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 dan brown on March 24, 2010 at 4:06am
great thread.

I've used all sorts of lights over the years.

I had this one (a red strobe light) until it broke last year :

http://www.swps.com/ligemstrobki.html
Permalink Reply by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on March 24, 2010 at 4:11am
So wait, you harass cops, and make them uncomfortable, in return they harass you...I really don't see a problem with this...

I didn't say I had a problem with it either, it's to be expected.
Permalink Reply by cutifly on March 24, 2010 at 6:10am
What is really funny is some people who look at me all snotty cause I am not wearing a helmet but then they are driving at Night without lights and I am. Guess who is gonna get pancaked first.
Permalink Reply by Jack on March 24, 2010 at 8:51am
I don't look at non-helmet riders snotty, but if someone gets pancaked in a car, they have some steel to soften the blow. The biker...eh...not so much. Not to get all preachy, but it is wise to wear a helmet, even if only after daylight goes by the wayside.

Just my 2 cents.


cutifly said:
What is really funny is some people who look at me all snotty cause I am not wearing a helmet but then they are driving at Night without lights and I am. Guess who is gonna get pancaked first.
Permalink Reply by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on March 24, 2010 at 9:15am
I have been biking exclusively for about 18 years and I have worn a helmet maybe five times. The primary reason was that I could never find one that felt comfortable and didn't make me look like a goon. But all that changed about two weeks ago. I finally found a helmet that fit all the aesthetic, tactile and weight requirements. http://www.bernunlimited.com/2008/brentwood.html

Now I just have to get used to wearing it...
Permalink Reply by John S. on March 24, 2010 at 3:21pm
My first thought was to reply that flashing red lights like my Planet Bike Super Flash would be the safest as they could be seen from far away. After reading the article you referenced on the PoliceDriving.com website, I'm not so sure. A flashing red light just might draw the motorist towards you rather than warn them to stay away from you. I'm seriously rethinking my habit of riding with the light in flashing mode. I'm also considering getting a second light (one on each seat stay) to give a greater visual width to the bike at night. I saw this idea listed elsewhere in this thread and think it's worthwhile to give it a shot.

While this article was referring to the dangers faced by officers while stopped at the side of the road, I believe it also could apply to cyclists as well.

Kristian mentioned a light that I've been looking at, an Ixon IQ Speed from Germany. This light uses the same type of reflector technology used in car headlights. It puts the light on the road as opposed to shining it up into the trees. Check out Peter White Cycles and their excellent lighting page. At present I'm torn between building my own LED lighting or getting one of the Ixon IQ Speed setups. I'm leaning towards the Ixon system because many of the light systems sold today will blind oncoming drivers and the Ixon won't.
Permalink Reply by heather s on March 24, 2010 at 5:57pm
I didn't fully read through the referenced articles, just a quick scan... but to me it seems that the effect of people running into cop cars with flashing red lights is not a 'moth effect' problem, but a rubbernecking problem. Cop busts are just more interesting than bikes are, and everyone wants to look when someone is getting pulled over or arrested.

Anecdotally, I find that drivers give me more space when I have lights, and I feel that they're more likely to yield. In my mind, this is because I have behaved responsibly and thus they are treating me like a responsible road user... of course, I don't know what's going through their minds and as long as they don't hit me I don't care that much.

Also, this thread is the very first time I have ever heard of amber lights. I thought we were expected to have white in front, red in back.
Permalink Reply by Joe TV on March 24, 2010 at 7:30pm

This guy has a siren AND flashing lights. Pretty sweet rig.
Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Davo on March 25, 2010 at 4:18am
Crap! I hope I don't get in trouble for my blue cathode tubes that I want to put on my front fork for Mass.

Joe TV said:

This guy has a siren AND flashing lights. Pretty sweet rig.
Permalink Reply by Chris B on March 25, 2010 at 5:28am
Nice thanks. Very interesting since the conventional wisdom is flashing lights are better.

Interesting that when they removed the big flashies from the roofs of cars in IL that they were involved in less accidents. Though as was pointed out it's not really an "experiment" just a study with too many variables to draw conclusions outside of emergency vehicles.

Anecdotally, I used to work at the state police in the summers during college. I read report after report of the moth effect especially with drunks. They just ram right into cars parked on the side, not just with flashing lights but your car parked with the solid red unflashing lights. Often it is a "following a car pulling over" problem. But sometimes they ram full speed into the back of a parked car.

Theories are that the rear lights get more attention than the white paint for the lines, and to a drunk person they think they are following the car in front. I mean even if you are not drunk, I've driven down to school and it can be pitch black in central Illinois, many parts of our highways have no lights. If I see red lights moving ahead I figure hey that's where the road is going. Not being drunk helps to realize no he's pulling off.

Anyway after working there I 1. always wear my seatbelt even in the back, and 2. let me tell you I will never stand on the side of an expressway at night whether to fix a flat or what.

However after reading this I wonder if it's safe to pull over to fix a flat if you turn your lights off? They won't see the car or be tempted to "follow" it.

As far as bikes go: Maybe instead of flashing (for the front) we just need brighter lights. I have a 120 lumens headlight but even that is not so bright, many people on bikeforums.net advocate a minimum of 200 lumens. Those cheap $25 lights don't cut it.

Apparently there are cheap "pen" flashlights (about $40) that are 200 lumens that take AAs, and you can find a holder that holds it onto your handlebars. Getting some rechargable AAs and a charger wouldn't add that much to the cost.



I really hate when I see cyclists at night without lights, I can't see them at all as a pedestrian and am always worried one will run into my dog.
Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on March 26, 2010 at 9:14am
My own theories:

1) 1 flashing light (either front or rear) = normal. 2 or more (either front or rear) = holy-crap-crazy-bike-creature-from-outer-space!!!!!!!!!!!

2) Flashing lights have become synonymous with bikes and give far away motorists a better indication of who they are approaching.

3) The more lit you are, the more motorist respect you (right or wrong).

4) Multiple front and back lights also act as backups when bulbs burn out/batteries go dead.

This article mentions NOTHING about bicycles. Suggesting that people ride with FEWER lights based on it would be irresponsible.
Permalink Reply by Chris B on March 26, 2010 at 9:28am
yes, I worked at district 15 of the state police, which patrolled the tollways, which are better lit than the pitch black rural roads I was thinking about when talking about my own driving experience.

But that is just anecdotal of course and subject to confirmation bias. there's no way to know how many people drove by the parked cars before they were hit or how many other parked cars were not hit at all.



H3N3 said:


Thinking maybe the factor of whether you're on an unlit higher-speed rural road or a partially lit urban street may be pretty significant here.

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