Cyclists after dusk with no lights
Discussion
To be fair I suppose I should include other vehicles with broken/faulty lights, but the number of cyclists who don't seem to care or realize how much danger they create astounds me.
Is there a subtle, inoffensive way to let them know?
I've seen drivers switch off their own lights in a vain (and probably dangerous) attempt to demonstrate their folly but this doesn't seem like a very advanced thing to do.
Or should I just drive on by and hope tonight is not the night they get themselves and maybe others injured or killed?
Is there a subtle, inoffensive way to let them know?
I've seen drivers switch off their own lights in a vain (and probably dangerous) attempt to demonstrate their folly but this doesn't seem like a very advanced thing to do.
Or should I just drive on by and hope tonight is not the night they get themselves and maybe others injured or killed?
My ultimate was last December just near the Angel in Islington at 5.30pm. It was wet, busy and dark and I had the demister on full to keep the windows demisted. Out of the gloom a young guy appeared coming down the middle of the road on his bike. He was black, wearing dark clothing, had no lights whatsoever and appeared to be texting on his phone so was riding no hands. Talk about a death wish!
robbyd said:
They are muppets. Simple as that. They are aware they require lights and have none. No regard for their own safety. I see several every day.
I say this as a keen cyclist myself.
This, they won't have lights so what's the point having a go at them, they think they're invincible. OP - do you stop other cars with faulty lights, they're far more likely to cause damage to innocent 3rd parties.I say this as a keen cyclist myself.
I'm also a cyclist and my new lights arrived this morning a 60 lumens rear light and a 25 lux front light. I don't think people will be able to miss me.
Small caveat - spoke to my 75yr old father tonight who had to ride home last with no lights as someone had stolen the lights off his bike from outside Sainsburys.
There's no telling anybody in the UK they are doing anything wrong. It'll just make them angry.
I we are playing dumb cyclist top trumps though:
Night time
No lights
No reflectors
Dark clothing
Urban Dual carriageway with a cycle path beside it they had elected not to use
Jumped a red light
If only there had been no streetlights I'd have had a full house I think.
I we are playing dumb cyclist top trumps though:
Night time
No lights
No reflectors
Dark clothing
Urban Dual carriageway with a cycle path beside it they had elected not to use
Jumped a red light
If only there had been no streetlights I'd have had a full house I think.
robbyd said:
They are muppets. Simple as that. They are aware they require lights and have none. No regard for their own safety. I see several every day.
I say this as a keen cyclist myself.
Indeed they are muppets, same as car drivers who dont use lights in fog/rain, those who instst on using rear fog lights but manage to cruise at 70 mph in this vast reduced visibility. (Less than 3/4 of a mile, at least).I say this as a keen cyclist myself.
But back to cyclists, most dont have bells either, or any reflective clothing either, as was drummed into me when I was on my HGV3 training course in the services, every day clean your lights and the windows, result "See and be seen".
As a motorists and cyclist, like you I understand what your saying. It will get worse as the evenings close in.
Just passed one on the way home from work - -at least he had a reflective vest on for a mercy or else I wouldn't have spotted him so easily. I felt like anchoring in front of him, getting out and giving him a right rollicking! But as others have said it would probably only provoke a verbal assault back or worse so what's the point. He'll be sorer than me the next time if I don't see him and clip him with 2 ton of metal.....................
thelawnet said:
You can get caught out, go out in daylight, batteries not charged, whatever.
Yeah, but they're so cheap it's no real excuse not to have a backup. I top up my main lights from my laptop but they'll last a few days if I don't, and I've got a £6 backup set with a couple of AAAs in my bag just in case.Mave said:
Yeah, but they're so cheap it's no real excuse not to have a backup. I top up my main lights from my laptop but they'll last a few days if I don't, and I've got a £6 backup set with a couple of AAAs in my bag just in case.
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 mean it's basically impossible to drive a car without functioning lights, but bikes don't come fitted with lights as a rule in this country, batteries can go flat, etc.
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 st.
I mean it's basically impossible to drive a car without functioning lights, but bikes don't come fitted with lights as a rule in this country, batteries can go flat, etc.
So then you push it/get a lift and curse your forgetfulness/lack of planning. Or risk getting taken out from behind by a car and it ruining your life and the life of the driver. t.I mean it's basically impossible to drive a car without functioning lights, but bikes don't come fitted with lights as a rule in this country, batteries can go flat, etc.
But you know really, walking or a taxi is the better option.
trashbat said:
Flash your rear fogs?
However I did this to someone the other night (at about midnight) driving a Ford Kuga with nothing but DRLs on - and thus not lit at all at the back - to completely no effect whatsoever.
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.However I did this to someone the other night (at about midnight) driving a Ford Kuga with nothing but DRLs on - and thus not lit at all at the back - to completely no effect whatsoever.
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.
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