I have to agree with John; I'd rather be seen as different and even annoying if both or either mean that I'm more noticeable. I recall how, over 10 years ago when I used an early NR arc light system (POS, apart from raw light output), often oncoming cars often would, at least on more minor roads, noticeably pull toward the far left curb as I approached. The sort of light that induces this reaction might well be judged obnoxious, but until cyclists are seen much more widely as ordinary -- ordinary and every day, as well as lawful -- users of the public roadways, I'd rather be obnoxious than be hit.
All that said, from subsequent experience, I guess that an Edeluxe and reflective Sam Browne give me as much visibility to oncoming nighttime traffic. IMO and IME, decent reflective clothing and gear is almost as important as decent lighting for safe urban night riding. This said as someone who used to return home 15 miles directly across town at evening rush hour on one of the city's busiest east/west boulevards, Central Ave/Route 66. (I later decided that more backstreet routes were preferable, but I used 66 for several years.) As for tail lights, from my own experience as a driver, all the steady bike taillights I've observed, and even very many blinkies, simply get overwhelmed in the clutter of street lights, lit advertising, and especially ever brighter auto tail lights, not to mention the glare of oncoming headlights, in nighttime urban environments. Thus, even as a cyclist, I'd rather put up with bright blinkies and even overbright oncoming bicycle headlights than see cyclists, others as well as myself, swallowed up at night in the surrounding light pollution. Of course, common sense would mean that a cyclist would moderate his lumens if riding with a group or for that matter if riding along a no-auto-traffic cycling path remote from auto traffic. Has anyone done rigorous studies on bicycle lighting in night time, rush hour, urban conditions, to see what sort of lights and reflectors are safest for cyclists? I suspect not, but I wish someone would. Until then, I have to assume that blatant means safer in congested, nighttime, urban traffic environments. On Tue, Jun 23, 2015 at 8:41 AM, Philip Kim <philipw...@gmail.com> wrote: > I would rather not separate myself from cars, definitely want other cars > to treat me biking as another car in the road. Another reason why I tend to > take the whole lane, otherwise cars will not pass me with the designated 3 > ft in between. > > I agree, no light will probably save me from a driver too busy texting to > looking up. > > Another unsafe annoyance are super bright headlamps from fellow commuters. > Also blinking front lamps not aimed low to the ground. : ( > > On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 8:59:41 AM UTC-4, John wrote: >> >> In traffic, when it's dark, without reflective clothing, blinkies >> separate one out from the cars which have steady rear lights. >> >> The biggest problem I see on the road, whether driving, riding or >> walking, is not drunks, it's distracted drivers on their cell phones. >> >> Teens to octogenarians too busy talking or texting to notice stopped >> cars, people in crosswalks, or cyclists. >> >> I'm sticking with my rechargeable blinkies, Toplight, and reflective >> triangle, and Monkey Lectric Monkeylights. >> >> Annoying is better than dead. >> >> John >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and letters that get interviews. By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching. Other professional writing services. http://www.resumespecialties.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/ Patrick Moore Alburquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Vereinigte Staaten ************************************* *The point which is the pivot of the norm is the motionless center of a circumference on the rim of which all conditions, distinctions, and individualities revolve. *Chuang Tzu *Kinei hos eromenon. It moves as the being-loved. *Aristotle *The Love that moves the Sun and all the other stars. *Dante -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
