cyclists at night
Discussion
I would like to make it clear that i am not anti cyclist.If that is your chosen mode of transport then good luck to you(and with some of the drivers out there i think you will need it).I do wish however that they would use a bit of common sense like using cycle paths when provided and i am not talking about the gutters at the edge of the road marked out with a single white line where all the crap gets thrown by other road users to puncture their tyres but the proper cycle paths even if they are shared with pedestrians.My other gripe is their habit of riding at night without lights.Over the past week i have been driving at night and 4 times i came across cyclists at night without lights 2 of whom i nearly ran over because they were unseen until the last moment.What made it worse was that they made my other pet hate the guy on the e,scooter look sensible because he at least had lights.
oldagepensioner said:
I would like to make it clear that i am not anti cyclist.If that is your chosen mode of transport then good luck to you(and with some of the drivers out there i think you will need it).I do wish however that they would use a bit of common sense like using cycle paths when provided and i am not talking about the gutters at the edge of the road marked out with a single white line where all the crap gets thrown by other road users to puncture their tyres but the proper cycle paths even if they are shared with pedestrians.My other gripe is their habit of riding at night without lights.Over the past week i have been driving at night and 4 times i came across cyclists at night without lights 2 of whom i nearly ran over because they were unseen until the last moment.What made it worse was that they made my other pet hate the guy on the e,scooter look sensible because he at least had lights.
opcorn:
I have the opposite problem with cyclists at night. Usually it's the "Mamil" types who ride with a front light which is about 10 times the intensity of the sun and don't dip it for oncoming traffic. If you're really lucky they have two - one on the bike and another one on their helmet!!
It's usually pretty easy to spot a cyclist with no lights, particularly within areas with street lights. Although annoying that they are breaking the rules, a bike with the minimum legal lighting really isn't that much more visible - a hi-vis jacket with reflective strips is far more effective.
It's usually pretty easy to spot a cyclist with no lights, particularly within areas with street lights. Although annoying that they are breaking the rules, a bike with the minimum legal lighting really isn't that much more visible - a hi-vis jacket with reflective strips is far more effective.
Richard-D said:
oldagepensioner said:
I would like to make it clear that i am not anti cyclist.
How every 'anti-cyclist' thread starts.ScotHill said:
I would also request that any driver who has any one of a brake light, rear light, DRL or headlight not working does not drive after dusk. Thank you.
While i sort of agree with this at least with a car the lights normally come in pairs so you can at least see there is something there.The problem with cyclists is that the lights tend to be singular when fitted at all so the cyclist becomes all but invisible.Like isaid all i ask is that cyclists make themselves more visible at night which is why i also agree with the high vis idea.As for why i started this thread i had the time and those two cyclists were on my mind.ScotHill said:
I would also request that any driver who has any one of a brake light, rear light, DRL or headlight not working does not drive after dusk. Thank you.
Make that: those with DRLs who forget to switch their actual headlights on at night, even worse when they actually drive something that probably has automatic headlights. The trouble with the cycle lanes on pavements is that they often go past drives where the pavement dips down and you have to watch out for cars emerging, every time you get to a side road you have to stop and then cross where as if you are on the main carriageway you have right of way and finally pedestrians will often walk in the cycle lane so you are constantly slowing to ensure you pass them safely.
In relation to lights everyone should have them fitted and working you can by them for a couple of pounds on Amazon so there is really no excuse.
In relation to lights everyone should have them fitted and working you can by them for a couple of pounds on Amazon so there is really no excuse.
Whats in a name said:
The trouble with the cycle lanes on pavements is that they often go past drives where the pavement dips down and you have to watch out for cars emerging, every time you get to a side road you have to stop and then cross where as if you are on the main carriageway you have right of way and finally pedestrians will often walk in the cycle lane so you are constantly slowing to ensure you pass them safely.
In relation to lights everyone should have them fitted and working you can by them for a couple of pounds on Amazon so there is really no excuse.
Yep, shared use 'cycle lanes' are wider pavements. Utterly useless for cycling on so don't shout at cyclists riding next to them on the road.In relation to lights everyone should have them fitted and working you can by them for a couple of pounds on Amazon so there is really no excuse.
VSKeith said:
Cyclist here.
I've noticed more and more out at night without lights in the last year and was wondering if it was just me and confirmation bias.
They obviously don't need lights if you've noticed them.I've noticed more and more out at night without lights in the last year and was wondering if it was just me and confirmation bias.
I must have past over a hundred cars on the road tonight, without any lights on at all...
gazza285 said:
VSKeith said:
Cyclist here.
I've noticed more and more out at night without lights in the last year and was wondering if it was just me and confirmation bias.
They obviously don't need lights if you've noticed them.I've noticed more and more out at night without lights in the last year and was wondering if it was just me and confirmation bias.
I must have past over a hundred cars on the road tonight, without any lights on at all...
However, without wishing to justify it or offer any excuse, the increasing prevalence of quote white LED street lighting does now mean that the roads are very well-illuminated, almost floodlight effect in places? So those more absent-minded drivers are going to be more easily tricked into forgetting to switch their headlights on.
That said, being confused by the street lighting or not remembering or not checking to ensure your headlights are on is reckless and careless driving IMO.
Another reason to get a dash cam in this day and age and have evidence of this type of idiocy of the other driver if ever it became necessary.
There's a dedicated very well paved newish cycle track which runs from Wroxham (,Norfolk) to Horning , around 5 miles. Its a B road and very twisty. Its used at weekends by the tour de France leftovers who seem to refuse the cycle track but use the pot holed road instead.
The amount of cyclists I have to shout at out the n/s window to use the firkin cycle track is unreal...
The amount of cyclists I have to shout at out the n/s window to use the firkin cycle track is unreal...
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