I feel bad now...

prj45

Driving up Constitution Hill I could see cars braking and pulling out in front of me.

When I could see there was a girl on a bike wobbling around a bit in the road, no lights, no reflectors, no reflective gear.

I'm not proud, but I opened the window and shouted "GET SOME F****G LIGHTS!!".

She emitted a quiet "sorry" and I drove on; she literally disappeared into the night behind me.

If that was you, sorry I shouted and swore, but seriously, get some lights please for your own sake.

I don't think a cycle having no lights is any excuse to hit it (although of course if you do get hit and you have no lights it's going to factor in any insurance claim), but there are people out there driving cars who don't take as much care as they should. I should know, I saw enough of them on my drive through town tonight and I see enough when I cycle every day

redvee

No excuse really for not having lights, you can buy a cheap set for £10 - £15 F&R.

AndyManc

I get very tempted .

How about next time ... shouting .. "You need some lights , I couldn't see you" or "You need some lights your gonna get killed " .

The majority of other bikers I see ( or don't as the case may be ) in the morning when I'm heading into work ( pre 7am ) don't have lights.

Maybe the police should be more pro-active , stopping cyclists that don't have lights and fining them £20 , then giving them a set of lights from their police car.

Considerate policing for a change :?

redvee

AndyManc wrote:

Maybe the police should be more pro-active , stopping cyclists that don't have lights and fining them £20 , then giving them a set of lights from their police car.

Considerate policing for a change :?

Think it'd be better if they did this along the lines of the speeding fines. You attend a course and pay £60 with no points or get stung for both, with the lights give them the option of a 30 min session in a classroom and charge them £20 and they get the lights fitted whilst they are at the course. Giving them the lights on the street doesn't necessarily mean they will be fitted to the bike.

Belphegor

I was walking to work at 0430 and nearly got hit by a cyclist who approached from ahead without lights, on the pavement, and there were street lights. It was very shadowy due to the trees on that road but it just shows how easy it is to be invisible, even when it's not pitch black.

She had a rear light I noticed as she went past, but fat lot of good that was to me!

redvee

Seen a few on the pavements in Bristol before the rush hour on the main road where I live. Might have to put one of those angled mirrors up on the door frame so I know the pavement is safe to step out on to, could also be handy when I wheel the bike out of the door I've nearly hit peds as I've done so.

DCulley

As it is the law that all bikes are sold with reflectors and a bell surely it would be easy to stretch this to some simple lights. They don't have to be good - anything would be better than reflectors. This would possibly add ten pounds to the cost of a bike!

Do any other countries do anything like this?

the_hundredth_idiot

DCulley wrote:

As it is the law that all bikes are sold with reflectors and a bell surely it would be easy to stretch this to some simple lights. They don't have to be good - anything would be better than reflectors. This would possibly add ten pounds to the cost of a bike!

Do any other countries do anything like this?

My new bike picked up two weeks ago - no reflectors, no bell. :roll:

biondino

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

DCulley wrote:

As it is the law that all bikes are sold with reflectors and a bell surely it would be easy to stretch this to some simple lights. They don't have to be good - anything would be better than reflectors. This would possibly add ten pounds to the cost of a bike!

Do any other countries do anything like this?

My new bike picked up two weeks ago - no reflectors, no bell. :roll:

Maybe they know that all the hipsters who buy Condors would be taking off all the uncool stuff anyway so they save a few quid per bike

prj45

I hope I didn't put her off cycling, I was a bit agressive (disappointed I guess, she looked so vunerable), but then again maybe she'll go out and buy some f**** g lights like I suggested...

spen666

prj45 wrote:

Driving up Constitution Hill I could see cars braking and pulling out in front of me.

When I could see there was a girl on a bike wobbling around a bit in the road, no lights, no reflectors, no reflective gear.

I'm not proud, but I opened the window and shouted "GET SOME F****G LIGHTS!!".

She emitted a quiet "sorry" and I drove on; she literally disappeared into the night behind me.

If that was you, sorry I shouted and swore, but seriously, get some lights please for your own sake.

I don't think a cycle having no lights is any excuse to hit it (although of course if you do get hit and you have no lights it's going to factor in any insurance claim), but there are people out there driving cars who don't take as much care as they should. I should know, I saw enough of them on my drive through town tonight and I see enough when I cycle every day

The only thing you should feel bad about is DRIVING up Constitution Hill. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:


I have no problem with what you shouted

Slob-Sister

prj45, don't feel bad about it - what's done is done. No point feeling bad about it, and at least you cared enough to get angry!

Being sworn at isn't the worst thing in the world, if she's not careful she'll be picking up a Darwin Award....

robvalentine

DCulley wrote:

As it is the law that all bikes are sold with reflectors and a bell surely it would be easy to stretch this to some simple lights. They don't have to be good - anything would be better than reflectors. This would possibly add ten pounds to the cost of a bike!

Do any other countries do anything like this?

itay does, evey bianchi we pull out of the box comes with cheapass basta lights..

downfader

I always worry that by shouting out that I'll be distracting the cyclist or the traffic and putting someone at risk. It does annoy me though as its yet another thing "every cyclist" apparently does. :roll:

dirk_van_gently

I was commuting via Moto yesterday, past a guy on a busy A road, no lights just a hi-vis jacket (so that's alright then, not).
I did shout "Get some Lights".

lost_in_thought

I tend to approach cyclists on the road if they have no lights or if their lights aren't visible, and quietly mention to them that maybe their batteries have died or their light has fallen off or their rucksack is in the way of their lights.

I'm on a bike too, so I think it's better, and a bit kinder than shouting. It also doesn't elicit an angry response as I've been nice about it - people have almost always thanked me.

Whether or not they do anything about it remains to be seen.

always_tyred

I tend to be of the view that the sort of cyclists I come across who are camouflaged are generally the type of cyclists who wouldn't, for one reason or another, benefit at that precise moment from being told that they need to get some lights.

I make an exception for keen looking cyclists who I only realise are there when they say hello. They should know better and as punishment I try to find a stick to push through their wheels.

snooks

You do see some numpties round at this time of year...The ones that get me are the ones who have lights then have managed to cover them up with something, long jacket, paniers etc

I passed one chap and said "mate I think your batteries on your lights are flat" "I know" he replied...

Well if he knew, why didn't he buy some bloomin' batteries!!!

My flat mate told me she almost hit a cyclist the other morning, containing my rage I said "How?", she was turning right across his path, and luckily miss him as she turned behind him. "It was dark and he was wearing black with no reflectors or lights" Couldn't argue on the cyclists behalf with that one

Are people really that stupid?

ratherbeintobago

snooks wrote:

Are people really that stupid?

Yep.

RBIT

AndyManc

You have to remember that a lot of people we see on bikes actually don't want to be there.

They are there for a number of reasons , lack of money, no public transport at 'that' time, disqualified driver etc etc.

We all know getting kitted out with decent gear can be expensive so if you're on minimum wage then paying food and fuel costs take priority and if you keep cycling with out lights and get away with it you will continue to do so.

biondino

Today I was overtaken by a guy who was RLJing through a double junction + contraflow. He was lightless, helmetless, on a black bike wearing black clothes, and to top it all, he was black too. The ultimate ninja?

the_hundredth_idiot

biondino wrote:

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

DCulley wrote:

As it is the law that all bikes are sold with reflectors and a bell surely it would be easy to stretch this to some simple lights. They don't have to be good - anything would be better than reflectors. This would possibly add ten pounds to the cost of a bike!

Do any other countries do anything like this?

My new bike picked up two weeks ago - no reflectors, no bell. :roll:

Maybe they know that all the hipsters who buy Condors would be taking off all the uncool stuff anyway so they save a few quid per bike

I like to think that. But my mudguards tell a different story.

prj45

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

I like to think that. But my mudguards tell a different story.

You got mudguards fitted to your condor?

I can hear the sneering from here!

BigLee1

The thing that does my head in is where people put a hi vis vest on then a bag over the top :evil: I`ve got a Cateye LD 600 back light which I think is very very good and have had colleagues say that the thing they notice first is my hi vis vest (over the top of my bag ) I have altered the light so it points upwards a bit more now though.

Every little helps