Advocacy & Safety - Your comments needed for tail/brake lights !!

Would you use a flasher tail light with brake light function rather than a simple blinkie? it would signal more accurate info to the vehicles behind, right? Any one of you ever used brake light as below? the switch is fixed with brake lines, so when you press the brake bar, the brake line pulls up and forces the switch pressed to initiate solid/steady brake light. I am thinking to buy it........and need some experienced pals to give some tips.....such as, does the switch get loose against brake line easily? Your comments are greatly appreciated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/NS-BRL.gif
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/NS-BRL.2.gif

I say it's a good idea. It's only $10 from Nashbar and shipping. I think that you should add another blinkie along with it like a cateye ld1000 to let the person behind you know that you are there and the Nashbar braking blinking to let them know when you are decreasing speed.

Those switches stick on sometimes killing the battery, and break easily. Sometimes they work. That light is weak anyway.

Cars and motorcycles that can keep up with traffic have steady running lights and brake lights. They have similar speeds.

Slow moving vehicles of all kinds, bikes, tractors, cars, use blinking lights to signify a slow moving vehicle to others. You don't want to be mistaken for a motorcycle that can keep up with traffic by an approaching vehicle. You need to identify yourself as a slow moving vehicle. Flashing red lights are for caution. Just like flashing red traffic lights or emergency vehicles etc.

Skip the less powerful lights, just get a Cateye TL-LD 1000. Most mail order places have them. Then you don't have to upgrade as soon as you see how your light works.

I say it's a good idea. It's only $10 from Nashbar and shipping. I think that you should add another blinkie along with it like a cateye ld1000 to let the person behind you know that you are there and the Nashbar braking blinking to let them know when you are decreasing speed.

When the Cateye is on you won't be able to see that light. The blinking light is better as almost all cars will have to slow down, even when you're accelerating.

Flashing red is illegal in the state of Maryland.

In Maryland, if you have a taillight (only a reflector is required), it has to be either a solid red or a blinking amber.

Lack of standardization adds confusion.

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Lack of standardization adds confusion.

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The understatement of the day ! :)

A plain blinkie gives sufficient warning to traffic approaching from behing to be alert.
This device only works when you apply the rear brake. It does nothing when you use your front brake or when you stop pedalling.

It might be useful when riding in a group with other cyclists, or riding on the MUPs.

That's an interesting point, Roody, about MUPs. Still, I think I'll pass on the brake light. But I use a blinkie when riding on roads. By the time I see a bike reflector, when I'm driving my car, it's too late. But blinker lights catch my eye in plenty of time to gauge the speed of the bike.

What I don't like is that it goes on the rear brake. I only use my rear brake when my front brake is malfunctioning.

What I don't like is that it goes on the rear brake. I only use my rear brake when my front brake is malfunctioning.


I am new to the bike world....could you please advise why you prefer to apply front brake than rear brake? Is this just an ordinary habit? or front brake gives more stability than rear one while braking?

I am new to the bike world....could you please advise why you prefer to apply front brake than rear brake? Is this just an ordinary habit? or front brake gives more stability than rear one while braking?

Front brake gives far better braking. This article explains far better than I ever could:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

While I agree that these lights are a good idea, I don't agree that they will somehow make you any safer when braking near cars.

Yes, car owners know: "Red light means stop"
But, through repetition training, we've come to learn: "Red light on car means stop, Red light on bike means he's there"

If legal, I think an always flashing blinky of some sort is far better than a brake light. I really think that most drivers would not associate your bicycle's brake light in the same fashion as a car's brake light because the last time most drivers rode a bike was 10-60 years ago and they probably had nothing but the standard HUFFY Reflector.

What good is a brake light on a bike?? So that car tailgating you know's that you're going to be going slower than the slow speed you're already going ????

I don't get it.

jw

:rolleyes: Brake lights for bikes. Again :rolleyes: So brake lights are brighter than running lights. I would rather my running lights be as strong as any brake lights and mine are. So have a brake light, just leave it on all the time. Manufacturers keep coming up with new gizmos and people keep buying them. P.T. Barnum had a phrase for that. I vote for colored rubber in the tires as the silliest marketing ploy. Next would be colored spoke nipples. Then spoke reflectors that spin. Any others?