Getting more people to cycle with lights

No lights, no rights. 

Get Lit: Use lights at night (front side)

I will be asking you to donate money by the end of this post. 

I believe that too many people are cycling without headlights. Not only do city and state law require cycling with a white front light at night, it bodes well for your if you are involved in a crash at night. You do not have a case, essentially, and one of our many bike lawyers will concur. 

 

Active Transportation Alliance has conducted many bike light distributions in the past few years. They do it with donated money. One event was sponsored by Lawyer Jim Freeman, while another even was sponsored by Groupon's G-Team and Groupon purchasers. 

 

I am introducing you to the Get Lit campaign I've started. This campaign uses a simple website, a fancy postcard, and an appeal to Chainlink members, to raise funds so that Active Transportation Alliance can put on another bike light distribution event. 

 

Donate now. Thank you. 

 

Read more:

Bike lights distribution

A Chicagoan gets a headlight during an event in November 2010. 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 5, 2012 at 2:33pm

Ace Hardware across from the Congress on Milwaukee is selling blinkies for like $2.99 each.  There really is no excuse for not having a bike light.  If you can afford a PBR then you can afford a GD light 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 5, 2012 at 3:17pm

Thanks for starting this campaign!

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on March 6, 2012 at 2:24pm

A major, and understandable, excuse is that people don't know they should have a light and why they should have one. 

It's not intuitive to people that they should have lights while bicycling. The operator can see, can't others see them?

There are many other excuses: lost, stolen, broken, and dead batteries. 

HALF of Get Lit is providing good headlights, and HALF of Get Lit is education those who receive them. 


James BlackHeron said:

Ace Hardware across from the Congress on Milwaukee is selling blinkies for like $2.99 each.  There really is no excuse for not having a bike light.  If you can afford a PBR then you can afford a GD light 

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on March 6, 2012 at 2:36pm

Assuming each Chainlinker donated $1, we could give away 600 lights. 

Jennifer said:

If I had a million dollars...

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 6, 2012 at 2:48pm

+1

The next time I see you Steven I'll cough up a twenty for the lights program.  If it gets a few folks out there not being invisible ninja on the roads It'll be worth it!

Permalink Reply by Chris LaFrombois (8.5 mi - o.w.) on March 7, 2012 at 4:56am

+1

Yes! I do own a car and when I'm driving at night, and pass a cyclist without a light, I always say to my wife (probably much to her chagrin) that that rider should have a light. It's hard to see a cyclist in your side mirror at night. I'll cough up some money for this as well.

edit* And...Donated. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on March 7, 2012 at 8:03am

My theory (it may be a bad one) is that in a lot of neighborhoods, it's not good to let them see you coming.  I always use a blinking taillight on my bag, day or night, rain or shine, but I'll only use my headlamp on the LF path, or on the major streets.  If there's even a chance that someone could run out between 2 cars and knock me off, no light. I understand that it makes it more dangerous in some respects (particularly to cars making a left), and I'm sure some other cyclists get ticked off about it too, but I understand the possible ramifications of riding w/o the headlight. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 7, 2012 at 9:52am

I get what you're saying about potential muggers or bike thieves and not wanting to be visible to them. On the other hand, running dark on a side street could be a recipe for a head-on or other collision with another cyclist.

However, from a traffic perspective, even on brightly lit main streets, it's never safe to assume that everyone sees you.  With all the tired, distracted and/or impaired drivers on the road on an average night, it only takes one who doesn't see you coming.  Your mileage may vary...

Joe Schmoe said:

My theory (it may be a bad one) is that in a lot of neighborhoods, it's not good to let them see you coming.  I always use a blinking taillight on my bag, day or night, rain or shine, but I'll only use my headlamp on the LF path, or on the major streets.  If there's even a chance that someone could run out between 2 cars and knock me off, no light. I understand that it makes it more dangerous in some respects (particularly to cars making a left), and I'm sure some other cyclists get ticked off about it too, but I understand the possible ramifications of riding w/o the headlight. 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 7, 2012 at 11:13am

I can't see the lightless riders on my bike and the last thing I want is a bike on bike accident.

Permalink Reply by Dave Grossman on March 7, 2012 at 12:00pm

There is no reason not to use a light.  And rechargables are so inexpensive now it is even less of an excuse.  

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on March 7, 2012 at 12:13pm

 Steven-

 This a great campaign and is something I strongly believe in. I will donate/volunteer to/for it as soon as I can.

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 7, 2012 at 12:29pm

So people really believe that the chances of getting mugged/jacked because they can see you coming is GREATER than getting hit by a car because they can't????

o.O

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