Visibility for cyclists at night

Hello,
does everyone think that standard visibility items for cyclists, generally sold in highstreet shops and other cycling outlets, are good enough? Does anyone think that there is room in the market for improvement and that cyclists could be better illuminated to car and other road users when it is dark? Any thoughts and suggestions welcome?
Cheers
J

i don't use front lights. However i use 2 on the back, one on my bicycle and the other on my belt

Why not? For those cars wanting to turn in front of you?

Here Here, a decent flasher on the front and back! Plenty of reflective clothing as well. Motorist's aren't in need of excuses not to see you!

My front doesn't flash because I don't need a strobe light. My front is bright and on my helmet so that I can point it directly in the eyes of drivers so they know I'm there. Plus, without a front light, I might not see the javelinas or coyotes crossing my path.

Riding without a headlight at night....well, that's one way to tidy up the gene pool.

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well the route i commute in this year doesn't call for a front light.

Unless your night time route is illuminated by the sun, you need a light. It's foolish to believe that streetlights or other lights, besides bike lights, are sufficient to keep you safe and make you visible.

I sure as hell won't trust my safety to any assumption about drivers seeing me.

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I agree... lights are key. A standard underseat red blinker with cool pattern is a pretty easy way to go... but in addition to whatever gear you might decide is good for night visibility... I have found personally that I like to have a head or helmet-mounted light that enables you to shine it at cars if they do not see you. Also it enables you to have light wherever you turn your head. The light on the head really works for me... especially at 4-way stops when cars are not paying attention...

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I know the guy who designed and sells these:

Fibre Flare?

Those are cool... great invention. They remind me of a friend who makes these skateboards called photon light boards. I will try to post the link so you can see. Maybe someone can invent one for a bicycle?

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The light that makes me most visible at night is the tirefly I have on the valve stem of my front wheel. It blinks, and it also rotates with the wheel which makes it impossible to miss, and much more visible than most bike lights. Not to mention it looks cool as hell. Most of us have lights pointing to the front and the back, but nothing pointing to the side, so visibility is low from that angle. A tirefly solves that problem.

The Holiday Bicycle: How to run Christmas Lights on your Bike

In fact, it is a great idea to imitate an Xmas tree while riding!

I mean that figuratively though. Safe bicycle lighting need not be gimmicky. It should, in fact, be no different to what one might expect on, say, a motorcycle.

Spare no cost (how much is your life worth?) here; buy the very best you can afford. If you can't afford real lights, best to stay home at night.

Front lights should not blink -- especially on MUPs. If you don't mind giving yourself a seizure, have mercy on approaching riders! You need a bright, steady beam to light your way, avoid potholes, debris and be seen by oncoming traffic.

If you are trying to ride at a decent pace on unlit roads, you should have decent lights up to the job. Nothing is scarier than outrunning insufficient illumination.

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Quality lights, these days, also provide excellent side illumination.

__________________
Sex is horrid
Pain is Fun
I cut my fingers off
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Yes.

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VeloWeb The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind.
~William Saroyan