Most of us have been there: Waiting at a desolate intersection for what seems like an eternity for a red light that just will not change.

As of Sunday, the wait for some motorists—namely motorcycle riders and bicyclists—just got shorter. Effective Jan. 1, a new law allows motorcyclists to proceed with caution through an intersection if the light fails to turn green "within a reasonable period of time" due to a signal malfunction or simply because the vehicle does not weigh enough to set off ground sensors.

In November, both the Illinois House and Senate overrode Gov. Pat Quinn's amendatory veto to pass House Bill 2860. The legislation does not apply to the city of Chicago, stipulating that the rule is effective only in communities with fewer than two million residents. Brian Wendholt, legislative officer for Will County ABATE, said motorcycle enthusiasts have been pushing for a similar law for quite some time.

"It's something I've been complaining about, and a lot of members have too, for years and years," Wendholt said. Under the new law, "When a motorcycle comes up to a red light or a left-turn arrow and sits there and the censors do not recognize that the bike is there, they can proceed as if through a four-way stop," he explained.

According to its website, ABATE, which stands for "A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education," strives to "preserve the universal right to a safe, unrestricted motorcycling environment."

Safety concerns

Some in law enforcement opposed the law, citing safety concerns, but Wendholt said the intent is for motorcyclists to use the legislation to safely proceed through intersections only when no other traffic is present. "You can't do it at an intersection controlled by a timer, and the police will learn which intersections are which really quick," Wendholt added.