Bike Lights - Why Aren't They Like Car Lights?

I'm going to throw this out there hoping to spark a discussion about bike lights. We all worry about fellow cyclists posing as bike ninjas (dark clothing, no lights). 

So why isn't there a law to add lights automatically powered by the bike (hub lights) to every bike that's built? We have those lights for Divvys, why not add them to all new bikes? 

So if you agree or disagree, all POVs welcome. Just want to hear from you and wondering if this is a good, logical idea or asking too much of bike safety legislation or cost prohibitive or ??

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on February 25, 2017 at 11:11am

Waze App shows the speed limit on my phone when I have it going.

Permalink Reply by Mary Clark on February 16, 2017 at 4:48am

We all wish our bikes were LIGHTer ... 

Permalink Reply by V W on February 24, 2017 at 6:35pm
I understood Divvy had battery powered lights not hub generated. But can anyone confirm?
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on February 27, 2017 at 2:00am

You understood wrong, they have a dynamo hub that powers the lights.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 28, 2017 at 5:04am

They are dynamo powered lights.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on February 25, 2017 at 11:13am

http://touchofeco.com/cyclelite Solar powered bicycle lights.  2 hours of sunlight gives 4 hours of light use.

Permalink Reply by Scott Chillson on February 27, 2017 at 6:58am

Dynamo hubs are obsolete for everyone except back-country 24-hour racers and all-night brevet riders.

This $20 Chinese torch off Amazon will get you 8hrs at 300 lumens. It uses the same "18650" Li-ion rechargeable battery that many vaporizers use, so you can buy batteries at vape shops and some gas stations for around $10. If you treat them right, an individual battery will last years. 

Use this mount to attach the light to a bike for $5. 

And there you go. $25 gets you all the light of a dynamo hub for a tenth of the cost, and just a tiny bit more effort and upkeep.

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin on February 27, 2017 at 7:10am

Dynamo hubs are obsolete for everyone

Hey now, they're - 

except back-country 24-hour racers and all-night brevet riders.

Oh. :)

If you already have one, they're pretty handy for touring too. Charging your stuff is great, especially since solar panels almost unilaterally suck.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on February 28, 2017 at 2:35am

Gee, i have four in service just now... guess i'll have to throw them away? Oh, look, hub dynamos are still in production and look! their designs keep improving.

i think you're thinking about the old Sturmey-Archer dynohubs, Yes, those are obsolete, but they were a decades-old design.(BTW, many are still in service.)

Best of all, no batteries to go dead, no worries about forgetting to recharge, almost no toxic waste. i think i'll stick with my "obsolete" system.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 28, 2017 at 5:05am

+1

"no batteries to go dead, no worries about forgetting to recharge"

Yep.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 28, 2017 at 7:25am
Two more drawbacks:
1. Temperature. Try using one of the battery powered lights at 10 degrees or less.
Good luck with that.
2. Yes, battery lights may have equal or better light output than dynamo hubs, but that doesn't do you any good, if all you do is light up the sky ahead of you. Dynamo powered lights focus the light where you need it: on the ground in front of you.
Permalink Reply by Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin on February 28, 2017 at 7:50am

1. Temperature. Try using one of the battery powered lights at 10 degrees or less.
Good luck with that.

Every battery-powered light I've owned that wasn't bottom-of-the-barrel quality was fine in deep winter. Nice lights do quite well even - my Petzl headlamp is good for two full hours at -90!

2. Yes, battery lights may have equal or better light output than dynamo hubs, but that doesn't do you any good, if all you do is light up the sky ahead of you. Dynamo powered lights focus the light where you need it: on the ground in front of you.

That has nothing to do with battery vs dynamo and everything to do with the person setting it up. :)

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