http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Check your lights can be seen!! en Fri, 22 May 2026 05:59:33 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129523 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:29:07 +0000 Uberuce 129523@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I frequently see the 3M on the rider before their lights.</p> <p>This is mostly because I mount a light on my helmet, so the angle is almost perfect and it's a blinky so it's eyecatching. It's surprising how effective this is, given that it's a bargain bin 2AA effort. </p> <p>I suspect the angle is the overwhelming factor, but since I'm unwilling to ride with my main light on my head, and even less willing to have it on strobe, I'm yet to investigate properly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129520 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:22:00 +0000 Dave 129520@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I posted some video last winter that touches on lights v reflectors at <a href="http://mccraw.co.uk/from-the-driving-seat-bike-lights-reflectors/" rel="nofollow">http://mccraw.co.uk/from-the-driving-seat-bike-lights-reflectors/</a></p> <p>It's not difficult to set up a bike so that more red light is reflected back at a driver than a legally compliant tail light puts out... make of that what you will ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129495 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 11:49:51 +0000 crowriver 129495@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, we should always have lights after dark.</p> <p>However, motor vehicle headlights are so bright that when drivers of said vehicles are within striking range, they won't see your lights. Thus I'd argue reflectors/reflectives on the bike and on the rider are more important for safety after dark.</p> <p>Also lights facing fore and aft do not make you more visible side on, eg. at junctions and especially roundabouts.</p> <p>No point having couple of blinkies if you're all decked out in black, on a matt black bike with black rims and spokes, etc. (with apologies to Douglas Adams).</p> <p>* - though rain can be a problem for bottle dynamo driven systems, as I was reminded last night as my dynamo wheel kept slipping on the tyre wall, resulting in a very flickery main beam. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129488 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 11:17:33 +0000 EddieD 129488@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The briefest google indicates that you're correct regarding trailers WC - I know of one serious injury to a child in a trailer, but that was a pre-meditated assault, and Canadian figures indicate that no child has died in one (but one adult has).</p> <p>There are a few reports of unlit cyclists being killed though.</p> <p>&lt;EDIT&gt; <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/unlit-cyclists-face-greater-injury-20120726-22vep.html#ixzz21nkbGW6J" rel="nofollow">http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/unlit-cyclists-face-greater-injury-20120726-22vep.html#ixzz21nkbGW6J</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129479 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 10:52:21 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 129479@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Agree that everyone at night should have lights on (and I do), but as far as I'm aware not a single one of the cycle deaths in Edinburgh in recent years was in the dark with an unlit cyclist. I'm sure Dave has queried before, if it's so dangerous then why aren't unlit cyclists being killed left right and centre?</p> <p>Again, I think it's simply a good idea to have lights, but it feels a little like claims that people towing kids in bike trailers are putting their kids' lives in danger, despite the fact, again, I've never heard of a single death of a kid in a trailer in this country (though someone may now prove me wrong).</p> <p>Is it just plain luck? For every single unlit cyclist? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129477 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 10:40:11 +0000 EddieD 129477@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aye!</p> <p>I wish I could find the other two PIFs I remember from my youth - one was about the need for cars to give cyclists the same space as a car, and the other was about the need for cyclists, actually, all two-wheelers, to shoulder check (imaginatively titled "Look Back", with a New Seekersesque soundtrack) - they were both very good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129459 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 09:42:36 +0000 Min 129459@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>EddieD - and those cyclists would be seen as the height of carefree cyclechic nowadays! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129442 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 08:49:42 +0000 fimm 129442@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm sure I've heard of the lights for fines being done here before? It is a good idea.</p> <p>As I was coming through Haymarket yesterday evening, a mini-peloton of four cyclists came past - all had lights (although one had them attached to the top of his rucksack, which wasn't ideal). On my journey home I saw some other cyclists with lights coming the other way, and 1 unlit cyclist. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129438 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 08:38:38 +0000 EddieD 129438@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You think the NWC was bad...</p> <p><a href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1964to1979/filmpage_pedal.htm">Pedal Safely</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129410 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 21:51:34 +0000 kaputnik 129410@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmxNEjGtpi8" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmxNEjGtpi8</a></p> <p>also "October 15th's Stupid Cycling"</p> <p>You might have to crank up screen brightness to see them! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129398 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:48:48 +0000 gembo 129398@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>+2 on lights as fines</p> <p>Income adjusted speeding fines in Finland supposedly took $100,000 off mr vanojki of Nokia, though it was in euros and he appealed. 'twas for riding his Harley Davidson too quickly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129392 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:39:46 +0000 Nelly 129392@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@k - great minds think alike - oddly enough I said the self same to my wife yesterday when she told me about the fines - i.e. convert fines to lights, kill two birds and all that.</p> <p>Agree about the average value of the bikes - what most of the students (and, as you know I am not taking liberties, most are students) dont realise is the value of their life.</p> <p>Wonder if anyone has considered putting this idea to the police?</p> <p>There is precedent, certainly down south where car drivers get the option of a Speed awareness course instead of points in some cases. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129391 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:35:19 +0000 kaputnik 129391@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A more effective Police tactic would be a forced sale of £15 of bike lights, on pain of a £60 fine.</p> <p>there's a £60 fine for people riding what are probably £60 bike station bikes.</p> <p>That's like a £15,000 fine for speeding. Which is maybe a good idea? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129388 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:31:25 +0000 Nelly 129388@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Left office at 6ish, dark and raining - 3 ninjas before I even got past chateau Uberuce, dearie me.</p> <p>How these Darwin Award candidates make it through the week is beyond me.</p> <p>Apparently St Leonards bike plod are out and about Marchmont / Sciennes spot fining those without lights.</p> <p>Appreciate they were a bit 'heavy handed' with their day of action last week, but as an occasional driver its really not fair on other road users (again, I know its not often I am sympathetic to drivers!!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129385 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:20:52 +0000 Uberuce 129385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I confess I once travelled to Steveo's house to collect 75kg of his garden with a light that was obscured by my trailer. </p> <p>He lent me a blinky to see me home, with the wise words 'you're going to die' which thankfully turned out to be overly pessimistic. </p> <p>I recently saw a bike with the front light mounted behind the basket. I wish I was joking. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129382 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:16:00 +0000 gembo 129382@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good point Monsieur Kapootnique. I had definitely in my head thought Marriott man was on an upright, with a huge pack rising above his head </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129380 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:13:00 +0000 kaputnik 129380@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>if you are on a drop-bar bike, a rucksack (particularly one bought from an outdoor store, which often sit quite high up) can easily obscure a helmet. </p> <p>I tried a rucksack for commuting and gave up when I found that it fouled the back of my head and restricted ability to turn it when hunkered down. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129379 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:09:27 +0000 gembo 129379@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Crumbs DM,how high was the back pack? My helmet lights are on the top of the lid. Lucky he crossed revealing his silhouette at the Marriott. Which is part of the problem of course, as people do take the risk of getting away without lights. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129373 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 19:46:24 +0000 wee folding bike 129373@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That doesn't fulfil the requirements. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11414#post-129372 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 19:39:26 +0000 Stickman 129372@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've just driven past what I thought was a typical unlit ninja on Glasgow Road. I spotted him from a distance as I saw his silhouette as he crossed at the pedestrian lights at the Marriott. </p> <p>It wasn't until I passed him some way down the road that I noticed that he had a fairly bright light attached to his helmet that was completely obscured from behind by his large backpack. </p> <p>Make sure your lights can be seen!!! </p>