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I always carry a Knog or a cheap headlamp in my saddlebag for exactly this reason. And I think the comparison to driving is exactly right. If your car's headlights went out you wouldn't dream of driving it. Same should be true of bikes.
Some thoughts in no particular order:
5) Can we please, please stop using the phrase “invisible cyclist”? While lights certainly help visibility, Chicago streets are pretty damn lit. 80% of the problem here is inattentive motorists expecting only other motor-vehicles and the need to protect oneself from them. Unlit cyclists are hardly a danger to society.
Other points: I carry a spare white and red light in the saddlebag so as not to run down the batteries.
Some thoughts in no particular order:
1) I see Todd’s doubling up on lights and raise him one. Three front and rear is best, miner-style.
2) You need a spare light, why carry it in your saddlebag? Put it on your bike.
3) I use 4 cheap little planet bike blinkies on the front of my basket bike. $32 and people look at me like I’m flying a UFO.
4) I buy watch batteries in bulk. Ordering a few other items to for free shipping and you’re at $0.25 each, vs. $3-$5 each at Wal-Drug.
5) Can we please, please stop using the phrase “invisible cyclist”? While lights certainly help visibility, Chicago streets are pretty damn lit. 80% of the problem here is inattentive motorists expecting only other motor-vehicles and the need to protect oneself from them. Unlit cyclists are hardly a danger to society.
Main streets are well lit. Side streets on the other hand are not, or the tree cover blocks lighting.
Yes they ARE invisible -as is anything moving around (or stopped) at night on the roads if they don't have lights.
The roads are lit up enough to see where you are going without lights -but others CAN NOT SEE YOU if you don't have a light.
You must have a LOT better night vision than I (and the majority of people -many have even worse vision than me). If a bicyclist (or any other road user like a car or a motorcycle) is driving/riding around at night on the mean streets without a light and just EXPECTING other people to see them without a light as far as I'm concerned they are just trying out for a Darwin Award.
Invisible -> not visible enough to reliably discern.
I'm going to continue calling any bike out there without a light "invisible" until they clue up and get lit.
T.C. O'Rourke said:Some thoughts in no particular order:
5) Can we please, please stop using the phrase “invisible cyclist”? While lights certainly help visibility, Chicago streets are pretty damn lit. 80% of the problem here is inattentive motorists expecting only other motor-vehicles and the need to protect oneself from them. Unlit cyclists are hardly a danger to society.
I knew it! For years an invisible dog ate my school homework.
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