I ride quite a bit at night, mainly on the south side (Pilsen, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Brighton Park).  Riding and driving, I note that the vast majority of bikers I see (sometimes just barely) at night have no front headlight.  Many don't even have a rear reflector, much less a light or blinkie.  For example, look at the video for the Monday Night Ride on this website.  Many if not most of the riders, who I am sure are great people, have no form of illumination whatsoever.  I have a few questions for you ninjas:

     1.  Why?  Is it so hard to purchase some small light, per the Chicago ordinance, so that people can see and avoid you?  There are plenty of inexpensive lights that will do the job.  Is this some kind of aesthetic issue, an attempt at rebelliousness, or just plain laziness?;

     2.  Do you understand the danger that you place yourselves and others in?;  

     3.  Do you understand that bikers like you make people resent bikers in general, thus hurting the cause of us all?  Or is it your actual purpose to antagonize?;

     4.  Is this more of a south side problem, or is it relatively uniform throughout the city?  I do know from experience that Wicker Park isn't any better than where I live.;  

     5.  Do you drive cars without headlights?  Do you think that would be OK?

      When I see photos of an accident scene involving a biker who was hit at night, I always try to discern if they had lights.  From what I can tell, almost always did not. 

     I know I sound crotchety here, but I just don't understand the point of risking death or serious injury because of refusal to do something as simple as make yourself visible to other people on the roadway.  

     And yes, my own bike is almost as illuminated as Snoopy's doghouse in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.