CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Advice to other commuters

(16 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by steveo
  • Latest reply from spytefear
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. steveo
    Member

    I was out for a ride last night when i was passed (it was a recovery ride) by a chap with a little back up light tied to his collar and a blinky on his seat post.

    At drafting distances it was just bright enough when we got in to Juniper Green the angle of the on coming car headlights due to the road being a bit narrower than Lanark Road and the fact i dropped back to 10m or so he had completely disappeared. Out of interest i moved to there road position where i'd be if i were in the car and he was still invisible.

    I considered catching up and asking if he knew his blinky was so dim it could barely be seen and that his collar light didn't do what he was aiming for but decided against it. Should I have mentioned it?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. wingpig
    Member

    By the look of things, some people don't look at their lights apart from the immediate glance when switching them on, either not aware or forgetting that the initial apparent brightness can quickly diminish with worn cells.

    Is it at-least-they-tried or you-think-that's-enough? We should warn people when they might think they're safe when they're not, though my limited interpersonal skills often fail to suggest an appropriate means of interposition for anything other than growling at RLJers.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. Smudge
    Member

    I'd go for a "I think your battery's gone flat mate" or similar. If he's got two lights it suggests he wants to be visible?

    A couple of weeks ago I pointed out to another rider, "excuse me mate, I think your back light must've bouced off", only to be told "nah, I don't have one"... sigh :-( so I said something along the lines of "you really need to get one mate, you're invisible".
    At least I managed to make the point politely I suppose :-/

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Min
    Member

    Hard to say. Whenever I have tried to warn someone about a dodgy light they have been uninterested but I would have been glad of a warning over the occasional light issue I have had. But I wouldn't want to be pestered by supercillious types just because I have been caught out with a low battery or something. Maybe just tell them but don't go on about it.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I used to mention occasionally but never really got a response as the lack of lighting seemed to be a conscious decision on the part of the rider. I gave up with the rather miserable attitude of "it's their own fault"...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. tammytroot
    Member

    Please, please if my lights are dying let me know.
    As stated above it is not always easy to tell if your lights have started to fade as they can seem bright when first switched on.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. druidh
    Member

    Last winter, we (TBC) we carrying some old-stock extra lights around and giving them away to commuters with no lights. Well - trying to give them away. Folk just weren't interested (they had batteries and everyfink!)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. ruggtomcat
    Member

    @druidh thats unbelievable! I mean, you can get pulled over for that!

    If the law doesn't protect cyclists much it sure doesn't restrict them either, a product of cycling's longevity.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. Dave
    Member

    I've been warned by my fellow cyclists a couple of times about taillight issues (the fixed gear never got much love at all) and was grateful both times, although I might have been too embarrassed to fully articulate it.

    I'd certainly mention if I saw somebody with an obviously powerful light that was stuttering, but as for "just" having crap lights, so many people do that I can't believe it's through ignorance...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. ruggtomcat
    Member

    Oh, please tell me if my lights are out, but Im not going to be the invisible type anyway, too much tron-juice. Normal commutesr I tell if they are dim and the invisibles (also a great graphic novel) I just give a cheery hello too and say 'think its time to get the lights out' before heading off into the distance. Invisibles are never very fast.

    I would say that even good flashers on their own is not enough, a winking light against a black background can get lost amongst the other flashing lights on the road, having tron-juice gives you a form.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. Dave
    Member

    Incidentally I love

    "I was out for a ride last night when i was passed (it was a recovery ride)".

    Only a cyclist would need to (and only other cyclists can understand) the need for such qualification!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. ruggtomcat
    Member

    Rule 71... :)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. wee folding bike
    Member

    Usually at least two lights on the back, I don't trust battery tail lights.

    I got the Tron Legacy soundtrack but it didn't come with a suit.

    Freezing fog here, ice building up on the leading side of things.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. gembo
    Member

    Cycled from Airth to Polmont yesterday in freezing fog - we had many lights going but I doubt we were very visible. YOung lad on the train who had given up the Glasgow to Edinburgh towpath at Falkirk Grahamston was proudly showing us his very powerful light, acquired from a friend so I passed on the advice from this very forum about dipping it down to the left. Quite a few lorries and one car driver tooted us - I think he wanted us out of his way, which was nice [there are fragments of cycle path for bits of the route but you can get lost on them]. My route via Grangemouth is not direct but you don't get lost and the climb from Inchyra up to Polmont Station requires a little effort but is not punishing. It would be a nice journey if it weren't for the cars, lorries and Chinese oil refinery

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. ruggtomcat
    Member

    Last time I cycled in freezing fog when I reached my destination i had actual icicles hanging from my beard!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. spytefear
    Member

    I tend to only tell people if they have put their light somewhere on the bike that then gets obscured by a pannier bag or mudflap.
    I always ride with at least two blinkies on front and back, with one of each on the helmet as said on other threads cars can see your head above parked cars at junctions, also you can point your head at wing mirrors and down junctions you are turning out of.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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