[email protected] wrote:
> Stephen Harding wrote:
>
>>[email protected] wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>There are times you _may_ need to flash a headlight at them. I do this
>>>with a "rock dodge" motion of the handlebar - but in my experience,
>>>even that is probably unnecessary. I strongly believe that I'm more
>>>visible at night than I am during the day. (And my daytime visibility
>>>is just fine, thank you.)
>>>
>>>But the post I originally commented on was advocating lights so bright
>>>that other road users complained. Steady lights, not rare flashes.
>>>That's about as sensible as constantly riding with a siren blaring.
>>
>>Good for you!
>>
>>You'll be squished in no time because a driver isn't forced
>>into thinking "what the heck is that?".
>
>
> 
I'll be squished "in no time"? That would be very odd, seeing as
> I've been riding at night regularly since 1977! Almost all of that has
> been with a 3 watt generator light.
>
>
>>A small light glowing off the side of the road isn't enough
>>to get the attention of at least 50% of the cars I encounter
>>in my neighborhood (while walking myself and/or dog at night).
>
>
> I'm always amazed that some people find the world to be such a
> dangerous place.
Don't tell me there isn't an element of danger in one of my
dog walk routes. I walk it extremely often, over years.
I don't feel the world is an exceptionally dangerous place
for walking or riding a bike. Generally people are pretty
good and other than encountering the rare psychopath on the
road, you'll be quite safe whether you even use a light at
all during the night, overall. People aren't out to kill
you.
But...
This stretch of road is wooded with turns; sparcely settled
with a town park where ball games run into the night and
some percentage of young people leave the part in varying
states of inebriation. Add to that, they go too fast.
You'd be a fool to just happily skip down the road in the
belief there is nothing to be concerned about because the
world is a very safe place.
> My wife and I walk frequently at night. I do carry a light, since many
> of our village streets have no sidewalks. But the light I carry is one
> of those button-battery powered LEDs, roughly the size of three stacked
> quarters. I don't remember any driver ever failing to notice it.
Better drivers I guess. (I'm in Massachusetts).
I've come to the conclusions I have based on *years* of
walking that stretch of road. I obviously don't feel it
is so dangerous that I outright stay away from it, but in
the past I'd get pushed off the road by a driver coming
towards me (I walk on the opposite side of the road with
light and leashed dog) who simply is not going to share
the way with me.
I'm convinced, over years of experience on that stretch of
road, that just having the light on isn't good enough.
You need to wave the light right where the driver's eyes
approximately are to get his attention. Having the light
passively at my side facing down the edge of the road ahead
of me doesn't do it, and least with the hand light I use
which sounds pretty much the same thing you use.
> One tip: It's been shown that light sources (including reflectors) are
> much more attention getting if they move, especially if they move in a
> way related to a person walking. People are hardwired to notice other
> people. So when you're walking your dog at night, turn the light on as
> a car approaches, but swing your arm naturally as you walk.
I turn the light on, then wave it back and forth across the
approaching car's windshield. I have no idea if I'm "blinding"
him or not. But it does get his attention much farther out
from me than any other technique I've tried.
> On a bike, pedal reflectors produce this motion very well. Coupled
> with a proper rear reflector and taillight, I doubt very much that
> you'll have any trouble being noticed from behind. I certainly haven't
> had trouble in nearly 30 years, and in fact I've gotten some
> spontaneous compliments on my visibility from motorists.
Pedal reflectors can't be seen too well from astern on my
bikes because of the panniers on the back. I'm not certain
how well they do overall as they are low and the pedal is
either angled down in parts of the pedaling motion, or are
overhung with the heel of your foot. I do occasionally
really notice pedal reflectors from off angles.
The wheel reflectors are good, but they don't help you much
fore and aft.
> Also, in the forward direction, you don't need much. Oncoming
> motorists are in the opposite lane. The only ones that need to notice
> you are those turning left across your path, and those waiting at stop
> signs for a clear spot. A 3 watt generator light has always been
> sufficient to get me noticed. In fact, I think any light bright enough
> to show you the road surface is bright enough to be easily noticed by
> motorists.
I have the 6V Dymotec generator on two of my commuting
bikes and am quite happy with them. I run 3W head lights
with AA powered tails. I think I'm well noted on the road
by motorists.
Given the lane difference between oncoming traffic on a
bike, blinding lights aren't so much an issue.
> In fact, several times just this year I've seen that motorists making
> those maneuvers waited overly long as I passed at night. That is, they
> had _plenty_ of time to safely get going before I arrived, but they
> waited patiently until I was past.
I agree that generally, at least around here, despite a
very high 18-25 year old male driving demographic, that
riding the bike on the road is very problem free. People
are quite good about giving bicyclists proper respect.
But walking seems quite a bit different, at least in this
one particular stretch of route I often use to exercise
myself along with a turbosupercharged Irish Setter!
SMH
