Advocacy & Safety - Please dont put a red light on the front

I almost had a head on collision on a MUP with a rider last night with a blinky red light
clipped on the front of his shirt. From the red I thought we were going in the
same direction, but our closing speed suddenly seemed too fast. whew- it
was a close one.

yeah, i've seen the white light on the back as well. although that one is probably less dangerous.

I almost had a head on collision on a MUP with a rider last night with a blinky red light
clipped on the front of his shirt. From the red I thought we were going in the
same direction, but our closing speed suddenly seemed too fast. whew- it
was a close one.

+1

I would rather be riding towards someone with a red light on their front, than no light on their front.

I had the same issue yesterday morning. The other rider approaching me had a large flashing red light and a flashing white strobe light attached to his handlebars. Ack!

White in front ... red in back. I guess that's too deep a concept for some folks to grasp ...

Just the other night, I saw the same thing.... I wonder if its the same person?
I honestly do believe it is quite dangerous, In the dark, at speed, I couldnt tell
they were coming at me.

Just the other night, I saw the same thing.... I wonder if its the same person?
I honestly do believe it is quite dangerous, In the dark, at speed, I couldnt tell
they were coming at me.

Hmm Chicago to Texas seems pretty far to ride this time of year :) +1 on keeping the red to rear and white to front. I ride on an unlit MUP fairly frequently and lighting is of the essence.

interesting, I was considering putting a white flasher on the back just because it's brighter, in addition to my red flasher.. anything to get the attention of motorists. On bike trails I see the white flashers from much further away than the red ones.

I don't get it.

1) It's illegal

2) observers will think you are going the other way.

3) you could hurt someone.

Add it to the growing list of dumb things people do. Also on the list:

Wearing helmets backwards. I can't figure out how anyone could screw this up.

Having a helmet, but instead of wearing it, they have it dangling from the handlebars.

Wearing a helmet incorrectly, either perched on the back of the head, or with the strap unfastened.

I almost had a head on collision on a MUP with a rider last night with a blinky red light
clipped on the front of his shirt. From the red I thought we were going in the
same direction, but our closing speed suddenly seemed too fast. whew- it
was a close one.
There's a guy on my daily MUP section of commute that does the same thing. Red blinkie on his bars, and no other lights. I thought for once I'd found someone to ride with at 5:30am, until I realized he was heading the other direction.
The only reasonable excuse I've heard was a few months ago: A guy was coming very slowly down the MUP with an amber blinkie on his bars, and as I got near he called out "Sorry... My headlight burned out!"

Add it to the growing list of dumb things people do. Also on the list:

Wearing helmets backwards. I can't figure out how anyone could screw this up.

Having a helmet, but instead of wearing it, they have it dangling from the handlebars.

Wearing a helmet incorrectly, either perched on the back of the head, or with the strap unfastened.

"Woo Hoo! Woo Hoo Hoo!"
http://www.bales.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/vonage_logo_new.thumbnail.gif

1) It's illegal

2) observers will think you are going the other way.

3) you could hurt someone.


yeah well, on the road, "observers" are going 50 miles per hour (and usually ten miles faster than that if that's the speed limit), and the particular color of the flashing light doesn't matter if it gets their attention. the red flasher I have works, and I have plenty of reflectors and a bright vest also with reflectors, but still cars come up on me on those 3 miles of 50mph speed limit roads I ride at 10pm as if they just noticed me. Police cars have crazy strobes and flashing lights when they pull someone over, for their safety. You can see the flashing white lights (the little cateye LED ones) from much farther away than a red one. That's all I'm saying. I can't concieve of a situation where a car driver will think that I'm coming towards them, they'll see me from much further away and just get in the other lane sooner. (I'm only talking about commuting on real roads here, not the trail etc.)

yeah well, on the road, "observers" are going 50 miles per hour (and usually ten miles faster than that if that's the speed limit), and the particular color of the flashing light doesn't matter if it gets their attention. the red flasher I have works, and I have plenty of reflectors and a bright vest also with reflectors, but still cars come up on me on those 3 miles of 50mph speed limit roads I ride at 10pm as if they just noticed me. Police cars have crazy strobes and flashing lights when they pull someone over, for their safety. You can see the flashing white lights (the little cateye LED ones) from much farther away than a red one. That's all I'm saying. I can't concieve of a situation where a car driver will think that I'm coming towards them, they'll see me from much further away and just get in the other lane sooner. (I'm only talking about commuting on real roads here, not the trail etc.)Have you tried a really good red one yet? They've made some pretty good ones lately... Cateye LD1000, Planet Bike SuperFlash, NiteRider Universal, and amazingly even the $12 Planet Bike Blinky 5.

Or there's The Taillight We Do Not Name Aloud™, of course... but those require a little fabrication skill ;) Anyway, if you're using an older red blinkie, check out some of today's good ones.

Just the other night, I saw the same thing.... I wonder if its the same person?
I honestly do believe it is quite dangerous, In the dark, at speed, I couldnt tell
they were coming at me.

If you couldnt tell whether they were coming or going, you were riding too fast for your lights. Red blinkies are more readily available than white blinkies, and any light is better than none.

yeah well, on the road, "observers" are going 50 miles per hour (and usually ten miles faster than that if that's the speed limit), and the particular color of the flashing light doesn't matter if it gets their attention. the red flasher I have works, and I have plenty of reflectors and a bright vest also with reflectors, but still cars come up on me on those 3 miles of 50mph speed limit roads I ride at 10pm as if they just noticed me. Police cars have crazy strobes and flashing lights when they pull someone over, for their safety. You can see the flashing white lights (the little cateye LED ones) from much farther away than a red one. That's all I'm saying. I can't concieve of a situation where a car driver will think that I'm coming towards them, they'll see me from much further away and just get in the other lane sooner. (I'm only talking about commuting on real roads here, not the trail etc.)

What about a bike going in the wrong direction right at you? It's happened to me and a few others on the forum. If a car is coming behind you making some glare for the other bike they will have a hard time seeing much except the light. It's happened to me on a pitch dark road, and a pitch dark bike path too.


Or there's The Taillight We Do Not Name Aloud™,

:beer:

Red and green in front, white in back?

Some folks lack the intellect to differentiate a bicycle from a powerboat.

I know some may not agree. I have white in front, and red blinky in back. So far, so good. But I also have a flashing amber in front in addition to the white light. Any comments on use of an amber blinky?

I know some may not agree. I have white in front, and red blinky in back. So far, so good. But I also have a flashing amber in front in addition to the white light. Any comments on use of an amber blinky?Amber is found on both the front and rear of vehicles, as well as the sides, so at least it doesn't send the signal "REAR" to the viewer.

In traffic, I often used Nashbar amber blinkies clipped to my front panniers facing to the sides, to give some side visibility that didn't rely on the viewer having headlights turned on & aimed at me. I just upgraded to a pair of Planet Bike amber ones:

Red and green in front, white in back?

Some folks lack the intellect to differentiate a bicycle from a powerboat.
or a sailboat...

I think it was determined in another thread here on A&S that is not humanly posible to crash into a flashing light if you are paying attention.

For me cycling is about health.

bikes with red lights on the front are a good way to elevate ones heart rate.

Healthy I say!! Healthy:D

:p I have a solid red light on my left bar, and a solid green light on my right bar. That way you always know whether I'm coming toward you or not.

Seriously though, a front red blinkie? Bad idea. :eek:

:p I have a solid red light on my left bar, and a solid green light on my right bar. That way you always know whether I'm coming toward you or not.


Only at sea.

i personally can't believe that some people think it's ok to ride with a red light in the front and/or a white light in rear...

i agree with John E, is it too hard of a concept to grasp?!?!?

that's like saying it's ok for some car manufacturers to use red headlight and white tailights and other car manufacturers to use white headlights and red tailights...

and sorry for the rant, but i had to throw my .02 cents in the "take a penny, leave a penny" cup...

I am gratefull for whatever reflectors the gov makes you put on the bike With out them I might have rearended him on a bike

1) It's illegal. . . .
Not on MUP's in Columbus. Traffic laws only apply to cyclists on paths exclusively reserved for cyclists. So the "M" in MUP means that traffic laws don't apply there. MUP's are pretty much lawless.

Not on MUP's in Columbus. Traffic laws only apply to cyclists on paths exclusively reserved for cyclists. So the "M" in MUP means that traffic laws don't apply there. MUP's are pretty much lawless.

I don't know anything about your laws you could well be right. My state does not specify where you are riding, it's the law wherever you are. I just copied a couple of them, there's more. My guess, is that would suggest other states are the same, but of course that does not mean it's true. But it is logical that bikes should have them everywhere.

§ 31-19-10 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. – (a) Front lamp. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the front.

(b) Rear reflector. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a red reflector of a type approved by the division of motor vehicles which shall be visible for six hundred feet (600') to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500') to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

(c) Pedal reflectors. No person shall sell a new bicycle or a pedal for use on a bicycle that is not equipped with a reflector of a type approved by the department, on each pedal of the bicycle which is visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during darkness from a distance of two hundred feet (200') nor shall any person operate a bicycle without reflective pedals.

I would rather be riding towards someone with a red light on their front, than no light on their front.

To be precise:

I would rather be riding towards someone with no light on their front, than a red light on their front.

Red light on the front of a bike= Moron

I always use a red and a white in front and rear.

Other wise how could I turn around and go the other way?

So I just had a pretty good run in with this exact thread topic. Wrong way cyclist in Bklyn on Henry Street, Saturday night, late, who's not drunk? This kid my age, (seemed to level the field) is doing just this, and we meet head to head next to a pile of trash that forces me into his path or, according to him, me out into traffic. I stop and ask him if I am hallucinating or am I seeing him riding the wrong way, at night on a rather aggressive street, (feeder route back to NYC for Cabbies) with the wrong light? He flips the F out and starts asking me what do I think I am doing? and where do I live, because he lives right here (which I guess gives his opinion more weight??).

Now, my very new wife who is rather sick of my confrontations with aggressive and stupid drivers, is barking at the two of us, to shut up, and this guy goes bonkers. I am not really yelling and trying to point out that he is going to get himself killed or hurt me, and he is stuck on his own screaming bender, so no one is really getting through to anyone. He wasn't hearing me and he wasn't making any sense as far as I could tell. I guess he was trying to make it a class thing while I was trying to make a cycling thing; he is the one presumably still living with his parents in Brooklyn Heights and I live in my own apartment, so I not sure how much weight that carries. He went away yelling and I got chewed out by my girl...

And I think I am right.

Wrong way riders with Red on the front are out there, and they have conviction!

You can sometimes tell a moron is coming, but you can't tell him much.

Heh.. I've always thought about running a white on the front but a red/white on the back, so people think I'm backing up. That'll REALLY make em slow down and get outta the way.

Heh.. I've always thought about running a white on the front but a red/white on the back, so people think I'm backing up. That'll REALLY make em slow down and get outta the way.

:roflmao:

The bike shop owners brother worked with him for a while. He kept putting the front and rear reflectors on backwards ! No one ever figured out why. He has a very high tech job now.

White in front ... red in back. I guess that's too deep a concept for some folks to grasp ...

Some people really don't understand the problems that equipping a bicycle with red lights in front. As it has been pointed out, it's illegal and the rider could hurt someone. While it's true that a red light is better than none in terms of visibility, it is easy to confuse this for someone going the opposite direction. It is not always as visible as using a white light. Some people also don't know or don't realize that this might, in some cases, make them appear as if they are policemen or security personel, which is illegal. Furthermore, red lights belong on the back, as the rider is only trying to tell others that he/she is there, not to blind them! Your nearest LBS can advise and equip you with lights as you need them.


eg. My bicycle is equipped with two white Cateye blinkies in front and two red blinkies in back.

I hope people understand now.

I don't know anything about your laws you could well be right. My state does not specify where you are riding, it's the law wherever you are. I just copied a couple of them, there's more. My guess, is that would suggest other states are the same, but of course that does not mean it's true. But it is logical that bikes should have them everywhere.

§ 31-19-10 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. – (a) Front lamp. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the front.

(b) Rear reflector. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a red reflector of a type approved by the division of motor vehicles which shall be visible for six hundred feet (600') to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500') to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

(c) Pedal reflectors. No person shall sell a new bicycle or a pedal for use on a bicycle that is not equipped with a reflector of a type approved by the department, on each pedal of the bicycle which is visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during darkness from a distance of two hundred feet (200') nor shall any person operate a bicycle without reflective pedals.

All of this applies to bicycles being used as vehicles which implies being used on roads. I don't think you could be pulled over by a cop for riding on the sidewalk with no lights on your bike at night (not that it makes it a smart thing to do).

All of this applies to bicycles being used as vehicles which implies being used on roads. I don't think you could be pulled over by a cop for riding on the sidewalk with no lights on your bike at night (not that it makes it a smart thing to do).

Better think again.