If blinded on the canal, merely stop in the centre of the path, blocking it completely if possible, and shield your eyes, forcing them to stop. The culprit will likely indicate they are displeased, allowing you to retort.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Those over-bright lights again
(141 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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weiss,
I have resorted to that tactic a few times and they do sometimes get the message!Posted 11 years ago # -
In reality, I don't myself block the *entire* path, but I do over exaggerate the "arm over the eyes" bit. Overacting? Me?
Posted 11 years ago # -
There was a tandem heading north on the Roseburn this evening with a rear blinker so bright the halo from it in the cold soggy air washed out my view of the path ahead.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Is anyone likely to be going past my flat tomorrow at 5pm or the next hour to two afters? I could use a riding model for my rear light. It's pointed possibly-objectionably high, but I can only see how it looks in standlight mode.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Could divert that way and swap bikes so I can check my new front light mount. Can you ride towards a window anywhere?
Posted 11 years ago # -
In reality, I don't myself block the *entire* path, but I do over exaggerate the "arm over the eyes" bit. Overacting? Me?
I think that is a far better idea than yelling at people.
I have a very bright light, not as a personal affront to all law-abiding, hard-pressed, poor beleagured cyclists but so that I can see where I am going in the dark. As indicated above, in the reality of an icy path with bends with frozen fingers in the pitch black, it can be difficult to actually fumble the light down to its lowest setting when another cyclist is coming the other way (although it hasn't actually happened that often). The only effect that screaming hysterically at me is going to have is to make me think you are a twat. It isn't going to change anything since I merely made a mistake. A hand over the eyes lets me know that I was right to be putting my light onto the lowest setting when I see another cyclist, and also gave me the idea to partially shade my light with my hand if I can't get the setting down in time. Win win. Oh yes, and it is going to help YOU if you are being dazzled. Win win win.
Plus, if the person doing the dazzling is just a moron, then yelling at them is only going to get them more aggressive.
Bizarrely, I haven't ever been dazzled on the Innocent. Not once. And most people have very bright lights as it is so dark. What is it with the canal?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Regular canal users more concerned about falling into it than regular Innocent users are of brushing against vegetation?
The canal and the Roseburn are both a bot closer to the WoL so could attract more people with what they think are mountain-style tree-branch-to-face-defensive lights?Posted 11 years ago # -
Those who are defending the over-bright, mal-adjusted handlebar mounted lights are simply the equivalent of motorists who don't dip their full beam!On the canal path there is no need for such lights. PS The Innocent Path,has its share of over-brights but not quite as busy the canal due to it's location.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yes, could be more mountain biker types on there. The little lights at the side should go some way to allaying the fear of leaving the path nowadays I would have thought.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Canal towpath flat innocent sloping? Not sure if that would make a difference to being dazzled?
Posted 11 years ago # -
A plug for helmet mounted lights. I have a moderately bright conventional light on the bars (an Ixon IQ) supplemented by a helmet mounted Joystick. The two together, both in their low power steady settings, provide ample light for my night-time off road commuting, including the tracks around Harlaw and Torphin reservoirs and the 40mph descent of Currie Hill. If I meet someone I simply angle my head so the beam isn't blinding them. Also allows me to see around corners, ie before the bars have turned, it allows me to direct the beam at drivers emerging from side roads or joining roundabouts, it allows me to direct added light to movements/shapes outside of the bar beam so I can check out what they are, and its very good at spotting owls.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Those who are defending the over-bright, mal-adjusted handlebar mounted lights
If you mean me, I'm not defending, just trying to think of reasons.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Canal towpath flat innocent sloping? Not sure if that would make a difference to being dazzled?
Only on the top bit. It is slightly wider too, not sure if that makes a difference?
Posted 11 years ago # -
@ Min
EDIT: The following applies if you were saying dazzling someone else has a positive effect. If you were meaning "shielding your eyes when you are being dazzled" then I see what you meant. It's all about the interpretation :-)
"Oh yes, and it is going to help YOU if you are being dazzled. Win win win."
Can't agree, sorry. Being dazzled (def. "to lose clear vision especially from looking at bright light") is definitely not a positive thing. You know when you look at a bright light of any kind and it leaves an impression on your vision for a while after? That can cause you to lose concentration, sometimes only for a seconds, sometimes longer.
If that happened with a very narrow bean light, light a focussed torch beams, yes, it may just perk your attention up a bit more which could be a positive, but as cycle lights are typically wide beams (for good reason), that period of "blindness" is exaggerated to the point of distraction.
Almost any cycle light - unless the batteries are too low) is bright enough to be seen by a fellow rider or ped unless they are that species who are so self-engrossed that they wouldn't spot a nuclear explosion 3 feet in front of them. Blinding everyone in case one happens to be that stupid isn't the way to go.
That's a very long-winded (but hopefully not rude) way of saying "Don't blind, it ain't kind!" :-)
I think I've just come up with another naff health and safety initiative slogan!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Haha, no I meant shielding your own eyes helps you, because then your eyes are shielded! :-)
Posted 11 years ago # -
@wingpig: In 'shortening the detour' news, I promised LaidBack I'd come round and show off the dynodrum lights once they were all done, so I'll be at the shop from 1715 or so.
Posted 11 years ago # -
That's not the point of a detour.
Forgot to mention I could have picked up that connector at the same time but probably too late now. Is Marchmont Crescent suitable for demo?Posted 11 years ago # -
@ Min
Glad I was right after a second reading then! :-)
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Don't blind, it ain't kind!" :-)
Shielding your eyes from a retina searing beam is purely self preservation, I have never seen anyone adjust/dim/switchoff/shield their light in response to that action, of course the contradiction in that statement is that you cannot see, you are blinded!
The most effective action is to stop in front of the dazzler, they should see you !
To try and rationalise the issue in an approach situation of possibly 20mph + is pointless.Posted 11 years ago # -
If a cyclists vision is impaired (in this case by a shiny light) the last thing I'd advise is cycling one handed.
If you need to light up a shared path so far ahead, you are probably going too fast on that shared path.
I think (they went past me quite quickly so not sure) someone shouted something to me this morning about my light. A wee bit harsh as I'd just left the road at forkenford and joined the innocent path and was in the process of swithing to beam (from blinky) before tilting it down.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I have hub-generator powered LEDs-German lights of course and only -shock horror- 25 little lumens quoted for the front which is sensibly mounted just above the fork crown and not pointed up at eye height- more than adequate for seeing you way on unlit paths and being seen by motorists. The German cycle lighting regs are so far more advanced than the British free-for-all probably because there. like Belgium and Netherlands etc cycling is far more utilitarian - bikes sold with lights, mudguards etc already fitted. Here the problem is that most bikes are sold "bare" and the owner is left to throw whatever they feel like onto the machine at whatever angle.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I am liking the idea that somebody mentioned of looking to see if you are illuminating other people's faces; if so, then are you probably dazzling them. I was relieved that I couldn't see the faces of anyone cycling towards me last night on the canal, although I will be checking again tonight... I did get dazzled near Polworth, while trying to pass pedestrians, so shouted "your light is a bit dazzling" or something along those lines toward the cyclist, who mumbled something incoherent back at me...
Posted 11 years ago # -
I apparently dazzled a southbound cyclist on MMW just now, with my badger-killing high-intensity discharge front lamp.
The oncoming cyclist shaded his eyes to protect his vision, so it must have been the case.
<Wanders off to check> Oddly enough, it still looks like a B&M IQ Cyo Senso Plus, fork mounted about 20" from the ground (on the Brompton), with a razor sharp cut-off as decreed by the man from the (German) ministry (StVZO).
Still, as the bloke appeared to have a will-o'-the-wisp as a front light, perhaps he needed all the night-vision he could retain...
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
Dipped lights even with a sharp cutoff doesn't guarantee you can't dazzle someone. Classic example is getting a full face of glare off a car that's going over a speedbump - less likely with a bike but I've seen it happen on rougher paths - though it's worst with those laser beam lights that are really dim until the rider hits a bump, momentarily elevating it's searing beam into your eyes in a blinding flash. That's if they actually have it dipped to begin with.
I've also been dazzled from properly dipped lights reflecting off a mirror-smooth puddle.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@wingpig Thankee kindly for being my model. I am now satisfied with the eerie property of German lights whereby they don't seem to get much dimmer the further they are away.
Posted 11 years ago # -
You can't guarantee not dazzling someone but you can do your best.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Its nearly that time again! Passed this morning buy a cyclists with a very bright flashing rear light. [shakes head....]
Posted 10 years ago # -
Noooo! Not the "over bright lights" thread again! Summer isn't over yet. I won't believe it. Autumn is not here. Winter is not just round the corner.
Stop it immediately I insist.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I think it was the mist which did it. Why is it the ones who think it's appropriate/legal to mount a flashing light on a helmet who do it first?
Posted 10 years ago #
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