Please, when it gets dark use lights!

DonDaddyD

I know not every cyclist in London reads this website but in any case this is an open plea...

Please, when cycling as the weather gets darker:

Use bright lights.

Wear clothes that are visible, reflective and preferably reflective.

Don't put the light on your bag over and above placing it on your bike.
At least when it's on the bike it's in a place consistent to the placement of lights on all other road going vehicles.

Yesterday, I was driving around 8o'clock and it was that wierd twilight-like period where it wasn't night but still dark. With all the street lights on and all the vehicles having full lights on as well, it made for one big blur where you have to focus and discern the the lights to negotiate the road ahead.

So there I am driving around, natural light and visibility are low and further hindered by the clouds overhead. I'm being blinded by street lights, car lights, traffic lights, lamp posts, lights and more lights and heading straight towards me is a cyclist with no lights, no bright clothing and a bike so stealthy it nearly didn't even exist. This guy wasn't just a ninja he was freaking batman. This was on a side road.

On the main road things just got even worse, there were loads of cyclists around, all appearing out of know where! I'm talking nearing cyclists nearing the double digits numbers in what is a 5mile journey at most - a good thing to be sure. However, only one of them had a hi-viz vest on and none had what I would consider decent lights. One guy went through a red light, jumped onto the curb, back off the curb and swerved around a parked car right infront of me, with no lights and I'm not kidding. It's only because I cycle I could anticipate what he was about to do and that is why he isn't dead under my car and today you guys aren't complaining about a "bloody inconsiderate dangerous motorist!"

I now understand and in some way's sympathise with some motorist when they say "sorry mate, didn't see you".

Be safe and be visible.

biondino

With all the street lights on and all the vehicles having full lights on as well, it made for one big blur

This also made me think that anyone who might need an eye test, go have one! We're not getting any younger, you know.

jonginge

Yeees. Been biking home after 8pm this week. Quite a lot of other cyclists didn't have lights. Disappointing.

Cafewanda

biondino wrote:

This also made me think that anyone who might need an eye test, go have one! We're not getting any younger, you know.

Speak for yourself mate, I roll back my age every year

might need to start using hair dye

spen666

DonDaddyD wrote:

...Don't put the light on your bag over and above placing it on your bike.[/b]
At least when it's on the bike it's in a place consistent to the placement of lights on all other road going vehicles.
....

It is the case that a light on your bag is not compliant with the legislation as it is not attached to your bike

bigmat

One on the bike, one on the bag? I've got a little LED light that velcros to my helmet for this winter as well, all helps.

@DDD, surprised to hear you championing hi-viz gear - didn't think you were a fan?! Its probably the best stuff to wear at those dusky, not quite dark times of day (just hide it when its daylight!)

Runoutofgears

I ventured out late last night in the car “dad’s taxi service” and I was staggered at the number of cyclists on the roads near to where I live, (in the outskirts of Bristol). Without exception none were wearing helmets or hi-vis, one pair were riding two up, one on the bars, no lights and one weaving all over the road. I had no idea this late hours bike life existed in such numbers, I obviously live a sheltered life.

DonDaddyD

biondino wrote:

With all the street lights on and all the vehicles having full lights on as well, it made for one big blur

This also made me think that anyone who might need an eye test, go have one! We're not getting any younger, you know.

True, true and true.

But generally speaking, I'm of the thought that lights especially car lights (those bright white xenon lights that every car seems to have - aimed perfectly at driver height) do more for hindering visibilty of other road users than aiding visibility too the driver of the car with the lights on.

DonDaddyD

MatHammond wrote:

One on the bike, one on the bag? I've got a little LED light that velcros to my helmet for this winter as well, all helps.

@DDD, surprised to hear you championing hi-viz gear - didn't think you were a fan?! Its probably the best stuff to wear at those dusky, not quite dark times of day (just hide it when its daylight!)

In a sport where grown Men chase another dude wearing either a bright yellow (or pink) jersey, a green jersey or a polka dot one I had to quickly overcome my hi-viz issues.

It's not the hi-viz colours that bother me, it's just the rationale behind making and wearing a cheesy waist-coat, jacket or hump cycle bag. I'll gladly wear hi-viz if it looked cool.

That said I still don't feel you need to buy into the yellow altura jacket, hump cycle rucksack trends - there are other clothes and colours that are equally bright and visible.

Kiblams

I must admit, I am definatly more visible from the side than front/back as my tyres have reflective sidewalls that light amazingly under even a little artificial light. I have panniers and when winter comes will be running 2 rear lights (one on each pannier) and a headlight on the front.

Not a huge fan out high-viz waist coats as I am a very heavy sweater so the less clothing I wear the better, I have seen coats with reflective stips on them that look black in the daylight. These are more likely to be deemed 'cool' by the youngsters aren't they?

hoolio

I must admit to disliking the highway standard hi-viz vest, but wear brightly coloured jerseys - red, yellow etc. My ruck is orange and I have reflectives all over it, and some reflective tape on my bike as well as up to four lights (two back, two up front for unlit cycle paths).
Last winter I occassionally saw a guy with a black bike, all black clothing, black courier bag and a black skull cap. In the dark on a major road weaving in and out of traffic. One night I could see cars hitting their brakes before overtaking him - they just weren't seeing him. :shock: I was going to say something to him as I was catching up with him, but then he went straight through a red light and disappeared up the road.

CanalRider

While camping last week my daughter and I followed a trail to get chocolate, but got caught out by the fading light and had to follow the road back. This is possibly the first time I have ridden without lights since being a teenager when brakes were optional too. I have to say I felt really vulnerable. 'Luckily' it was a long straight road so at the sign of a car we could get off road though once i forgot I had my new SPDs and gamboled into a nettle patch, serves me right really.

Wallace1492

Well, last night while going up Maryhill Road just after 7pm, it was raining, overcast and gloomy. Still well before lighting up time, and as I was wearing shades i did not percieve how dull it was, and did not have my lights on. Then a car pulling out from a side street did not see me and nearly wiped me out, but he skidded to a halt before hitting me. I cursed and shouted about eye tests etc.

But then I took off my shades as they were now dripping wet and realised just how dull it was. I immediately turned on my lights.

I then can see how it was difficult for the driver to see me, and maybe he did not need an eye test, maybe I should have had my lights on all along.

So folks, get your lights on even earlier if it is raining, dull or gloomy.

mba007

I always put my bright front and back blinkys on even in daylight when I get to busy areas and even riding through shaded country roads. If the flashing lights mean that I get seen a few milliseconds earlier then that can only be to my advantage.

tailwindhome

DonDaddyD wrote:

, it's just the rationale behind making and wearing a cheesy waist-coat, jacket or hump cycle bag.

dont understand this point

stuaff

I see so many brainless idiots on my way home (2030-2130 ish) that it's shocking- dark clothing, no lights, RLJing, no lane discipline, pavement jumping…If they want to kill themselves, why don't they just do it? They give the law-abiding peeps a bad name.