Geezers with no lights

rustynuts

I guess like you guys, I know that lights on the bike are an absolute must if we stand any chance of self-preservation on the road. How is it then that every town or city has this group of Mr. Invincibles who happily set out to work in the dark with no lights or reflectives what-so-ever and never seem to come to any harm? :?

sicknote

I saw a guy like that the other night plus he had dark cloths on too :shock:
I could just see him but I think they seem to think it is everyone else that should go a round or look out for them.

It is just mad and I think they have a bigger chance of getting hit.

rustynuts

You're right, The Invincibles are inevitably wearing a camo jacket or dark clothes to go with their no-lights.

Mister W

Ride to the station the other morning in the dark and pouring rain with car drivers struggling to see beyond the end of their bonnets. Me in a high vis jacket with the bike lit up like a Christmas tree............ a bloke pulls out in front of me in all dark clothes and no lights or reflectors on his bike.

I guess when he gets run over it'll be one less numpty in the gene pool.

FSR_XC

There is a lot to be said for the old ad, 'be safe, be seen'.

But maybe it should now be 'be seen, you have a better chance of making it home safely!'

Lights are a must, but reflective clothing really helps too.

It does seem clothing manufacturers could use more reflective materials at times.

Tom Butcher

Was out running the other night and I saw a guy cycling on the road, no lights, dark clothing - on a unicycle.

OffTheBackAdam

Hope you weren't running in the bloody road!
The number of runners who leap off the pavement and run in the gutter is incredible, and the two-hats don't have lights on!

squired

I find it entertaining really. Pedestrians are next to impossible to see as they cross the road dressed in dark colours. Someone gets on a bike with no lights and dark clothing. They probably also realise that pedestrians are hard to pick out in the dark, yet don't think about it and realise it means that being on the road moving at speed they are virtually invisible and thus at risk of being killed.

Mind you, too many people on bikes are fools. What's with these people riding with only a tiny light on their helmet (at least have one on your bike as well). Or, people with a back light in the side pocket of their back pack. I even passed a guy the other night going in the opposite direction who had a flashing red light on the front of his bike (no white light at all). Proof that most humans are complete idiots, based on a small sample of the population anyway....

suze

Candidates for the Darwin award....

mhuk

Natural Selection in action. Probably known by Paramedics as "donors".

too many people on bikes are fools.

A fool is a fool whether on car, bike, horse or foot.

bill57

mhuk wrote:

Natural Selection in action. Probably known by Paramedics as "donors".

As long as it's not their brains we're getting.

meagain

See a few every a.m. Just lacking in the imagination department I assume.

rustynuts

This time I was driving but I spotted a lightless geezer tonight, happily tootling along an unlit lane dressed in a black coat and trousers. What's the correct way to warn them of their impending doom - shout a mild warning or simply say nothing and allow nature to take its course?

Maybe they're ninjas, using a stealth form of transport to go about their business, as well as being environmentally conscious to boot...

mercsport

What sad reading for this morn . Evidently this is a thread for the self righteous amongst us , of which this world - and this forum seemingly , is possessed of plenty . What exactly are you sounding off at exactly ? The fact that you're the only paragons of common sense around ? Aye , shake your heads in collective wonder at the inanities of ' man '. It is , for me nonetheless , these very inanities that conspire to make life interesting to this old codger .

Needless to say , I'm an old 'geezer' , but do not bike about dressed up in Hi-Viz gear and a Sam-Brown belt with an abundance of flashing lights adorning my steed . Nor , I hasten to add , do I wear a helmet . Never have done and never will . When the day arrives that one of your ilk manages to make it illegal , through an act of parliament - to add to our woes - not to wear a helmet and not to have a requisite number of lights and reflecting elements encumbering locomotion on two man powered wheels , that will be the day I give up 'cycling . You will more than likely say ' good riddance ' and how it will likely save the NHS an impossible to prove ' x' quids , and carry on postulating other irrefutable 'facts' upon how sensible you all are .

I could go on , without stretching things overmuch , about how it is that this mighty self regard / 'righteousness' is the reason we are the enfeebled nation we inhabit today . But , I won't . I've had my 'rant' for today .

Ah , that's better !

P.S. , Having replied in 'kind' I didn't want to further my hypocrisy , for I didn't really want to own up to this - inevitably - someone who doesn't quite 'get it ' will rant upon how I'm a danger to others etc.: in winter , I have lights on my bike and wear a jacket that has some reflecting flashes about it ! Shoes too . In summer I carry a flasher led in my back pocket always . But , it happens sometimes that we can be caught out by circumstance and not be sensibly attired and lit for poor conditions . I know I have a time or two , and have simply 'chanced it' and pedalled on as I was too idle to walk or whatever .

boybiker

mercsport wrote:

What sad reading for this morn . Evidently this is a thread for the self righteous amongst us , of which this world - and this forum seemingly , is possessed of plenty . What exactly are you sounding off at exactly ? The fact that you're the only paragons of common sense around ? Aye , shake your heads in collective wonder at the inanities of ' man '. It is , for me nonetheless , these very inanities that conspire to make life interesting to this old codger .

Needless to say , I'm an old 'geezer' , but do not bike about dressed up in Hi-Viz gear and a Sam-Brown belt with an abundance of flashing lights adorning my steed . Nor , I hasten to add , do I wear a helmet . Never have done and never will . When the day arrives that one of your ilk manages to make it illegal , through an act of parliament - to add to our woes - not to wear a helmet and not to have a requisite number of lights and reflecting elements encumbering locomotion on two man powered wheels , that will be the day I give up 'cycling . You will more than likely say ' good riddance ' and how it will likely save the NHS an impossible to prove ' x' quids , and carry on postulating other irrefutable 'facts' upon how sensible you all are .

I could go on , without stretching things overmuch , about how it is that this mighty self regard / 'righteousness' is the reason we are the enfeebled nation we inhabit today . But , I won't . I've had my 'rant' for today .

Ah , that's better !

P.S. , Having replied in 'kind' I didn't want to further my hypocrisy , for I didn't really want to own up to this - inevitably - someone who doesn't quite 'get it ' will rant upon how I'm a danger to others etc.: in winter , I have lights on my bike and wear a jacket that has some reflecting flashes about it ! Shoes too . In summer I carry a flasher led in my back pocket always . But , it happens sometimes that we can be caught out by circumstance and not be sensibly attired and lit for poor conditions . I know I have a time or two , and have simply 'chanced it' and pedalled on as I was too idle to walk or whatever .

We have a winner for arsehole of the week award

vorsprung

boybiker wrote:

mercsport wrote:

I'm an old 'geezer' , but do not bike about dressed up in Hi-Viz gear and ......

..... I have lights on my bike and wear a jacket that has some reflecting flashes about it ! Shoes too . In summer I carry a flasher led in my back pocket always ... I know I have a time or two , and have simply 'chanced it' and pedalled on as I was too idle to walk or whatever .

We have a winner for arsehole of the week award

If he is such an arse how come he got to be old?

He isn't one of the kids I see regularly riding around in black on their bmx with no lights

He isn't the czech guy I gave my spare back light to the other night coz he was riding up the bypass with no lights

He isn't a paper boy

sicknote

@ mercsport

I see were you are coming from with that but for a start where did the helmet thing come from?
As that is your choice but for how cheap lights are (from 99p shop, might not be great but you have some chance of being seen ), I find it hard to see how people can put them self at in danger as it is bad enough with lights.

I drive as well and find it hard to see some of these people but being a cyclist too, I look out for them.
I have at one time gone without lights too, being caught out myself.

This is the sort of thinking that I see when someone will look at you driving down a road and walks out in front of you, for you to stop ( I am not talking about a crossing ),it seems they think the are invincible.

Not good thinking by any standard imho.

With people thinking less about others, I would not be happy as it would seem you are not to go out without some sort of light with you.

Its one thing to get caught out, without or on battery's but to go out without any! :shock:

Nuggs

mercsport wrote:

Stuff

So when one sees someone else behaving like an irresponsible twit, one isn't allowed to criticise them?

What an obscure point-of-view...

Mister W

If someone wants to risk their life by riding with no lights and wearing dark clothes then so be it.............. but what about the driver who hits you? He or she will have to live with knowing that they've killed someone. That person may have been a twat with no concern for their own well being but I doubt that's going to make it any easier for the driver to deal with.

rustynuts

mercsport...

When I started this thread I had no intention of sounding superior, as you imply. I just find it hard to understand why a group of people can head out into the dark, on public roads, with what I imagine to be no consideration of their own safety. Personally I feel at risk even when lit up so these geezers must either be ignorant to the risk or be very trusting of other road users.

You have a nice way with words though.

mercsport

Well , I certainly admire your restraint and reason at coming back at me after my morning rant , and not tear my head off . Rereading what I wrote I deserved it I expect . So , thanks . Aside from a little contrition , I'm quite relieved . :oops:

I take on board all of your points . And , you're quite right . I think I got out of bed with a grump on and banged out a diatribe for the sake of it . I tend to try and see an opposing view to everything I suppose and when I see the black clad biker with no lights etc., my first thought would be , ' ah , the poor lad's been caught out ' , before , probably , concluding he is more than likely as not to be a 'pillock'.

Had a ride out over the 'hill' here this afternoon and froze my face off . Grim . Still , had my flashers on on the way back you'll be relieved to know .

Cheers , :P

Stuck on a Giant

Back to the OP

Anyone driven around Cambridge (or probably any smallish city with a big student population) at night?

There's more cyclists without lights than with!

bluntandy

http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-09-09

yup, bike ninjas!
I have been caught once or twice with fading light and no lights but as one earlier poster said it's not the irrisponsible people who don't have respect for their own safety i worry about, it's the people who get hurt by them or run them over because they were invisible. it's hard to defend some drivers but at least give yourself a fighting chance and be seen!

Mark Alexander

They probably follow the old well known addage
"be seen! be a better target"

ademort

On my way home tonight i saw someone coming towards me, racing bikeNo lights wearing a leather jacket and no gloves, he looked effing freezing. This was in the middle of nowhere so to speak, nearest town Min 4Kms away, wonder if he got home ok, never seen him before Ademort

Sirius631

ademort wrote:

On my way home tonight i saw someone coming towards me, racing bikeNo lights wearing a leather jacket and no gloves, he looked effing freezing. This was in the middle of nowhere so to speak, nearest town Min 4Kms away, wonder if he got home ok, never seen him before Ademort

He had probably missed the bus and nicked the bike. :twisted:

alp777

Anybody who rides a bike on the road, in the dark, without lights, is a dork!

There is no excuse!

I thought it was illegal as well?

Sirius631

alp777 wrote:

Anybody who rides a bike on the road, in the dark, without lights, is a dork!

There is no excuse!

I thought it was illegal as well?

You're thinking that there is a question over that? Of course it's illegal, but what good is a law if it isn't enforced? I believe we'd get less disrespect off other road users if they believed that we wouldn't get off scot-free for transgressions. Unfortunately, on the whole it is not serious cyclists, who love and want to defend the passtime, who give us a bad reputation.

alp777

Sirius631 wrote:

alp777 wrote:

Anybody who rides a bike on the road, in the dark, without lights, is a dork!

There is no excuse!

I thought it was illegal as well?

You're thinking that there is a question over that? Of course it's illegal, but what good is a law if it isn't enforced? I believe we'd get less disrespect off other road users if they believed that we wouldn't get off scot-free for transgressions. Unfortunately, on the whole it is not serious cyclists, who love and want to defend the passtime, who give us a bad reputation.

They ones i often see tend to have a fag on the go as well and there chains are usually in need of some lubrication. Not serious cyclists like you say.

Monty Dog

There was some research done a while back that determined that the 'dorks' who ride around in dark clothing and no lights are the of the same mentality as those who drive drunk or without insurance - I guess it's back to the Darwin thing, in the hope that natural selection gets them before they can afford a car!

Sirius631

Monty Dog wrote:

There was some research done a while back that determined that the 'dorks' who ride around in dark clothing and no lights are the of the same mentality as those who drive drunk or without insurance - I guess it's back to the Darwin thing, in the hope that natural selection gets them before they can afford a car!

I hope natural selection gets them before they have kids. :twisted: