Lights on bicycles.

http://www.policedriving.com/article145.htm is being discussed on
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.tech/browse_frm/thread/...
about on road use of various color and flashing modes of lights.

Basically, their suggestion is to use steady white lights in front, steady red light in rear, with blinking amber lights moving to the direction to pass.  Blinking red lights tend to draw drivers to you.  More than one set of blinking lights leads to confusion, and recommends just one set of lights at each direction of approach.


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Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 15, 2010 at 4:39am
Interesting article. This is the first time I see some data backing up the existence of the so-called moth effect.
I wonder whether the flashing pattern has something to do with it. For example, I find the PB Superflash in blinking mode to be positively vertigo inducing. Lights that have a simpler blinking pattern, don't have this effect on me.

Bicycle friendly countries like the Netherlands and Germany have always required bicycle lights to be solid. Maybe they know something we don't
Permalink Reply by Arrak Thumrs on February 15, 2010 at 4:53am
It's a catch-22, I think. You notice a blinking light unequivocally. Yet it is a reasonable theory you are also drawn to them. Most rear lights are pretty small. I like the (solid light) B&M taillight because it is rather large. It also looks ridiculous not mounted on the rear of a trekking rack.

Perhaps the best safety would be provided by a solid light that makes a brighter "blink" infrequently... like every 30 seconds? The flash would immediately bring awareness, but the solid would not bother the driver ...A thought nonetheless.

It also depends what environment you are riding in, I think. Certain high-distraction, busy urban nighttime roads still warrant a fast "blinky" IMHO.
Permalink Reply by Michelle Green on February 15, 2010 at 5:56am
hahahahahahaha

H3N3 said:
Lights on bicycles
lights on bicycles
lookin' like a foooooooo
with your lights on bicycles
Permalink Reply by Joe TV on March 23, 2010 at 4:47pm
Anything would be an improvement for the masses I (hardly) see riding at night with zero illumination. A serious pet peeve. As a cyclist who drives for work, it's highly stressful to have to worry about invisible riders. Tonight I was surprised by two witless bike ninjas creeping up on my right on Western Ave.

PLEASE RIDE WITH LIGHTS!!!!
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 23, 2010 at 4:58pm
Bike ninjas, I love it (even though I do know you are being serious)....

Joe TV said:
Anything would be an improvement for the masses I (hardly) see riding at night with zero illumination. A serious pet peeve. As a cyclist who drives for work, it's highly stressful to have to worry about invisible riders. Tonight I was surprised by two witless bike ninjas creeping up on my right on Western Ave.

PLEASE RIDE WITH LIGHTS!!!!
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on March 23, 2010 at 5:04pm
Salmoning bike ninjas are even more fun. I yelled at one once to get on the correct side of the street, and he responded, "I'm going, you wanker!"

Joe TV said:
Anything would be an improvement for the masses I (hardly) see riding at night with zero illumination. A serious pet peeve. As a cyclist who drives for work, it's highly stressful to have to worry about invisible riders. Tonight I was surprised by two witless bike ninjas creeping up on my right on Western Ave.
PLEASE RIDE WITH LIGHTS!!!!
Permalink Reply by Glenn on March 23, 2010 at 5:55pm
I know its prolly not the smartest according to that, but I prefer one solid white in front with a blinking white in front and a blinking red in back. If I had an amber blinky id set the red to steady an have the amber flashing, but I don't...

Sometimes my bike ninja comes out but not often any more. old habits die hard... almost as hard as bike ninjas though, i guess.
Permalink Reply by Curt H Moore on March 23, 2010 at 11:39pm
Two blinking lights at least a foot apart gives a much bigger picture. I ride on county roadss with a small group and the difference of one versus two blinkies is amazing. (I personaly use three with one onthe rear of the helmet) People I know have commented onthe difference when they come upon us. As for the front one steady white and one blinking onthe helmet. I also have had truckers thank us for using high visablity yellow clothing and for the recumbent the flag....curt
Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 24, 2010 at 2:20am
That's right.
The first link contained some accident numbers from NY State Highway Patrol vehicles that showed that accidents went down considerably once they moved away from using flashing lights when pulled over to the side of the highway.

It was the first time I read some traffic related data about this effect.

H3N3 said:
Duppie-- is this passage what you were referring to as "data?"
The knowledge of human perception calls into question the use of red warning lights when the vehicle is parked in or next to the highway. Instead of warning people away, the red emergency lights actually draw drivers towards the lights. This so-called moth effect refers to "a state of narrowed attention associated with excessive concentration on some object or task with the resulting in a loss of voluntary control over response." People drive where they look! Drugged, drunk, elderly and fatigued drivers will drive right into the rear of the vehicle in the road and drive off the road to hit the vehicle parked on the shoulder that is displaying the red warning lights. This happens more than we like to admit. How many close calls have you had? Or is there something else in another link? I'd be interested to see actual data about this too.

Duppie said:
Interesting article. This is the first time I see some data backing up the existence of the so-called moth effect.
I wonder whether the flashing pattern has something to do with it. For example, I find the PB Superflash in blinking mode to be positively vertigo inducing. Lights that have a simpler blinking pattern, don't have this effect on me.
Bicycle friendly countries like the Netherlands and Germany have always required bicycle lights to be solid. Maybe they know something we don't
Permalink Reply by Dave Jacque on March 24, 2010 at 2:51am
In the motorcycle world, it's called "target fixation." You tend to steer right into whatever you're looking at -- so what the safety classes teach is to look *away* from that car coming into your lane and *toward* your escape route. (Easier said than done!) So I can see where a blinky light -- which attracts more attention than a steady light -- might actually be counterproductive.

H3N3 said:
I see, thanks. I think the first link is the one I excerpted.
I saw that too but I am having a hard time relating a huge mess of confusing, blinding lights to the effect of a flashing vs. constant red tail light. Would be interested in anything else in support of the oft-heard concept that putting your rear lights in blink mode makes drivers more likely to drive towards you.
Permalink Reply by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on March 24, 2010 at 3:25am
On my Cannondale I roll with just a front and back set of Monkey Electrics both flashing red and white. And I have noticed a vast improvement in my visibility. I have been stopped by drivers telling me that they could see me blocks away but it wasn't "annoying." Seriously, that happens all the time. So if you get a set for the back and front you'll be seen, but the trade off is at least every other day talking to someone from a car window about your lights.

On a slightly related note, Todd can back me on this, if you're out on a Bike Copwatch patrol we make it a requirement that our members are street legal. Meaning visible front and back lighting. I am pretty sure only the front is required by law, but the cops in the city seem to think you need both. They have ticketed us for very minor bike infractions on numerous occasions. And even when I am alone doing my own thing in my hood, and a battery dies or something, I am almost always pulled over by cops for not having the proper lighting.
Permalink Reply by Ali on March 24, 2010 at 4:04am
So wait, you harass cops, and make them uncomfortable, in return they harass you...I really don't see a problem with this...

-Ali

Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! said:
On my Cannondale I roll with just a front and back set of Monkey Electrics both flashing red and white. And I have noticed a vast improvement in my visibility. I have been stopped by drivers telling me that they could see me blocks away but it wasn't "annoying." Seriously, that happens all the time. So if you get a set for the back and front you'll be seen, but the trade off is at least every other day talking to someone from a car window about your lights.

On a slightly related note, Todd can back me on this, if you're out on a Bike Copwatch patrol we make it a requirement that our members are street legal. Meaning visible front and back lighting. I am pretty sure only the front is required by law, but the cops in the city seem to think you need both. They have ticketed us for very minor bike infractions on numerous occasions. And even when I am alone doing my own thing in my hood, and a battery dies or something, I am almost always pulled over by cops for not having the proper lighting.

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