Please use your lights at night

Last evening, driving home (in my car) westbound on Lawrence from Lincoln Square toward Milwaukee, it was already dark.  I was counting the bicyclists I saw, in both directions.  For a 20 minute ride in a car I counted 8 cyclists total.  Only one had lights on his/her bike.  The other 7 had no lights, none whatsoever.

I don't know how to get the message out.  We all know that we need lights in order to be seen.  It's very difficult to see a bike in the dark when it has no lights on, even when the driver is paying attention, let alone distracted.  The Chicago vehicle code requires a headlight, and a rear reflector, but for all practical reasons, on a city street, one really needs a tail light above all else.  

I really think the majority of those not using lights are not aware of Chainlink and do not communicate with other cyclists regarding bike safety.  I regularly ride down Lawrence at the end of the day, and rarely see anyone else with lights on.  

Just frustrated.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on June 29, 2016 at 8:37am

Yeah, it always baffles me that people ride without lights.  It doesn't get much cheaper or easier than this:

http://www.niteize.com/product/TwistLit.asp

Permalink Reply by Shawn Evans on June 29, 2016 at 6:09pm

Twist lights aren't very reliable. When they go out, how do you replace the battery?? Mine fell apart when I tried.

Better: 2 LED wrap lights

Brighter, more expensive (still cheap): 5 LED wrap lights

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on June 29, 2016 at 9:16am

I think there is a false misunderstanding that cars can see you with reflectors alone - I think people assume the street lights offer enough light but they don't. I always call no-lights cyclists ninjas because when I'm in my car, I cannot see them until I am just about right behind them. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 30, 2016 at 5:59am

Last night I was in a car on a semi-lit area of a side street. I barely saw pedal reflectors on a bike coming towards us, lit up by our headlights. No lights on the bike, of course.

Permalink Reply by buddaa38 on June 30, 2016 at 12:38pm
A really great point! Bye the time your on top of them it could be to late! I totally agree with you and most of these people. Let's put it this way ; Yes your required by law to have a front light & rear reflector! I'm thinking that will change soon to a light... If a car were to open his/her door & you run into that door. Then you've been doored, well insurance company as slick as they are can fight that & possibly get out of the medical care for you! So bottom line! Safety first and fourth most... Be safe out there! ;-)
Permalink Reply by Chris Mailing on July 7, 2016 at 1:56pm

The law is not about cyclist safety.  The law requiring a headlight and a rear reflector is about protecting pedestrians who need to see a cyclist coming before they step off the curb. We need to focus on being safe in traffic ... and that requires good lights, front and rear.  The law is irrelevant to your safety as a cyclist.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on June 29, 2016 at 6:59pm
Yep! When I've been riding around recently during the hours of darkness, the percentage of unlighted riders is going up considerably this summer.
Permalink Reply by Dean Bekken on June 29, 2016 at 11:47pm
I am fed up with a-holes turning their high-beams on at me on darker streets in response to my flashing LED headlight. Lights out.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 30, 2016 at 6:03am

How bright is your headlight? I've seen some lately that were blinding even in daylight, made worse by the fact that they were flashing. Perhaps you have it aimed too high. If you're blinding drivers, that may not work in your favor. Worth a look, and perhaps a bit of angle adjustment.

I have a moderately bright headlight, aimed so most of the light is below the horizontal. No high beam response. Your mileage may vary....

Permalink Reply by Dean Bekken on June 30, 2016 at 10:19am
I switched from flashing, that bothers them more. Just a Planet Bike headlight, visible from 300' as required by law. When they flick their brights on I pull from bracket and point at windshield.
Permalink Reply by Mark on June 30, 2016 at 7:30am

I think this is a growing problem and is part of the "minimalist" mentality that lights are just another accessory (like helmets and brakes) that are not necessary.

Permalink Reply by Yolo Perdiem on June 30, 2016 at 9:40am

Or shoes.  Seeing fewer and fewer shoes out there.

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