What would you do?

Lowride

Hi people,

I was riding home from work thru a fairly quiet village just before christmas. It was dark so I had both front and rear lights switched on. A woman in a people carrier drove past and shouted 'get some lights'

I was a bit confused because I had lights on, maybe my rear one was`nt as bright as it could have been. I later changed the batteries. However, what I did do was follow her and now I know where she lives

Taking into account car drivers think they are invincible and often give us a serious lack of respect, what would you do?

Papa Smurf

Personally I wouldn't do anything. It's not like she tried to have you off or gave you any actual harmfull abuse.

And to be fair, you had your lights on, there's nothing more you can do.

Sounds like she either has a serious lack of respect for cyclists, had the painters in or just wasn't looking enough, saw you last minute and decided it was YOUR fault because you didn't stand out like a flourescent angel in the dead of night.

But if you did want to get nasty you could 'accidentally' clip her car while she's in it with a nice little "Sorry, I didn't see you there, maybe you need better lights!" - Do this in the day and you'll really rub it in her face.

richardast

Two months have passed and you're still stewing about three words (none of which were even abusive) uttered by a woman in a car.

Are you 8 years old?
If so you could perhaps ring her doorbell and run away.

TheBoyBilly

I think Richard's right. Have you made your mind up to exact revenge and just want some support? You won't get it from me matey, it reminds me of that recent case where that elderly chap died after a woman gave some thugs his numberplate details after he alledgedly pinched her parking space, and they went round to "sort him out.
Get over it.

cntl

Maybe she was right.

Lowride

I did`nt say I was going to do anything, as usual on internet forums the keyboard warriors are out in force

Maybe you are eight years old?

tardington

Ah, but now you could get revenge on those guys?

We could shout 'cars rule' while doing it?

snooks

Personally I'd think about where my lights are...if you had them on and she couldn't see them, then I would find it worrying

If she couldn't see your lights, maybe you should think about their positioning...

Maybe she was just trying to help you be seen, and now you want to go round her house...with a "Thank you" card I presume? maybe a box of chockies? or a bunch of flowers? That's very nice of you

From my experience, as a driver and a cyclist, positioning of rear lights should be thought about...Here's what I've seen on the roads:

Rear lights on the seat post or lower can't be seen if the cyclist is filtering up the inside of a line of traffic, because cars are in front of them. If you can angle them slightly up they are brighter, but a lot of seat posts are angled backwards so the light starts off point sightly downwards, and if they have a narrow bright band of visibility, the light is less effective...however long vertical lights I found more eye catching than long horizontal ones, probably for this reason that the arc of visibility is greater. If they are positioned right under the saddle they can't bee seen when you are close to a cyclist

Ruck sack lights can be seen from all round and all heights, and if you're wearing a pack, a little red light for it might be a good investment

Helmet lights can be seen when the rider is sitting up straight, but if the rider is going for it on a road bike, head down, the light is pointing skyward and can't be seen

Fixed lights (rather than flashing) are easier to judge to the distance of, espesh from a distance on dark roads.

Keep lights the same colour, red at the back, white an the front....little flashy white ones at the back aren't a good idea...neither are the flashing orange ones...to me that says indicator.

These are just my findings, I have no scientific proof, just what I've seen with my eyes.

Hope it's of help
.

richardast

Lowride wrote:

I did`nt say I was going to do anything, as usual on internet forums the keyboard warriors are out in force

Maybe you are eight years old?

Whatever. Yer Mum.

chronyx

richardast wrote:

Whatever. Yer Mum.

Takes one to know one.

TheBoyBilly

Lowride, it was this part of your original post:

"However, what I did do was follow her and now I know where she lives"

.....that made me, and perhaps others, think that you had revenge on your mind. As was mentioned before, you are still stewing over this three months later. Wouldn't you find that odd?

BentMikey

It can be frustrating when you get a driver saying something obviously stupid like this! If I'd followed her, I'd probably have asked her what she meant by get some lights, and shown her my lights.

It's always possible your rear light was covered or off, in which case it's easy to apologise and thank her for her help. She'd then also see you did have lights, and that you're responsible. This much further on, I wouldn't bother doing anything.

Mog Uk

Had this happened last week then fair enough, but it happened before Christmas, move on.... :roll:

And besides, the days are getting lighter now anyway......

tyskie

Whilst driving, I used to shout at the odd cyclist to get lights or position them where I can see them, however, now I save my breath as so many cyclist don't seem to bother with them.

I'm not telling you where I live though as you sound a bit scary.

ChrisLS

...I've seen a lot of cyclists using really crap lights that are barely visible...what are yours Lowride? Also why the grudge for so long? :?

cntl

>>maybe my rear one was`nt as bright as it could have been. I later changed the
>>batteries

:? :?

niblue

I was driving into town the other night with my son and, as usual, noticed a number of bikes without lights. One did actually have a front light, it was just so dim that you couldn't see it until really close up (there was no rear light though) - perhaps this was the same as your situation i.e. perhaps your lights were on but too dim to notice.

I have one fixed rear light on my commuter bike (a big, bright one) plus another attached to my courier bag and a reflective band with flashing red lights attached to my right ankle. I also have 20W & 12W front lights, plus a flashing LED backup so I doubt anyone will ever complain about me not having visible lights!