no lights at night

[Pothole]

bloke's just ridden down my street with no lights on...it's ok, though, he had a high viz jacket on.

[zebedee]

was it me, I just did that, because my lights failed. actually i got home at 920 just as the street lights were coming on.

[Pothole]

were you in Kettering tonight?

[zebedee]

no

[TheDetailDoctor]

zebedee said:

was it me, I just did that, because my lights failed. actually i got home at 920 just as the street lights were coming on.

What, all at the same time??

[Pothole]

They do it all the time down my street, at least this bloke was going the right way (it's a one way street)

[zebedee]

TheDetailDoctor said:

zebedee said:

was it me, I just did that, because my lights failed. actually i got home at 920 just as the street lights were coming on.

What, all at the same time??

I don't understand the question? My lights failed but as I arrived home at 920, the lights were just coming on, so yes, it was darkish and I would have had lights on, but it wasn't like I was riding in pitch black. Think the law is that when the streetlights are on, bike lights should be on, but I might be wrong

[Pothole]

zebedee said:

TheDetailDoctor said:

zebedee said:

was it me, I just did that, because my lights failed. actually i got home at 920 just as the street lights were coming on.

What, all at the same time??

I don't understand the question? My lights failed but as I arrived home at 920, the lights were just coming on, so yes, it was darkish and I would have had lights on, but it wasn't like I was riding in pitch black. Think the law is that when the streetlights are on, bike lights should be on, but I might be wrong

Mate, your initial post was a completely pointless one, firstly because you live nowhere near me and secondly because you could clearly see when you posted that the time of my OP was well after dark, so after you had got home.

[zebedee]

Pothole said:

zebedee said:

TheDetailDoctor said:

zebedee said:

was it me, I just did that, because my lights failed. actually i got home at 920 just as the street lights were coming on.

What, all at the same time??

I don't understand the question? My lights failed but as I arrived home at 920, the lights were just coming on, so yes, it was darkish and I would have had lights on, but it wasn't like I was riding in pitch black. Think the law is that when the streetlights are on, bike lights should be on, but I might be wrong

Mate, your initial post was a completely pointless one, firstly because you live nowhere near me and secondly because you could clearly see when you posted that the time of my OP was well after dark, so after you had got home.

I knew not where you live nor what time the incident occured, just wanted to say sometimes us high viz people hit technical problems!

[Pothole]

I think this bloke has just blown that theory; he just rode down the street again with no lights on!

(22.27)

[yellowjack]

Too many boneheads (suspect mostly bike riding non-cyclists) ride without lights - most don't seem to have ever owned lights at all.

Try this though, as the resulting panic is sooooooooooooooooo funny... driving along a major route in devon, can't recall road number, it's pitch black. Up ahead in the high beams i catch a glimpse of bonehead, no lights, no reflectors, no hivis, no lid. As i approach, i briefly turn off the headlights - bonehead, suddenly confused by disappearance of lights comes across all panicked, wobbling all over as i hit the lights again. Hopefully enough of a lesson to make him think about buying a set of lights, but most boneheads think they are too cool to ride safe. Me? I never ride at night with less than 4 - 2 on lid, 2 on bike, and always carry them if there's the smallest chance i'll be out anytime after dusk. If i plan to ride in the dark, i always carry a full set of spare batteries too, as i've not got a death wish

[sherman]

zebedee said:

TheDetailDoctor said:

zebedee said:

was it me, I just did that, because my lights failed. actually i got home at 920 just as the street lights were coming on.

What, all at the same time??

I don't understand the question? My lights failed but as I arrived home at 920, the lights were just coming on, so yes, it was darkish and I would have had lights on, but it wasn't like I was riding in pitch black. Think the law is that when the streetlights are on, bike lights should be on, but I might be wrong

There is nothing that I can find in the Highway code about you turning your lights on when the street lights come on. The nearest I can find is this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Hig...
and that you should turn on your headlights when visibility is below 100ft. This applies to all road users.

[Magic919]

The Highway Code does say you should use lights at night and defines what that means - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Hig... But it's not the law and the UK Road Vehicle Lighting Regs probably cover it.

[Dunk76]

yellowjack said:

Too many boneheads (suspect mostly bike riding non-cyclists) ride without lights - most don't seem to have ever owned lights at all.

You should try Brighton & Hove.

The de rigeur method of cycling round this place is to remove anything and everything reflective from person and bike, then ride around swapping from pavement to road at will, and assume that because there's street lights car/bus drivers can see you (ignoring the fact that the strobe effect of streetlights doesn't help trying to spot small fast moving objects).

It took me a while to realise why other road users were staring at me in wild-eyed disbelief - riding around, as I do, obeying the highway code with my fore and aft reflectors still in place, the reflective strips on the Schwalbes, lights at both ends, and my Altura Night Vision jacket (not to mention a helmet).

It's not just the students, kids and stoners who have this suicidal disregard for their own visibility. A few months back some lycra-clad warrior on a very nice roadie with all the gear came past in the dark... wearing all black, with black rims, and no lights or reflectors at all.

As I said to some lad on a BMX who was gently mocking the jacket a few nights back; I look less silly in this jacket than I would under the wheels of a bus.