GM0A8lNAu5Y

The beta testers all love their Veloloops not just because it triggers the light and their parking lot gates for them, but also because it confirms with the LED when they’re in the correct spot, so there’s no wondering about whether they’ll get the green or not. I’m working on a video to better explain how happy they are with the Veloloop.

This is rubbish! Don’t pay. Most bikes already trip the sensor. If yours does not, just fix one of those tiny rare earth magnets under your bottom bracket. What a waste of time!

Sorry to get off subject. Finally to see something new, If I were a commuter in a city I would have one of these.

I agree more integration would be better. Can it be smaller via phone app Ant+ and antenna? Antenna on/ integrated on wheel or wrapped on crank or third bottle cage or rack or rear triangle sticker antenna …Oops, I talk fast when excited. Cool product, even if legal; rolling through a red light isn’t safer.
Ride today, ride tomorrow…

our city has been replacing all the magnetic loop cuts with camera sensors, so this thing is already becoming obsolete in my region.

the rare earth magnet i use on the crank for cadence is enough to trip the lights if the crank is in the 6 o’clock position as I pass over the sensor.

The magnet fit’s nicely on the end of the pedal on the inside of the crank and is held in place by the magnet sticking to the steel pedal axle as I’m not coughing up for titanium. A few dollars for a packet from China and no ugly zip ties.

Actually what would be cool is if they hooked up the stop light button with a wifi that could be triggered from a short range and smart phone. Imagine hitting the button 1/2 block before you get there and have the light turn green just as you enter the intersection. Its amazing how much time is wasted by stop lights that are timed rather then monitoring real traffic conditions.

Stainless steel spokes. Lean your bike over while standing on the sensor. Works for me in Cali every time…