cyclists at night

[saaby93]

Foss62 said:

saaby93 said:

Foss62 said:

I would imagine so. Where do you find you encounter the majority of unlit cyclists?

Why majority ? If you havent seen an unlit cyclist on a dark rural road it might be because you havent seen them.
Same for unlit pedestrians too.
If it was common for unlit bikes or pedestrians to be run over the articles would appear in the newpapers.
Where are they?

Amazingly I agree with you. It’s not at all common for unlit bikes or pedestrians to be run over. So Swiss Toni’s comment about cycling without lights was a bit of an exaggeration.

I doubt that there are too many unlit cyclists or pedestrians on dark rural roads.

They are about - as I said if you havent seen them , you havent seen them

[bigothunter]

Foss62 said:

I doubt that there are too many unlit cyclists or pedestrians on dark rural roads.

My estimate is 40% cyclists without lights on dark rural local roads. Terrifying when they appear out of nowhere. Cyclists are vulnerable so why take the risk of no illumination?

Saw a cyclist recently with high intensity flashing red rear lamp, during daylight hours. No chance of missing him even from several hundred yards away. Reckon this obvious safety improvement should be made a legal requirement for night and day.

[gazza285]

swisstoni said:

Car drivers aren’t perfect of course.
But do you think any of that is as patently dangerous cycling without lights?

Do you? The third largest cause of an insurance claim is hitting a parked vehicle.

[otolith]

Two incidents spring to mind.

The first, a person dressed all in black, cycling on the (unlit) A419 dual carriageway in the dark, with no lights at all.

The second, me, cycling on a country road, in daylight, wearing a dayglo jacket, with a high intensity front light, positioned by the centreline, with my arm out indicating that I was turning right, and the woman just pulled out in front of me forcing me to slam on the brakes to avoid her.

Summary - God loves idiots, so be careful.

[Rob_125]

swisstoni said:

gazza285 said:

Rob_125 said:

If I'm honest I probably see more cars running on drls or no lights at all than I do cyclists with no lights. Often I try to kindly let them know, and get a barrage of abuse...people are instantly on the defensive.

Not to mention all those cars parked at the side of the road at night, facing traffic, and all those cars parked on roads with a speed limit above thirty, again parked without parking lights turned on after dark.

Car drivers aren’t perfect of course.
But do you think any of that is as patently dangerous cycling without lights?

Play stupid games win stupid prizes. I've already said I am well lit when I ride in the dark. Yes it is more dangerous, you've got to give yourself every chance to be seen. Even with lights people will misjudge your speed (because cyclists are slow) and pull out on you!

That said I've been in Berlin this week, sat in a restaurant and easily 50% of the cyclists had no lights/hi vis/helmets. And there are a darn sight more cyclists there than in the UK! Saw no conflicts at all, which goes to show the anticycling sentiment in the UK.

I will also add I prefer riding at night, traffic flows better/faster, cars can see you generally at distance, and they can give you more space. That said flashing lights are a must else I feel you merge into the background noise of LED lighting. Generally I run with one of each, and no they don't have to burn your retinas out.

Edited by Rob_125 on Saturday 6th August 06:04

[BlueJazz]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62444889

And now, a proposal for tougher sentences for those cyclists who kill.

[saaby93]

BlueJazz said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62444889

And now, a proposal for tougher sentences for those cyclists who kill.

Not necessarily - its just moving the max.
remember the case here was given 12 months out of a possible 2 years rather than the max

[gazza285]

BlueJazz said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62444889

And now, a proposal for tougher sentences for those cyclists who kill.

How many cyclists a year are convicted of causing death? About one a year is prosecuted I seem to recall.

[smn159]

gazza285 said:

BlueJazz said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62444889

And now, a proposal for tougher sentences for those cyclists who kill.

How many cyclists a year are convicted of causing death? About one a year is prosecuted I seem to recall.

A quick Google suggests 400 pedestrians killed each year after being hit by road users. 2 of these involve cyclists.

95% of light jumping vehicles that hit pedestrians are motorised.

This smacks of a Tory party appeal to their Daily Mail reading base rather than any actual attempt to improver road safety.

[saaby93]

smn159 said:

gazza285 said:

BlueJazz said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62444889

And now, a proposal for tougher sentences for those cyclists who kill.

How many cyclists a year are convicted of causing death? About one a year is prosecuted I seem to recall.

A quick Google suggests 400 pedestrians killed each year after being hit by road users. 2 of these involve cyclists.

95% of light jumping vehicles that hit pedestrians are motorised.

How did that bring in light jumping?
Of the 400 pedestrians that die each year in collision with vehicles, what proportion were due to the vehicle and how many due to the pedestrian?

[swisstoni]

gazza285 said:

BlueJazz said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62444889

And now, a proposal for tougher sentences for those cyclists who kill.

How many cyclists a year are convicted of causing death? About one a year is prosecuted I seem to recall.

How many cyclists died because they were invisible.

And how much whataboutery have you got left in the tank?

[gazza285]

swisstoni said:

How many cyclists died because they were invisible.

And how much whataboutery have you got left in the tank?

After looking at Google, about four in the last twenty years. Less than drivers killed after hitting a parked car. What about that?

A bit like increasing sentencing for cyclists who kill pedestrians through dangerous riding, the amount of cyclists on the road without lights is such a small problem it is not really worth discussion. Most people out after dark on unlit cycles are not serious cyclists doing big miles, they are youths riding on pavements to hang out with their dhead mates for the most part.

[saaby93]

Maybe a number of pedestrians are aware they may get killed and jump out the way

Causing a pedestrian to jump £50

[bigothunter]

gazza285 said:

...the amount of cyclists on the road without lights is such a small problem it is not really worth discussion. Most people out after dark on unlit cycles are not serious cyclists doing big miles, they are youths riding on pavements to hang out with their dhead mates for the most part.

There aren't any pavements near me - just many cyclists with no lights during the hours of darkness. I live in fear of hitting one. It's a real problem !

But not for townies

[gazza285]

bigothunter said:

But not for townies

I wouldn't know, I don't live in the town.

[bigothunter]

gazza285 said:

bigothunter said:

But not for townies

I wouldn't know, I don't live in the town.

But you live with pavements and street lights apparently...

[QJumper]

smn159 said:

This smacks of a Tory party appeal to their Daily Mail reading base rather than any actual attempt to improver road safety.

As if by magic, today's Daily Mail front page headline: "Reckless Cyclists Face Jail Crackdown"

First line starts "Killer cyclists..."

So no sensationalism on their part then.

[gazza285]

bigothunter said:

gazza285 said:

bigothunter said:

But not for townies

I wouldn't know, I don't live in the town.

But you live with pavements and street lights apparently...

And I can only assume you live where there's no pavements and street lighting, and loads of cyclists with no lights riding in the dead of night. Do they only ride when the moon is out?

[bigothunter]

gazza285 said:

bigothunter said:

gazza285 said:

bigothunter said:

But not for townies

I wouldn't know, I don't live in the town.

But you live with pavements and street lights apparently...

And I can only assume you live where there's no pavements and street lighting, and loads of cyclists with no lights riding in the dead of night. Do they only ride when the moon is out?

They must be lunatics to take so much unnecessary risk

[gazza285]

bigothunter said:

They must be lunatics to take so much unnecessary risk

Sounds like a load of made up bks, to be frank.