I like the NE path. It works well in getting me uptown, along to Leith. However the closed mind of a few cyclists in the winter in the dark is deeply concerning.
What brought this on, well this morning about 725am heading south between Craigleith and Roseburn. Encountered cyclist coming the other way with twin high intensity lights set high. As we were passing i said the following " Can you turn the lights down please" their response was to raise their hand as if to hit me.
Iam quite willing to accept that challenging statements will evoke a response, but didn't consider that as appropriate.
If you think iam out of order then stop me. Quite happy to discuss.
As discussed on other threads, we should all try and have our lights angled downwards on cyclepaths.
Iam what some people call a short a**e, vertically challenged, whatever. Anyway in practical terms that puts my eyeline lower than most. Again that’s fine, but i do not expect to be assaulted by high intensity lights, painfully searing my eyes from 50m out till we pass. I have said it before, high set lights work fine on roads, but on cycle paths where the passing distance can often be less than a metre are totally inconsiderate.
Every winter i seriously consider avoiding the path as a result of this attitude and the misuse of this wonderful lighting technology.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Seriously fed up
(74 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Related discussion -
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8788#post-89304
Posted 12 years ago # -
I agree about the bright lights. They can be quite blinding. That coupled with dog walkers in dark clothing amounts to a bit of a lottery when cycling.
Posted 12 years ago # -
As some one who has an eye searingly bright light I completely sympathise, mis-alinged lights are serious pain and the response from your friend above is ott. Unfortunately not much we can do about it, rude people are rude how ever they get around.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Steveo agreed about rudeness,
@chdot aware of the other thread, purposefully avoided it, as I feel that the tone is often set the other way i.e. my light is brighter than yours scenario.Iam really at a loss with this, Iam seriously even considering a retaliatory light, that i can switch on as required, but i know thats not an answer either.I did use to think that I would need such a light to highlight my presence to vehicles, find it deeply depressing that i need it for other cyclists.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Problem is, it is not really possible to tell just how bright the light is on your own bike. I have a super bright since I ride on unlit paths but I put it down to the lowest setting for other cyclists and pedestrians when I can actually see them and have it angled down and slightly to the left. I expect it is still pretty bright though. Is it too bright? Don't know, can't see it.
Guidance from the manufacturers on the packaging when you buy the light would be helpful. Can I use mine on the highest setting on the roads? Don't know, it might be too bright. I can't see it.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"High set lights work fine on roads"
I'd disagree - if the lights are bright enough to blind on a cyclepath, they're bright enough to be at least an irritant on the road. Consideration for others says point your bright lights down and a we bit towards the left - dipped healdight stylee.
I guess on a rural road there's a justification for having your light on full beam, but only if you are able to dip it safely as required.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@min
Re cant see your own light, perhaps thats is the core of problem, maybe we should all check our own lights from afar@PS
I would agree with you, but would note that i was merely trying to highlight the issue of lights on a pathPosted 12 years ago # -
I have had this happen a couple times a well, I just accept it and keep my head down and try not to look at the light. In my experience your eye tends to be drawn to it.
Xenon headlamps cause a similar issue when I am driving an A road in the pitch black. What to do?
Posted 12 years ago # -
@559 Sure. I'd agree that the issue is exacerbated on dark paths where you can go from seeing okay to seeing nothing when hit in the retina with 600 lumens...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'd disagree - if the lights are bright enough to blind on a cyclepath, they're bright enough to be at least an irritant on the road.
Tbh on a lit road even my lights tend to fade into the general light pollution, car dipped head lights are orders of magnitude more powerful than any bike light the only difference is they are better calibrated.
The problem is when your eyes are adjusted for darkness when some one turns up with a 0,0 set lamp (0 degree dip, 0 degree left) at 500 lumens from a narrow point source. Your eyes perceive it as being much brighter than it really is and it washes out your night vision. Its exacerbated by how narrow cycle paths are so often your not much more than a meter from the spill of the light.
On the road your eyes are adjusted for the near constant level of light and the head lights are few meters away and pointed even further away. You'll notice it when some muppet with poorly adjusted after market HID lights comes along they're much brighter and bluer than halogen lights and unless they're perfectly adjusted really dazzle.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Bruce
Sorry, have to disagree, iam not prepared to look down comprising my visual checking, so that an inconsiderate rider going the other way has a good view with their flood lights.Alternatively looking to the side doesn't work either due to the proximity (side to side).
@PS yup retina hit with 600 lumens, even typing it feels painful
Posted 12 years ago # -
Re cant see your own light, perhaps thats is the core of problem, maybe we should all check our own lights from afar
That and the "I didn't see you" culture which seems to be creating some sort of laser wars. Very noticeable this year that there are a lot of bright front lights around.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Perennial favourite. I ride on NEPN with my lights off (thanks to a cunning bit of wiring up the steerer tube and through the stem cap!)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Noticed this at the Hallocross last night. Some SERIOUSLY powerful lights going about, blinds you to anything around about.
I've got a powerful, but remarkably cheap, light arriving sometime soon as riding round the south Park road at nights can be hairy, even with my Hope Vision 1 at max setting - but intention will be to angle down and left, as I've no interest in blinding an oncoming driver.
On the cyclepaths I'll still have the old light alongside, and so will, on approach of another cyclist, or seeing a ped, switch off the main light, leaving the old Hope on its lowest setting (and again, all angled down and left).
What to do about people who won't/don't do that? It's difficult, raising it is really the only option, but as you've seen that can lead to aggro. I have, once, stopped someone to 'compliment' him on his powerful light (where did you get it? do you know the lumen output? etc) before then saying, 'aye, it's fair blinding coming the other way!', laugh, joke, suggest aiming down.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Min: Methinks you have stumbled on the theme for the next PYeetup:
Does My Lumen Look Big in This?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Perhaps we need some sort of antidote to all the BE SEEN campaigns? they seem to be working a bit too well.
Uberuce -lol!
Posted 12 years ago # -
On the canal I just slow down a bit and my lights dim very pedestrian friendly, A nightmare going under a couple of cobbled canal bridges!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Does My Lumen Look Big in This?
You laugh but I've only seen my light in use once when my dad had a shot, trouble with dynamo lights getting good beam shots is difficult...
Posted 12 years ago # -
The problem really is that manufacturers don't provide lights that are truly fit for purpose - assuming you don't have a dubious "please don't hit me, I'm vaguely legal" type light, which isn't worth much in traffic, pretty much all lights have the potential to annoy.
You're then left with 99% having a symmetrical beam that can't easily be dipped (except by taking one hand off the controls and shoving it around - you can understand why this isn't too popular and/or people don't always do it while negotiating a dark and narrow path with dogs and peds and leaves all over the place).
If all lights were like the Cyo life would be much easier.
Posted 12 years ago # -
One option - to make a point - would be to pull in and stop, in a way that forces them to go around you. If they make a comment, you can say "sorry, your lights were blinding me, I couldn't see and I had to stop. I thought you were on the other side".
I sometimes play a game of chicken with ninjas on the cycle path and drift towards them to see if they notice me with my light on. If they complain you can act the idiot and say "oh. sorry. I didn't see your lights".
Posted 12 years ago # -
@559
I am not trying to diminish your point but I think the question is if this happens again what are you going to do about it. That is why I suggest ignoring it.
:)
No offence meant in anyway.Posted 12 years ago # -
@Bruce, no offence taken. the question is not so much if as when will it happen again.
Personally, all i want to do is cycle to and from my work without my retinas being assaulted on the cycle path.
I regard this as a form of bullying or intimidation, and difficult to address, to stop turn and remonstrate requires going in the opposite direction and some chase ability, not keen on stopping in front of them, despite the light.
My thought was by raising on this forum, maybe the rider concerned would see it, or at least other riders would consider their lighting more carefully.
As has been touched on this thread, perhaps the manufacturers have a responsibility in the design of their products and the guidance issued with them?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Wilmingtons Cow - re your remarkably cheap lights - I got some ebay specials (magicshine knockoffs) which are working astonishingly well well for me.
However......they are also MUCH better for other people once I fitted an aftermarket diffuser - removes that'laser beam' effect that many of the new cheaper lights have and shapes the beam more appropriately IMO.
Post a piccy once you get it - if its the same one, I will ping you a link.
n.b. 559, I sympathise - earlier this week I used the canal and there was one tube going far too fast, light up in my eyes, right at the tight section at Kingsknowe. I dont usually swear at other cyclists, but made an exception.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The worst thing for me about this (apart from the physical discomfort of a bright light in the eyes) is that you can't see past the light. If there's a ninja pedestrian there, you won't have a chance of seeing them. This basically means that you've got to pretty-much stop every time one of these stupid bright lights comes by on the towpath.
I've taken to shielding my eyes with my hand held up at arm's length in front of me. It's quite visible. I hope the culprits take it as a hint. Not great for emergency braking, though.
Of course, to Min's point, I don't really know how my light appears to others. I do know that I point it down firmly, with the 'spot' of the light about 10 feet in front of me, but I've noticed on my bike cam videos that it throws out a cone of light (particularly obvious when I go under bridges). It may well get in people's eyes. Nobody's complained, but that doesn't mean it's not a problem...
Two (or maybe it was three) winters ago there was a regular sweary man on the towpath who complained at the light on every bike. You could hear him coming towards you swearing at people as they passed. He's not a regular any more. I assume the stress of all that swearing took him to an early grave.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Coming to this late. What I do in this situation is the same as I do driving. Faced with full beam headlights coming my way I flash then pop my full beam on. They soon dip. I di the same on my bike. Super bright light for cycling through the woodland path on the way home. Any silly cyclist who dazzles me get the same back. Sorry I make no appology for this, however pathetic it sounds. If your threatened with violence for asking someone to dip their lights, then a bit of their own medicine is hardly over the top.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Oh you can get cheep lights from amazon. Cree leds are upto 1600 lumens as I found online. My 900 lumen torch is very bright so I know exactly how bright and unidirectional they are.
I'd advocate standards on cycle lights like Germany.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Lights, on the whole, are too bright. And then all the retro-reflectives on top of that are pretty annoying.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hmm. Makes me wonder I wonder if there's a market for some kind of reflective targeted at this problem- encouraging people with bright lights to control them by fitting a big mirror to your handlebars...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Like this:
With a bike round the back?
Posted 12 years ago #
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