Cyclists after dusk with no lights
Discussion
thelawnet said:
Well I dunno, you could charge your batteries from your laptop and leave in the morning forgetting it was still charging, and then come back after dark, oops no lights. It's not always a case as people seem to assume of people not giving a s
t.
I charge mine in work 'coz I'm tight fisted! Honestly though that's why you have a spare set. £6, and a few AAAs in your bag to significantly reduce your chances of getting killed.t.thelawnet said:
Well IIt's not always a case as people seem to assume of people not giving a st.
Yes, but but when you get run over, giving a st.t and cycling anyway is no better than not giving a st.Failing to make sure you've got working lights and then excusing it because "it's not like I don't give a s
t" is no better than someone pulling out on you because they didn't check hard enough. It probably wasn't that they didn't give a st either...Hol said:
So, are the cycle manufacturers at fault if somebody gets knocked off their pushbike, due the fact that they dont fit integrated lights and also don't stop the wheels from moving when the light's batteries are flat?
No, it's an explanation of why there are so many bikes without lights.In many developing countries, motorcycles without lights are a major hazard.
In this country they aren't - we get lightless cyclists instead.
In Holland, where the majority of the population uses bikes, bikes come with dynamo lights pretty much as standard. It's a practical thing.
Funk said:
I've seen this on a number of occasions; I think there's no reason why DRLs shouldn't be front AND rear and should have mandatory auto-headlights.
People see lights on the dashboard and 'something' out the front and are completely clueless that they have no proper lights on.
Much as I hate 'automated-everything', it does at least protect us from the worst of the mouthbreathers.
Agreed - either that or the dashboard should be unlit unless on dipped beam or better.People see lights on the dashboard and 'something' out the front and are completely clueless that they have no proper lights on.
Much as I hate 'automated-everything', it does at least protect us from the worst of the mouthbreathers.
Phatboy317 said:
It's not only after dusk.
Travelling along a road which alternates between bright sunlight and shade from trees, particularly if the shade is mottled and/or the sun is low in the sky, can render cyclists all but invisible.
I know its about cyclists, but much the same to some car drivers, early morning, dusk, heavy rain, and no lights, and then daylight slight drizzle, on go the fogs.Travelling along a road which alternates between bright sunlight and shade from trees, particularly if the shade is mottled and/or the sun is low in the sky, can render cyclists all but invisible.
Maybe theae are the same cyclists
I would say weigh up the cyclist and think about letting them know. If they look like a thug riding a stolen girl's mountain bike that's far too small for them I'd let it go on the grounds of futility and potentially your own safety.
However, I was cycling home from work last winter and a passenger leaned out of her window as her vehicle went past and uttered some expletives about not having any lights. I thought I had a very powerful rear light that was switched on so I stopped and realised it was faulty - as soon as it was knocked it turned off. Since then I have always used two rear lights!
However, I was cycling home from work last winter and a passenger leaned out of her window as her vehicle went past and uttered some expletives about not having any lights. I thought I had a very powerful rear light that was switched on so I stopped and realised it was faulty - as soon as it was knocked it turned off. Since then I have always used two rear lights!
Some bike lights are utter crap TBH, and Ive had some fail while riding and other battery lights achieve nowhere near the stated battery life. Always use a dyno-hub these days...
Spotted a few cars with no lights on this evening. I was caught out myself in my Seat as the dash lights illuminate even when no external lights are on, which doesn't help....
Spotted a few cars with no lights on this evening. I was caught out myself in my Seat as the dash lights illuminate even when no external lights are on, which doesn't help....
They are a pain in the backside.Difficult to see a cyclist in the dark without lights.Happened to me the other night dark clothes and no lights on his cycle whilst in my car.
What is it a fiver for cycle lights must be worth your live.Also there are plenty of car drivers with faulty, or one headlight driving about.
What is it a fiver for cycle lights must be worth your live.Also there are plenty of car drivers with faulty, or one headlight driving about.
Funk said:
I've seen this on a number of occasions; I think there's no reason why DRLs shouldn't be front AND rear and should have mandatory auto-headlights.
My Volvo, and probably all Volvos, have front and back DRL's.Should be on all cars I think. Passed quite a few this week in the evenings with no lights on at all.
And if any bikers are reading this thread, I don't mind you having your headlights on during the day, but PLEASE (R) PLEASE put them on dipped beam, not bloody FULL beam, thank you.
Motorbikes have their headlights on during the day because of EU law: new bikes are now required to be manufactured with headlights that are always on.
Although I don't use main beam a lot, some riders do. This is because they prioritise being seen above anything else. They'd rather face an annoyed car driver than a car driver who hasn't seen them. (I don't do this, because I don't think main beam helps in reality.)
Although I don't use main beam a lot, some riders do. This is because they prioritise being seen above anything else. They'd rather face an annoyed car driver than a car driver who hasn't seen them. (I don't do this, because I don't think main beam helps in reality.)
SVS said:
Motorbikes have their headlights on during the day because of EU law: new bikes are now required to be manufactured with headlights that are always on.
Although I don't use main beam a lot, some riders do. This is because they prioritise being seen above anything else. They'd rather face an annoyed car driver than a car driver who hasn't seen them. (I don't do this, because I don't think main beam helps in reality.)
Is that what you call it............ Different interpretation to mine. I think DRL's are a good thing, but some bikers. Well maybe some don't know their on full beam, same as car drivers at times, and then there are those who don't give a toss if it annoys oncoming drivers.Although I don't use main beam a lot, some riders do. This is because they prioritise being seen above anything else. They'd rather face an annoyed car driver than a car driver who hasn't seen them. (I don't do this, because I don't think main beam helps in reality.)
Glad to see you don't do it, well done.
(My bold above)
We see this quite a lot around my part of West Sussex - 'Ninja cyclists' as my sons call them. Without generalising, there is a lot of horticultural industry in the area, and a large population of East European workers, who use their bikes to get to the farms for their shifts. I guess the no-lights thing is cultural.
On the upside, they often keep their 'work' hi-vis jackets and trousers on, so you quite often arrive around a corner for find the cyclist lit up like a yellow beacon by your high beams.' Doesn't work so well around town when they're in mufti later on.
SS7
On the upside, they often keep their 'work' hi-vis jackets and trousers on, so you quite often arrive around a corner for find the cyclist lit up like a yellow beacon by your high beams.' Doesn't work so well around town when they're in mufti later on.
SS7
supersport said:
The world is full of tts, some walk, some cycle and some drive, it's just that cycling is easier and cheaper!
Depends on the definition of 'easier' I suppose! ts, some walk, some cycle and some drive, it's just that cycling is easier and cheaper!Used to see some guy on an MTB when I rode into work last winter going the opposite way. Every day Id see him during nearly full darkness with no lights and dark clothing. Shouted 'need some lights mate' a couple of times to him. Guess it worked as Ive seen him this year alive and with lights! s
tty £5 jobs but better than nothing I suppose.The majority of serious cyclists go out of their way to be lit up and have the correct clothing to be seen however you do get a lot of people who only cycle to commute or complete short journeys with inadequate lighting. I saw a commuter recently that had a rear light but his saddle bag was obscuring it making him invisible to anyone behind him.
It's been mentioned before on this thread but when i've been out cycling in half light, rain or foggy conditions it never ceases to amaze me how many drivers dont have their lights on. On a recent ride out with poor visibility it was as much as 30-40% of drivers with no lights on! Do these people become brain dead when getting behind the wheel of a car or are they brain dead to start with??
It's been mentioned before on this thread but when i've been out cycling in half light, rain or foggy conditions it never ceases to amaze me how many drivers dont have their lights on. On a recent ride out with poor visibility it was as much as 30-40% of drivers with no lights on! Do these people become brain dead when getting behind the wheel of a car or are they brain dead to start with??
2 or 3 weeks ago a friend literally avoided hitting a cyclist by MM's.
Teenager on a BMX with a hoody and back pack... green light on a turning which is a 40mph limit, doing around 25 and out of nowhere he zoomed across the bonnet and had to bunny hop out of the way.
No lights, black clothing, black BMX. Result.
Then again you have those cyclists who don't just use lights but use Trillion KW bulbs pointing sky high, on that really fast flashing cycle which are VERY distracting (brighter than Bi-xenons on full beam) and flashing at about 5 or 6 flashes per second... disorientating at best and if you perhaps suffer from some sort of epilepsy perhaps dangerous.
What's wrong with normal lighting, high vis and reflectors?
Teenager on a BMX with a hoody and back pack... green light on a turning which is a 40mph limit, doing around 25 and out of nowhere he zoomed across the bonnet and had to bunny hop out of the way.
No lights, black clothing, black BMX. Result.
Then again you have those cyclists who don't just use lights but use Trillion KW bulbs pointing sky high, on that really fast flashing cycle which are VERY distracting (brighter than Bi-xenons on full beam) and flashing at about 5 or 6 flashes per second... disorientating at best and if you perhaps suffer from some sort of epilepsy perhaps dangerous.
What's wrong with normal lighting, high vis and reflectors?
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