Bike lights could save your life (From Bournemouth Echo)

www.on-one.co.uk
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You can get a set of lights for under a Fiver!! Much cheaper than a fine.
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Yes I cycle - and yes I want to see as many offenders caught as possible.
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Saturday Night, my son wanted to cycle round to his friend - about 500m away - I asked him if he had lights on and he said no - so I wouldn't let him go on the bike - he had to walk instead.
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Get lights!! No excuses!!

Once again the so say 'website of the year' gets it so wrong again. The 'stopping distance for a motor car at 30mph is 23 metres and NOT 14 metres (that is the braking distance). If you thought you were going to stop in that distance Mr Bailey you have killed him! Oh and by the way, just incase you didnt notice, the clocks actually went back to GMT yesterday!!!

I agree that lights should be used but don't give the offending 'riders' the money back! And yes I'm a cyclist as well as a driver.
On a side note though if the Police are serious about road safety could they moniter the traffic lights in Alma Rd junction of Heron Court Rd next to Linwood School and watch how many drivers 'jump the lights!' Tony

tony.b wrote:
I agree that lights should be used but don't give the offending 'riders' the money back! And yes I'm a cyclist as well as a driver.
On a side note though if the Police are serious about road safety could they moniter the traffic lights in Alma Rd junction of Heron Court Rd next to Linwood School and watch how many drivers 'jump the lights!' Tony

They won't be giving the money back. If the offender buys lights, the ticket is cancelled.
If they pay that's an admission of guilt and they don't get the money back.

When this topic came up on this forum last year a cyclist said that bikes do not need lights as it is the responsibility of drivers to proceed at a speed where their lights show up all obstructions which includes cycists.

tony.b wrote:
I agree that lights should be used but don't give the offending 'riders' the money back! And yes I'm a cyclist as well as a driver. On a side note though if the Police are serious about road safety could they moniter the traffic lights in Alma Rd junction of Heron Court Rd next to Linwood School and watch how many drivers 'jump the lights!' Tony

Car drivers who have minor lighting faults can be offered the opportunity under the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme to rectify the fault within a short time and for no further action to be taken. It is only fair that this is also applied to cyclists.

Are flashing cycle light legal?
Are steady LED lights legal or are they too small?

oldgiraffe wrote:
Are flashing cycle light legal?
Are steady LED lights legal or are they too small?

Yes under the 2005 amendments flashing are legal:
http://www.ctc.org.u
k/desktopdefault.asp
x?tabid=4071

Steady LED are legal too.

Technically it has to conform to British Standards and carry a BS licence on the light (kite mark iirc), the vast majority of manufacturers cannot afford to go through with the licensing process but the authorities are usually happy if said light fits the criteria (eg has a German Standard instead - the best one in Europe, possibly the world).

Last year when the clocks went back my workmate got caught out and forgot his lights. I keep a spare, cheap set in my locker and gave him the set so he could ride home safely.

He was down-to-earth about it. He would have walked but a bike is sometimes tricky to walk across a road when crossing.

I really don't see what excuse ANYONE can come up with to not have lights and still ride. Other road users actively LOOK for lights, its that simple.

I saw a very close call last week when a driver went to pull out and an unlit cyclist managed to swing around his bonnet - his scream was bloody-curdling. I hope it and my shouting "lights would have stopped that" at him from my own bike make the guy think. He must have been around early 20s, the few I see tend to be young.

saw people tonight while walking my dog along iford bridge with no lights and all in black!!! i could hardly see them,its a good idea but dont give them the money back,and please not to go on pavements ,so frightening when coming from behind,perhaps the police should start looking here as such a busy road !!!it makes me so cross!!!!!!!!!

rayc wrote:
When this topic came up on this forum last year a cyclist said that bikes do not need lights as it is the responsibility of drivers to proceed at a speed where their lights show up all obstructions which includes cycists.

No one said cyclists should not have lights. But the obligation on motorists is correct.

Debris in the road, elderly pedestrians and new forest ponies do not have lights. Kerbstones, junctions, bends, and speed bumps usually lack lights or hi-viz. All are regular features of local roads, and tend to be found in, on, or at the side of the road.

Motorists are required to drive with due care and attention, and to adapt their driving to the conditions at hand. In simple terms, the latter half of the cyclists' statement is correct.

You might not like this, but it is the law, it is quite fair, and there is little you can do about it.

Taken from the Direct Gov website from the highway code, at the end it details the law that applies, not just a guideline:

"At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.

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Sorry the last bit was cut off:
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Third time lucky!
(Law RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24)

Instead of 'crackdown crackdown crackdown', perhaps it would be more positive and useful for the police to give out lights to those that do not have them.
Help them fit them.
It's mostly the youngsters who don't have much money who don't have lights.

Instead of 'crackdown crackdown crackdown', perhaps it would be more positive and useful for the police to give out lights to those that do not have them.
Help them fit them.
It's mostly the youngsters who don't have much money who don't have lights.

It’s a shame that Poole council use road safety as an excuse to deploy speed cameras, then switch off half the street lights on some of the busiest roads (Canford way) to save money. Even with lights on my bike I can hardly see the road in some of these places, and last week nearly collided with a pedestrian (dressed in black) on the shared cycle path.

tony.b wrote:
I agree that lights should be used but don't give the offending 'riders' the money back! And yes I'm a cyclist as well as a driver. On a side note though if the Police are serious about road safety could they moniter the traffic lights in Alma Rd junction of Heron Court Rd next to Linwood School and watch how many drivers 'jump the lights!' Tony

So you don't see any cyclists jumping the lights then?

A story about cyclists and Hammer crawls out from under her bridge. Clip Clop Clip Clop...

Nothing relevant to say about the story – just trying to get her snide little comments in.

Back to the article in question – I agree with most of the above posters – lights have come on leaps and bound over recent years and as a bonus come down in price too. There is no excuse not to have some on your bike. I ride whenever I can (with my family too) and sometimes we can be lit up like a Disney World float! Don’t forget the reflective clothing & stickers – they really catch car’s head lights and anything to help then notice you is a good thing.

And even though the law does still put the driver in the hot seat if they hit things in the dark, we as cyclists can do everything in our powers to avoid those incidents.

Repo wrote:
It’s a shame that Poole council use road safety as an excuse to deploy speed cameras, then switch off half the street lights on some of the busiest roads (Canford way) to save money. Even with lights on my bike I can hardly see the road in some of these places, and last week nearly collided with a pedestrian (dressed in black) on the shared cycle path.

You must know how hard it is for car drivers to see cyclists without lights and dressed all in black then.

MandinVerwood wrote:
A story about cyclists and Hammer crawls out from under her bridge. Clip Clop Clip Clop... Nothing relevant to say about the story – just trying to get her snide little comments in. Back to the article in question – I agree with most of the above posters – lights have come on leaps and bound over recent years and as a bonus come down in price too. There is no excuse not to have some on your bike. I ride whenever I can (with my family too) and sometimes we can be lit up like a Disney World float! Don’t forget the reflective clothing & stickers – they really catch car’s head lights and anything to help then notice you is a good thing. And even though the law does still put the driver in the hot seat if they hit things in the dark, we as cyclists can do everything in our powers to avoid those incidents.

Bet you look like Goofy LMAO!

O'Really wrote:
Instead of 'crackdown crackdown crackdown', perhaps it would be more positive and useful for the police to give out lights to those that do not have them.
Help them fit them.
It's mostly the youngsters who don't have much money who don't have lights.

Madison/Blackburn (who make a number of lights) have been doing freebies in London and a couple of other cities this year. Its been part of a concerted charity effort to give quality lights to those that struggle to afford them, and to make others who have ridden unlit safer.

Other companies might follow, who knows. Several cycle clubs/campaigns now give away free lights upon joining, too.

penhale wrote:

Repo wrote:
It’s a shame that Poole council use road safety as an excuse to deploy speed cameras, then switch off half the street lights on some of the busiest roads (Canford way) to save money. Even with lights on my bike I can hardly see the road in some of these places, and last week nearly collided with a pedestrian (dressed in black) on the shared cycle path.

You must know how hard it is for car drivers to see cyclists without lights and dressed all in black then.

No need to be rude at the fella, they're doing the right thing.

Repo wrote:
It’s a shame that Poole council use road safety as an excuse to deploy speed cameras, then switch off half the street lights on some of the busiest roads (Canford way) to save money. Even with lights on my bike I can hardly see the road in some of these places, and last week nearly collided with a pedestrian (dressed in black) on the shared cycle path.

As per my above comment - consider looking at joining a cycle club or campaign as you sometimes get decent lights free (member ship brings other benefits like insurance and legal cover)

Failing that, depending on your budget there's lots to choose from. There are essentially 2 types of light, to be seen by, and to see with.

The latter gives you many options that will light up dark towpaths, unlit roads and cycleways. £80 will get you a Hope Vision 1 - 180 lumens, good beam with 3 brightness settings and 1 flash on low. B&M make decent seeing-with lights in this price bracket.

£10 will get you a tesco torch (or equivalent). 1w cree LED, around 100 lumens. Buy a "two fish lock block" (velcro fastener) for the handlebars and you've got a reasonable light.

Look at lights by Smart, too. If you have a really good budget, £200+, you can get lights such as the Exposures. The Strada or above are superb, the best built lights and fittings for the money imo.

downfader wrote:

penhale wrote:

Repo wrote:
It’s a shame that Poole council use road safety as an excuse to deploy speed cameras, then switch off half the street lights on some of the busiest roads (Canford way) to save money. Even with lights on my bike I can hardly see the road in some of these places, and last week nearly collided with a pedestrian (dressed in black) on the shared cycle path.

You must know how hard it is for car drivers to see cyclists without lights and dressed all in black then.

No need to be rude at the fella, they're doing the right thing.

How am I being rude then, just asking a simple question.

If you want to see where you are going don't waste your money on fancy ripoff cycle lights.
B&Q 2aa led torch, 120 lumen for twenty pounds.
Most cycle specific kit is a complete con and use seperate battery and the cable pops out when downhilling, nearly killed me a few times when I had a set made by a local company.
Torches are far better for all but the cash flash posers.

O'Really wrote:
Instead of 'crackdown crackdown crackdown', perhaps it would be more positive and useful for the police to give out lights to those that do not have them.
Help them fit them.
It's mostly the youngsters who don't have much money who don't have lights.

Don't agree with that at all, if youngsters cant afford the lights to go out at night then the parents are failing their children by not getting them some, they are only a fiver, not a great amount of money to keep your children safe and more importantly alive.

penhale wrote:

downfader wrote:

penhale wrote:

Repo wrote:
It’s a shame that Poole council use road safety as an excuse to deploy speed cameras, then switch off half the street lights on some of the busiest roads (Canford way) to save money. Even with lights on my bike I can hardly see the road in some of these places, and last week nearly collided with a pedestrian (dressed in black) on the shared cycle path.

You must know how hard it is for car drivers to see cyclists without lights and dressed all in black then.

No need to be rude at the fella, they're doing the right thing.

How am I being rude then, just asking a simple question.

You asked something irrelevant to their situation, that is rude. It would be like me asking you to slow down and obey the limit on the basis of you simply saying you drove to work this morning.

udaku wrote:
If you want to see where you are going don't waste your money on fancy ripoff cycle lights.
B&Q 2aa led torch, 120 lumen for twenty pounds.
Most cycle specific kit is a complete con and use seperate battery and the cable pops out when downhilling, nearly killed me a few times when I had a set made by a local company.
Torches are far better for all but the cash flash posers.

Switch over to an internal battery system instead. That'll stop the battery disconnecting. Or glue, screw a retaining bracket over the cable to hold it in.

The B&Q torch is the same cree LED setup as the £10 tesco, just a different chassis/handle.

I will point out that using a torch means there will be head height illumination - better for off road, but you will have to angle it down on the road itself. 2 reasons imo: 1 is dazzling others, and 2 is how it will kind of hide your body making signals less easy to see.