Commuting - Rear Lights - "Blinking" vs "Always on"

I saw an opionion from a fellow about what kind of light should you show on the rear of your cycle at night. His thoughts were that blinking might intuitively seem to catch your eye, but it's more difficult for the average driver to accurately estimate your relative distance because the image isn't constant. I've purposely been looking at "night-riders" for the past few weeks while driving around town and think there is some truth to his position. (My eyes are 49 years old and probably represent the beginning of the dangerous group of drivers we're trying to protect ourselves from. . . )

I'm aware that Germany doesn't allow blinking tail-lights on bicycles. (Any info on this would be interesting to see also.)

So, I've gone done the chicken thing and have a fairly large rear light mounted on the rear of my pannier rack that I leave on in the constant mode (a VistaLite Super Nebula 5 - $12.99 at several online dealers) and a blinking light (Specialized Afterburner Pro) mounted on the seatpost. (Arguably the worst mounting hardware ever supplied with a bicycle accessory!)

In my less than scientific experiments, I walked back about 150-200 feet and looked at my bicycle on a very dark foggy night, the blinking light was almost useless, but the steady-on light was quite visible and made it easy to identify the bike.

I'd like to hear how the rest of you are attacking the problem.

I have two tailights. One is the NightRider tailight with the 19 LEDs. I have this one set to flashing mode. This one is mounted to the rear of my panier rack.

My other is some specialized thing I bought several years ago, with six LEDs. I leave this one on steady mode. The one is mounted on my seatpost.

I have recently removed my seatpost light as I mounted my bottle-battery back there. I am probably going to find another taillight to place on steady mode that I can mount on my left pannier.

I do feel that the flashing light more immediately identifies you as a cyclist. And the steady light for more accurate ranging.

Good post....

I also have two tailights: Vistalite Eclipse (very bright, but a pain when changing batteries) and a Cateye (dependable and easy to use but not too bright). I set both lights to blink because on my city's streets a steady red light just gets lost in the "clutter" of other lights along the road. I cycle in an urban setting.

It never occurred to me to run one blinking and one steady, I think that's the way I'll do it from now on.

regards
Dan

I usually just use a blinky on the back of my helmet. Never thought about gauging distance. I've got a second one, so I'll set it to steady and mount it on the bike somewhere!

L8R

I noticed when the police first went to strobe lights that it was hard to judge the distance and location to the car, especialy in wet weather. When they started adding steady lights to the mix they were a lot easier to see.

I run one red blinkie on the back. and a clear blinie on the front in all weather light conditions. and a hologen hadlight after dark or in bad foggy weather.

I usually have a blinky on my back pack for the reason that car taillights don't blink. I usually put a blinky on my left upper arm too with a velcro band. My theory on that is that it makes you more visible from the front left, where an oncoming car would make a left turn into my path.

I have 2 Vista nebula 5 LED lights set to blink, mounted with the Thorn bracket designed for 2 lights

Available here
http://www.sjscycles.com/store/vIndex.htm
(go to lights/LED/Rear for the lights, and Lights/Brackets for the mounting bracket)

I work on the basis that flashing lights in a city stand out a lot better than static ones, and with two lights one will be on at all times so they can judge distance.

I've heard motorists tell me that flashing lights are easier to see/catch their attention more than constant ones. IN saying that, we don't get too many foggy nights around here.

2 red led,s both on flash mode ! very visable !

I run my seat post mounted light in constant mode and one on my panniers in flashing mode.

I understand that you are not supposed to use a flashing light that is attached to a bicycle in the UK (Against some law which defines lighting for road users). However common sense prevails (for once) and it is effectivley ignored. However warnings are printed on the packaging of new lights

I used to have mine flash but I now leave mine on constantly.

I suspect that there is wisdom in the European perspective on the matter.

I just bought a second LED rear lamp, specifically so that I could have a contsant light on the bike and a flashing light attached to my backpack. Best of both worlds in my opinion. The headlamp I use is a rechargeable halogen unit.

Ed

If the blink frequency is too low, it is possible for a driver to glance at you between flashes. Ive noticed that when I look at some other cyclists.

Good post... these perspectives are invaluable and why I like reading many of these threads. I've always run a steady light and a blinky on the front of my bike, with a blinky on the back... I believe, based on what's been said here, I'll get a second rear blinky and set it on constant/always on. It certainly cannot hurt, and likely will help. Thanks all.

I think using a combination of blinking light, a constant light and reflectors works best.

I'm going to buy a "slow-moving vehicle" triangular reflector today that straps on my back. That'll just about cover it. :)

It is hard to judge the speed and distance of a blinking light. But it really does catch your eye. A constant light is really needed in addition, I think.

I have two Vistalite Super Nebula 5 lights I run the the flash mode. If it is foggy or raining I also have a Vistalite Strobe light.
I want to get the attention of every driver who comes up behind me.
I'm not worried about them judging distance. I want to make sure they see me whether they are two blocks away or right behind me.

i agree with ron. i will continue to blink incessently. think of it as a nervous twitch brought on by too many close calls with cagers.

Originally posted by RonH
I have two Vistalite Super Nebula 5 lights I run the the flash mode. If it is foggy or raining I also have a Vistalite Strobe light.
I want to get the attention of every driver who comes up behind me.
I'm not worried about them judging distance. I want to make sure they see me whether they are two blocks away or right behind me. I have had lots of drivers pass me like I was an 18 wheeler,When I use all 6 of the blinking leds plus two strobes on my ride to work. I will stick to the flashing mode.

Did a bit of research. Blinkers are illegal in the UK. The following is an excerpt from the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulation 1989

Lamps to show a steady light
13.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), no vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which automatically emits a flashing light.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in respect of-


(a) a direction indicator;


(b) a headlamp fitted to an emergency vehicle;


(c) a warning beacon or special warning lamp;


(d) a lamp or illuminated sign fitted to a vehicle used for police purposes;


(e) a green warning lamp used as an anti-lock brake indicator; or


(f) lamps forming part of a traffic sign.

You could argue that a blinker comes under the heading of warning beacon item (c), but they are amber normally.

For anyone that is really interested here is the link

http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_3.htm#(Tii)i8obligatorylampreflectorrearmarkingdevice

Also of interest is that all pedals should have amber reflective strips. All the clipless pedals I know don't have it, but as I said earlier common sense normally prevails

For me it is important that in the blinking mode a battery lasts times longer than in an "always on" mode. Actually it is most important consideration for me.

I tried recently to make the blinking lights for my helmet myself. It came out very well. There are small self-blinking lamps in the radio shops. The cost is almost nothing. Just do not forget to include the resister in the circuit.

It is very simple, but works surprisinly well.

hants ... thanks for your post. but i learned long ago that a government decree should never be confused for a sound piece of judgement. we yanks are funny that way.

Hants Commuter,

Thanks for clearing up the legal position on flashing lights. This was my understanding too. But it was pointed out to me that the key point is that no flashing/intermittant light should be attached to the vehicle. There is, I believe, nothing to state that a bicycle rider or pedestrian may not wear a flashing light on their person. For this reason I have the flashing light clipped to my backpack, with a regulation continuous red lamp on the bike that meets the british standard.

There are so many unlit cyclists (dressed in black, on black bikes no less) in this town that I'd be really mad to get stopped for having the wrong type of lights :)

Cheers,

Ed

Hants Com has a significant point. If you ever find yourself in a UK court of law, you can rest assured the lawyer for the car-driver's insurance company will hold you to the letter of the law, and push for contributory negligance, even if you were lit up like a christmas tree and were run down by a reckless loon on drugs.
Making your bike safe to ride and making it lawer proof are two separate things.

Glad to be of assistance.



There are so many unlit cyclists (dressed in black, on black bikes no less) in this town that I'd be really mad to get stopped for having the wrong type of lights

As I have said before Common Sense normally prevails!


Ride safe (whether blinking or not :D )

back to the pedals , technicaly i ,spose with clipless pedals it could be argued that the shoe is part of the pedal, so if you have reflective strips on your shoes as they do , you may be to the letter of the law anyway ??

By the way, I attached that "slow moving vehicle" reflective triangle, which is a bright greenish yellow for daylight effectiveness, to my rear. Now, cars pass me much more confidently, as if they can judge the distance more easily.

After all, if the triangle is good enough for slow-moving farm tractors and work vehicles, it's good enough for a slow-moving bicycle commuter who is taking his legal place in traffic.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
By the way, I attached that "slow moving vehicle" reflective triangle, which is a bright greenish yellow for daylight effectiveness, to my rear. Now, cars pass me much more confidently, as if they can judge the distance more easily.

After all, if the triangle is good enough for slow-moving farm tractors and work vehicles, it's good enough for a slow-moving bicycle commuter who is taking his legal place in traffic.

When I had been preparing for the cycling tour in the USA, I ordered and got via Internet the triangle from adventurecycling.org

I thought it is the law in the USA to have the Slow Moving Vehicle reflective yellow triangle on the bike. I used it when on roads to avoid being fined by cops.

And it seemed to me they looked at it while I was cycling on the roads and were happy because I had one. Or was it just my imagination?

I have one of the above mentioned triangles that I have attached to the bottom of the outer flap of my messenger bag. That way it hangs from the bottom of the flap when cycling, and after I reach my destination, I simply fold the triangle up into the inside of the flap.

I use the flash mode on my tail-light. I believe it draws attention to me better. I also have outfitted my bike with a lot of reflective stickers to be seen at all angles and have them on my helmet (except the front). I also where a Cal-Trans (California Transit) vest that makes me very visible. Very bright orange with reflective strips that run vertically. If it is good enough for construction guys working on the freeway it is good enough for me.

My winter clothing is all black, so I do my best to be visible.

At night I think the blinking light makes me look like a bike cop. At least I hope the drivers think that!

It's been interesting to see the range of opinions here. I am constantly amazed though at the number of riders I see at night with no lights. Ususally they're riding on sidewalks along busy thoroughfares, going against the traffic. (Is it considered rude to stop and slap riders who are too stupid to think through the likely results of their choices?)

The two riders who have been most visible were:
1. The guy with the huge tail light (about 6 X 9 inches) full of LEDs.

2. A fellow with a headlamp that must have been stolen from a Boeing 747. I was in awe. He was blistering the paint on cars from 50 yards, cooking a chicken at the edge of the beam, and melting ice on the road at 25 mph. That was one righteous light!

Way too many people though with a single blinking LED on a weak battery on unlit streets. You think you see something, but you're not quite sure what. (Scotty - Raise the sheilds and proceed at warp factor 5 towards the unknown object.)

I think the combination of one blinking and one steady is best. I'm 49 years old also, and I've noticed that I can see a blinking light from much further away than a steady one. I use a steady light on my seat post, and a blinking one on my backpack.
We have the yellow reflective requirement on the pedals here in California. Easy to comply with for me. I use double sided SPD pedals for my road bikes, and the manufacturers ship bikes with a reflective insert that clips into one side of the SPD's. Most shops throw them away after selling a bike without SPD pedals, so they gave them to me for free.

I bought a new LED blinker and put it on my saddlebag. Two days ago. When I went to turn it on last night, I'd discovered it had fallen off.

A good thread.

I did some experiments with front and rear lights last fall.

My preferred rear set-up:

--a Trek taillight, powered by 2 AA batteries, in slow-blink mode on the back of the saddlebag. This thing by itself is visible for more than a mile away on a dark road with fresh batteries.

--another red taillight mounted on the back of my head, on the straps for my (helmetless) headlamp. I set this to quick blink.

-- orange vest, with an extra low-hanging stripe for cycling in drop bars.

-- red and orange reflector, custom made from large trailer reflector and tape, attached to the back of my rear rack

-- and, suprisingly importantly: velcro ankle bands with reflective white strips along them.


I can't emphasize the last thing enough. In my tests, these things were the single most visible thing to drivers behind. Your ankles are right down in the beam of car headlights. They're moving. These bands were the most attention-getting thing about a rider many hundreds of yards back on a dark road. So if there is one thing not mentioned in previous posts that I would strongly urge everyone to get, it would be a cheap pair of reflective ankle bands.

With all of this on, cars give me a wider berth. They figure out I'm a cyclist quickly enough-- the ankle bands give the pedaling away. But the brightness of everything, and the combination, creates a kind of christmas tree effect. Drivers veer widely away out of the power of suggestion: if the rider's _that_ bright, it must be really important to steer clear.

If this seems like overkill, bear in mind that I often ride on absolutely dark, narrow roads, with infrequent but high speed traffic. I want it to be no surprise to the car behind when it comes within 400 yards.

In front, I make do with one white reflector, and a massive HID headlamp on the handlebars. The reflector is for legal reasons. It's completely invisible behind the very bright headlamp. Indeed, everything on the bike is invisible behind the headlamp. That's actually a good thing. The light gets attention, and oncoming traffic will slow.

I often wear a Princeton halogen headlamp as an emergency backup for a front light. I use it to read the computer during a typical ride. It would be all right as a traffic safety device, because you could point it directly at drivers.

Again, the extra light may seem like overkill, but I can't afford to be out there without a headlamp. One guy passing in my lane and I'm in the ditch.

A friend of mine on the local police force said they he knows of a study where flashing lights put certain drivers, epecially drunk ones, in some sort of trance and they are more likely to drive into the light source. That said I think flashing lights are far more effective to be seen with.

Originally posted by veganheart
A friend of mine on the local police force said they he knows of a study where flashing lights put certain drivers, epecially drunk ones, in some sort of trance and they are more likely to drive into the light source.

Interesting. This is something I really need to be mindful of, given that this place floats on a sea of alcohol. Do you have more information?