Commuting - Family Begs Me To Not Commute At Night

I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has been in this situation. I've only recently started bicycle commuting. I work rotating shifts. About 1/3 is the midnight shift (midnight to 8 AM), 1/3 is the day shift (8 AM to 4 PM), and 1/3 is the evening shift (4 PM to midnight). The full commute is about 6.7 miles, but I've been doing that only on the day shift. At the steel mill I work, there's an outer parking lot for people who work at sea on the shipping barges, and for parking nicer cars at while the "beaters" that are normally kept there are driven further into the (dirty) mill area. I suppose I'm fortunate that we have such a lot. During the evening and night shifts, I park my truck there and bike the rest of the way in (about 1.7 miles).

I am just burning to do the full commute on the bike on all three shifts, weather permitting, but my family (parents and wife-to-be) just won't have it. They think it's too dangerous. Not so much the ride itself, but they are worried about me getting hit by a car. I think it can be safe. I am willing to get the very brightest lights and as much reflective tape/vest as possible but they still won't have it. I work an hour later than almost everyone else in the plant, so when I am arriving for midnights almost everyone from the previous shift is gone, and when I am leaving evenings that is the case even more so. The traffic all the way is very light, I'd say about 10% of what it is when coming to or going from the day shift. I have spoken to coworkers who do bike or have biked. One said that he feels it's actually safer at night because the cars can see his rear blinker easily and give him more room when passing. The other didn't say much about it other than saying he would wear a white shirt. In my opinion both of their routes are more dangerous than mine. Despite this my family still won't have it. I understand and appreciate their concern, but it still really burns me that this could be a missed opportunity. I love riding at night, especially the relative peace and quiet. They don't share my desire to replace driving with biking. They aren't more than at the most very casual recreational cyclists. Still, it would only be fair to be objectionable about this. I think they see me wanting to bike at night as madness.

My commute is mainly through small-city streets, and one section of highway with a wide shoulder (and I ride in that shoulder).

One of the concerns raised is with drunks on the road, though I have never seen any drunk behavior from drivers. There is one small bar at one of the intersections. Other than a few drivers passing more closely than I feel they should have I have not had problems with motorists.

They are OK with the partial commute inside the plant. I suppose I should be thankful for that, but I still want to do more. I also believe that the people actually doing this, those of you, have the most relevant opinion on the matter.

What do you do in this situation?

With a solid lighting setup, I'd be willing to guess that riding at night is safer than during the day. Fewer cars and lights make your odd presence easier to detect.
With a dinote setup, reflective tape on your bike, illuminite jacket you could be seen from probably farther away than during the daytime.

I'd just load up on blinkies for your back/back of the bike, and make sure you have good lights for the front. When I first started commuting at night and/or poor conditions (Rain storms, snow etc) my family was concerned, now they don't care.

I have 2 5 LED headlights, and 5 5 LED blinkies set to different strobe patterns, 2 of which were visible from the side and back.

With a solid lighting setup, I'd be willing to guess that riding at night is safer than during the day.
Agreed. I feel much safer riding at night when the cars are few and far between and I'm sure to be seen due to being lit up like a Christmas tree.

I wear a helmet mount headlight, so I can shine it where I need to in order to make sure I'm seen before I get left hooked or someone in a cross street pulls out in front of me.

With a solid lighting setup, I'd be willing to guess that riding at night is safer than during the day. Fewer cars and lights make your odd presence easier to detect.
With a dinote setup, reflective tape on your bike, illuminite jacket you could be seen from probably farther away than during the daytime.
Agreed, not to mention a more calm ride.

Wrap your bike in EL wire!

I have been doing a 20 mile RT on my 3 PM to 1:30 AM shift. I am more concerned going into work with all the traffic (lot of traffic from shift changes) than I am going home (usually no traffic). My ride home is my favorite ride.

John

Load up with the brightest lights and geekiest reflective equipment you can find. Then invite them to drive a road that you're riding on at night; once they see how garishly visible you are, it might ease their minds.

Or it might not...in which case, my advice is to ride anyway. I don't understand your remark that your family "won't have it." It's not their decision. They don't need your permission to drive a car, and you don't need theirs to ride a bike.

I don't want to sound cold; it's never easy to see your loved ones unhappy about something, and by all means you should do everything you can to help them understand that your commute is not dangerous.

But trying to keep them happy by letting them make your decisions for you is not healthy; they will learn that (however well-intentioned) emotional blackmail "works", and will keep using the technique. And you will end up resenting them for it. Better to let them know that, while you love them and their concerns matter to you, they don't get to dictate your behavior, nor will you try to dictate theirs.

Yep go with lots of lights so you feel safe.

I love riding at night. In fact I was out a couple times last week from 10 pm to 12:30 am - city and city downtown.

There's been a couple times where something just didn't feel right about the ride that night or something - so I actually cancelled. Need to feel safe and confident.

What would I do? Ride the bike.

Then again, I wouldn't be engaged to someone who would tell me I couldn't do something - so your situation is clearly different than mine.

I wouldn't be engaged to someone who would tell me I couldn't do something

Oh man, that's funny.

How so?
My wife and I give each other our space. No one tells each other what to do. We ask.

With a solid lighting setup, I'd be willing to guess that riding at night is safer than during the day. Fewer cars and lights make your odd presence easier to detect. +1. I generally feel safer at night than during the day (especially at rush hour... boy, I'm so glad to have my flexible schedule and irregular hours, so I can avoid rush hour on main roads as much as possible...)

How so?
My wife and I give each other our space. No one tells each other what to do. We ask.

And what happens when she asks to to either not ride in at night, or to sleep on the couch?

Personally, I feel safer riding through the bar district at 2am than past an elementary school at 7:45 am.

I have three PB Superflashes on the back of my bike.

My family and friends are no longer worried of my night riding. In fact, they're almost gleeful of the way I light up the area behind me.

Currently, my only worry is that the space shuttle is going to land on me.

My wife's got her tentacles everywhere with me:o, but I just started riding one day. Sooner or later, I was riding in more and more often. One thing led to another, and now I ride all the time/all year. She's used to it.:eek:

Get well prepared. Tell her what it means to you. Then, just do it. You'll love it and she'll soon appreciate you for it.

Tell them "too bad". It's your life, not theirs, and this topic has *nothing at all* to do with the actual safety of riding at night, only your family's perception of that safety.

Your family's perception of your safety has *absolutely no effect at all* on whether or not you get hit by a car.

I ride in the dark because up here in Seattle, its not light early enough or late enough for me to ride in the daylight in the deep winter hours. Even now I'm leaving at dawn and arriving at dusk. Add to that the fun of riding in the rain along city streets during the regular commute time and you've got some concerns. I use lots of lights, a reflective vest, reflectors on the wheels, front, back, and on my pedals. No problems so far.

I've been hit twice. Both times were in broad daylight.

Agreed. I feel much safer riding at night when the cars are few and far between and I'm sure to be seen due to being lit up like a Christmas tree.

I wear a helmet mount headlight, so I can shine it where I need to in order to make sure I'm seen before I get left hooked or someone in a cross street pulls out in front of me.

+2! less traffic at night, use lights, the drivers will see you because their eyes are drawn to light. Not necessarily the case in the daytime... so many drivers are on autopilot.

Personally I have come close to getting hit many times in daylight, hit once. Never even come close at night. I have a good but not spectacular lighting setup.

You have a Cree LED headlight, get yourself a blinky & reflective gear, and have your spouse-to-be drive drive back and forth past you at night. She will probably be convinced.

tell your folks to take a hike... Time to make your own decisions, my man :D



Cheers & best of luck to you.

+2! less traffic at night, use lights, the drivers will see you because their eyes are drawn to light. Not necessarily the case in the daytime... so many drivers are on autopilot.

Personally I have come close to getting hit many times in daylight, hit once. Never even come close at night. I have a good but not spectacular lighting setup.

You have a Cree LED headlight, get yourself a blinky & reflective gear, and have your spouse-to-be drive drive back and forth past you at night. She will probably be convinced.

tell your folks to take a hike... Time to make your own decisions, my man :D


+1, Dusk and Dawn are the danger times. Just enough light that headlights and reflective things don't stand out yet to little to make shapes and objects show up clearly. Every single incident I've had has been when there was more than enough light to 'see by'. Whenever my wife starts to act like she is kind of worried, I just conviently leave my last cholesterol test results laying on the kitchen table, I highlighted the note at the bottom 'get more excersise'. Seriously the heart attack and a host of other illnesses you are preventing by getting regular excersise more than makes up for a slight increase of traumatic injury.

+1, Dusk and Dawn are the danger times. Just enough light that headlights and reflective things don't stand out yet to little to make shapes and objects show up clearly. Every single incident I've had has been when there was more than enough light to 'see by'. Whenever my wife starts to act like she is kind of worried, I just conviently leave my last cholesterol test results laying on the kitchen table, I highlighted the note at the bottom 'get more excersise'. Seriously the heart attack and a host of other illnesses you are preventing by getting regular excersise more than makes up for a slight increase of traumatic injury.

Exactly, stress your overall mental and physical health. A little more education is necessary. There must be small risks your fiancee and family run for you to make some analogies. Yes, cycling on roads can be dangerous, like so many things, but people who don't do it blow the dangers way out of proportion. Your lowered stress, better health, better outlook, higher energy level (she gotta love that!) etc., etc., etc., far outweigh the small risk.

And what happens when she asks to to either not ride in at night, or to sleep on the couch?

Couch? I have been married for 11 years and that has never come up.

I also believe that the people actually doing this, those of you, have the most relevant opinion on the matter.
Don't let your wife-to-be hear you say that the opinions of strangers on the Internet are more relevant than her's on ANY issue. :eek:

With a solid lighting setup, I'd be willing to guess that riding at night is safer than during the day. Fewer cars and lights make your odd presence easier to detect.
With a dinote setup, reflective tape on your bike, illuminite jacket you could be seen from probably farther away than during the daytime.

I do most of that for evening rides and like you say, it's going to stand out more when it's darker. for my old job my morning commute was early (4 am) and I was amazed at how much glow the reflective tape put off from every headlight. As a lot of people have said, it's great to ride with that few cars around.

Get these.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-55415361541018_1959_687014

Cost me all of $20 (plus zip ties and a spare bottle to put the batteries in). My wife didn't want me riding around in the dark too much until I put these on my bike. Now she says that I look like a UFO floating down the road. Just going a few miles to the store I noticed that people give you tons of room, more than I get when I'm pulling the kiddies in the trailer. Trust me, these things are BRIGHT!

Get them at http://www.vibelights.com/bili.html

Get these.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-55415361541018_1959_687014


Good.


Lord.

Personally, I feel safer riding through the bar district at 2am than past an elementary school at 7:45 am.
Word!

My commute in the winter usually involves an hour of darkness in the AM and 45 minutes in the PM. I feel safer in the dark. I use a DiNotte headlight, but a headlight is less important than rearward visibility, IMHO. Good blinkies are your friend. The Planet Bike Superflash is really good, as is the BLT Super Doppler DX. A reflective vest is a good idea, and if you'll search the forum you'll find a thread about a blinking LED reflective vest. I have one and it helps a lot. The only time I've been hit was in broad daylight----from behind, no less.

Personally, I feel safer riding through the bar district at 2am than past an elementary school at 7:45 am.
Haha so true.

I have 2 5 LED headlights

what kind do you have? are they getting comparable (or at least usable) to a halogen type headlight? is your route well lit to begin with?

(i know this question might open up a can of worms)

Load up with the brightest lights and geekiest reflective equipment you can find. Then invite them to drive a road that you're riding on at night; once they see how garishly visible you are, it might ease their minds.

Or it might not...in which case, my advice is to ride anyway. I don't understand your remark that your family "won't have it." It's not their decision. They don't need your permission to drive a car, and you don't need theirs to ride a bike.

I don't want to sound cold; it's never easy to see your loved ones unhappy about something, and by all means you should do everything you can to help them understand that your commute is not dangerous.

But trying to keep them happy by letting them make your decisions for you is not healthy; they will learn that (however well-intentioned) emotional blackmail "works", and will keep using the technique. And you will end up resenting them for it. Better to let them know that, while you love them and their concerns matter to you, they don't get to dictate your behavior, nor will you try to dictate theirs.

could not have said it much better myself.

Light & Magic ARC HID in front - three sets of 5 leds lights in back (usually two on at time) - Ansi 3 - Safety Vest - reflective tape on the bike .... it helps to be visible and pick your route carefully to avoid traffic that comes up on you at high speed or in blind corners....

Yes your family will still be concerned because of the cyclists riding with no lights dressed in black on the wrong side of the street will continue to be killed and make the news.... Good luck.

Get these.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-55415361541018_1959_687014

Cost me all of $20 (plus zip ties and a spare bottle to put the batteries in). My wife didn't want me riding around in the dark too much until I put these on my bike. Now she says that I look like a UFO floating down the road. Just going a few miles to the store I noticed that people give you tons of room, more than I get when I'm pulling the kiddies in the trailer. Trust me, these things are BRIGHT!

Get them at http://www.vibelights.com/bili.html

Don't those play havoc with your ability to see at night? Shining up in your face? I find I have to sometimes look right away from headlights as they really washout my ability to see the road/anything in front of me for moments (especially on streets with speedbumps and they're flying up/down in your line of vision).

I definitely feel safer riding at night than during the day. Even in the daylight, I'm wearing bright ANSI lime yellow, but at night with a rear superflash plus xenon strobe and an HID up front, NOBODY can possibly not see me unless they don't look in front of them for a solid mile. I've had multiple people tell me that they saw me over a mile back before they got to me, at speed on 55 MPH roads.

BTW good advice on letting them see what you look like kitted up. I saw a ninja cyclist myself this morning; wearing black, no lights, no reflectors. The only reason I saw him was that he was between me and a car's headlights while I was turning a corner. If that's what they think of when you say riding at night, I'm not surprised they're fearful.

If these people have ultimate veto power over your decision, then it really doesn't matter what reason or logic you use. If they don't, ultimately you don't need to convince them. Tell them your opinion, then do it or don't do it.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=DLUTL&i=3

This is the brightest tail light I've seen. Pricey but I can't see how anyone could miss it.
I've never had a problem at night. My commute is after dark when I'm coming home and will be after dark both ways once the time change comes. My husband has ridden 40-50 mile night rides on weekends for years. It's nicer to ride at night in the dead of summmer.

Riding at night rocks. Actually it doesn't rock. It's very peaceful and quiet. I've been doing it for many years. I've had my headlight go dead a few times, because of my poor timing on recharging. In these circumstances I stop at small intersections and let the cars go first, for fear that they won't see me. Use common sense, ride defensively, and enjoy!

Be careful on Friday nights/Saturday mornings. That's when statistically most accidents occur. Something about people in a rush to get home or getting paid, hitting the bars and coming home drunk.

I can appreciate that others are concerned when you ride.

most recently, jennifer received a call after I'd gone down when a mini van full of touri decided to become competitive in a hair pin turn on my daily road ride - flagstaff mtn rd. 8 hrs in er and she only had to leave the room once. she also tended to me when I did a superman in the dark because I couldn't see a massive series of holes on a side entrance to a rural road. but that was when I had 80's tech (very best, mind you) and I've upgraded to l&m li-ion hid.

since then, I asked her to watch me ride up a nice hill by a friend's home here in boulder - a route I do frequently and she's aware. she agreed that there's no chance I'd ever miss another ditch and no chance that I'd never be unseen by anyone with vision. just from the l&m, much less the cateye 1000 tail.

dusk is a tough one. even hid doesn't get respect. at night, however, cars see you coming and assume you're a vehicle. they'll pull up on a side street, see the hid, and wait. and wait. and wait.

night is safer and more fun.

I really like riding at night. I can name lots of reasons --fewer cars, less noise, more wildlife, cool night air, whatever-- but I'm not sure any of them is really the reason. Riding at night is just... well, it's really nice.

As for whether it's safe... that really depends on where you're riding, how you're riding, etc., just like in the day. If you've got proper lighting, though, you'll be more visible at night than during the day and therefore less likely to be struck accidentally... so by that standard, I'd say it's safer than riding during the day.

On the other hand, there are certain dangers that only come out at night, like black ice. Furthermore, I suspect that certain dangerous driver behaviors --drinking, speeding, running red lights, being too tired to drive at all-- are more prevalent at night. These would tend to balance out the equation, but note: these increase your danger regardless whether you're riding a bike or driving a car.

So... go for it!

I've been commuting a few days a week for a couple of months now. My wife thought I was out of my mind to ride into work during daylight, let alone in the dark (Hartford, CT - not a bike friendly city). I have to call her every day with my cell and ring the phone to let her know I've gotten to work. I'm resigned to the fact that she just cares and it's not a big deal to ring the phone. She was also worried about riding in the dark. I have tires with reflective sidewalls and so any light from the side right sets those off. With a bright rear blinkie and bright headlight, I think I'm more visible at night than during the day. Just make sure you get enough light for the bike to light up the road conditions you'd be riding in. Your commute is short enough so it's jsut not a big deal - 1/2 hour ride.

The one thing I promised I wouldn't do is consciously ride in the rain. I'm sure I'll get caught some time, but have been lucky so far. If rain is predicted, I'll drive and use the fitness center at work. Some things aren't worth fighting over. In terms of riding at night - that really is your decision - not your family's. If you decide to ride at night, just take steps to make yourself visible and let them see the results - it really does help.

I love riding at night for the reasons many others here do. I work the mid-shift so I'm up early in the morning even on my days off.

I recently went from my two led lights (bar and helmet) to Light & Motion ARC with 650 lumens and that light gains me a whole new respect on the road. I don't worry nearly as much about people turning in front of me at intersections. I've had cops light me up with their spotlight to figure out what was behind the blinding light as they pass.

I have a cateye led tail light and two PB super flashes in the rear. I can be seen well from the back. I still use a helmet mirror and just watch as cars pass me. There's not many, and you can see their light beams coming up behind you.

My family of course worries about me but they know I love it and am very careful about traffic.

My wife's got her tentacles everywhere with me:o, but I just started riding one day. Sooner or later, I was riding in more and more often. One thing led to another, and now I ride all the time/all year. She's used to it.:eek:

Get well prepared. Tell her what it means to you. Then, just do it. You'll love it and she'll soon appreciate you for it.

This was my technique. Slowly work into riding everyday, at night and in poor weather.
With bright lights and bright reflective clothing you should be as safe or safer on dark lightly traveled roads. On busier, urban roads it is a little more difficult to be visible but can still be very safe. My winter commute is after dark on urban roads with rush hour traffic. I have not had an incident in three winters of every day riding.

That said, it probably won't convince your family so you will probably just have to work on them some more.

Craig

and a nice term life insurance policy goes a long way, too. ;)

You might also explain to your inlaws that they are statistically more likely to get killed driving home from your house than you are riding a bike to work, regardless of the hour. Get lights and plenty of reflective gear and it shouldn't be a big deal. If it is, you need to work on your relationship with them and/or simply do what you want and let the chips fall where they may.

Just rode home last night at midnight - met some friends at a bar - had two beers over three hours of jokes. So peaceful and quiet (especially on a silent singlespeed). Certainly less potential problems compared to the hubbub of the day. However, every car that came up behind me I turned around and gave them a look - just to check on them and let them know I'm aware. Drunks might be able to see your lights, but that doesn't mean they are able to miss you. BE CAREFUL!

I'd have to put another vote for reflective gear & lights for visibility, and easing into it with the family thing. I know my wife was worried when I started riding my bike to work, and I started out all during the daytime, but after a while I'd work later and later and came home at night (well, winter helped with the early dark thing) and it was no biggie. She groaned at the cost of the headlight/taillight setup, too, but in the end conceded that it is worth the money for safety reasons.

She groaned at the cost of the headlight/taillight setup, too, but in the end conceded that it is worth the money for safety reasons.

aside from the obvious safety reason, lights, etc are a small price to pay when you consider what all the PT and copayments will add up to if you are hit and even moderately injurred.

Agreed. I feel much safer riding at night when the cars are few and far between and I'm sure to be seen due to being lit up like a Christmas tree.

I wear a helmet mount headlight, so I can shine it where I need to in order to make sure I'm seen before I get left hooked or someone in a cross street pulls out in front of me.

+1

The more you ride the wife will start seeing the importance of it to you. She will eventually come around to it. Keep the peace, but keep bringing it up. My wife freaked the first time I said I was riding on the highway, first time I said I was riding at night, first time I said I was riding a 110 miles. Now she just says be careful and call enough to let her know I am still alive. She never told me not to do any of the above, but if she had she would have eventually came around.

Don't those play havoc with your ability to see at night? Shining up in your face? I find I have to sometimes look right away from headlights as they really washout my ability to see the road/anything in front of me for moments (especially on streets with speedbumps and they're flying up/down in your line of vision).

It is a little strange. They totally wash out my little $8 Wally-Mart led headlight. I don't stare at them directly since I have one on my downtube and one on a chainstay. I actually think I would like to get one more for the front to illuminate what is in front of me.

I haven't noticed any potholes sneaking up on me and I don't think it would be any different than riding in the dark with any other light set-up, except you are lit up like an overdone christmas tree. I actually think they make it easier to see at night. Everything just happens to be green.

I use green because it is the most visible to the eye. Oh yea, it goes with my bike too. :)

I'll try to post some pics in the next few days.