Commuting - side lights?

I got my new cygolite 6W dual beam lights two days ago and plan on using them tonight. My question, what to do with my pair of planet bike white led blinkies I used to have on the front? I love them. I was thinking . . . I heard that most cyclist-motorist collisions occur at intersections where the car is turning into my path, ie. perpendicular to me. I had the thought of putting the planet bike white blinkies pointing to the left and right. I tried them out at the end of my handlebar drops and they fit over the bar tape. Thoughts?

why not? its better then throwing it away. i feel that you can never have too many lights when it comes to your safety. go for it! be a christmas tree!

Or put the blinky on the helmet facing forward. That is what I do in addtion to main headlight beam on handlebar.

Yesterday I pulled up next to a lady in a truck and she rolled down window and told me that she saw me behind her in rear view mirror and had a quite a scare as she thought I was a police car ;)

Al

I think side lighting would be good. I have none, not even reflectors...I need to get some. There's one part of my commute where I'm riding on the street and a freeway offramp merges into my lane. Those drivers only see the side of me, so they wouldn't be able to see my front or rear lights. If I had side blinkies I could ride that small piece of road with a little more confidence.

I hope to be getting some blinkies for christmas.

I think 45 degree, would be more effective than straight to the side. I would be more visible for cars turning across you or merging from the side.

I've got LED lights on my valve stems. They are made for cars, so I had to get some presta adapters. They work fairly well and are visible from the side. I've only seen them once from off the bike, and they were pretty wild. I got them mainly for the bling, but a little extra safety never hurt.

by the tiem the car can see you from the side it may be too late.
this is one reason I like a xenon flasher it has 180 degree vision or more. but they sure suck up the juice.

I have side blinkies...red and white. I agree that more cars have trouble seeing us from the side. I have mine on the stem. I think getting blue one would be great. What is the one color of light that has cars braking. The blue smells of police. I saw them on ebay a while back but didn't get 'em. Charlie

There's one part of my commute where I'm riding on the street and a freeway offramp merges into my lane.
Hey, that sounds familiar! :) I encounter the same thing, where southbound 680 exits to southbound Capitol Ave. The cars have a tight, almost 360 degree turn, as they proceed downhill on an unlit (or poorly lit?) ramp to a short merge with high-speed city traffic. Oh, and the view from their ramp to much of the street is largely obstructed by foliage, which does an extra-good job of hiding cyclists. Fun fun fun.

I had that particular intersection in mind when I added flashing front and side LEDs to my "total geekiness" project. Being well-lit seems to help, though I always approach that merge (and the on-ramp before it) with extreme caution.

Overall, the folks in on-ramp traffic tends to act like pricks desperate to right-hook me as they race to sit in freeway gridlock, while the off-ramp folks nearly always yield; I wave happily when they do. Some of this might be mindset: the on-ramp folks have just cleared their final stop light, and are anxious to steam through their Own Personal Right Hand Turn where they yield to No One, and accelerate comfortably up the ramp before inevitably braking into traffic, while the off-ramp folks know they're approaching a short, mostly-blind merge with cars that could seriously damage their paint in a collision. Perhaps the obstructed view helps me here; they have trouble seeing that the road is empty with enough confidence to carelessly roll through... usually. Maybe it's that the on-ramp folks have just left work and are all antsy, while the off-ramp folks know they're almost home? Who knows.

Stay safe,
JAB

Or put the blinky on the helmet facing forward. That is what I do in addtion to main headlight beam on handlebar.

Yesterday I pulled up next to a lady in a truck and she rolled down window and told me that she saw me behind her in rear view mirror and had a quite a scare as she thought I was a police car ;)

Al

I like the helmet idea. How would I adapt the handlebar attachment for the helmet? These come with a quick-release type of lever that works great on the handlebars. Not too mechanical.

Hey, that sounds familiar! :) I encounter the same thing, where southbound 680 exits to southbound Capitol Ave. The cars have a tight, almost 360 degree turn, as they proceed downhill on an unlit (or poorly lit?) ramp to a short merge with high-speed city traffic. Oh, and the view from their ramp to much of the street is largely obstructed by foliage, which does an extra-good job of hiding cyclists. Fun fun fun.

Overall, the folks in on-ramp traffic tends to act like pricks desperate to right-hook me as they race to sit in freeway gridlock, while the off-ramp folks nearly always yield; I wave happily when they do. Some of this might be mindset: the on-ramp folks have just cleared their final stop light, and are anxious to steam through their Own Personal Right Hand Turn where they yield to No One, and accelerate comfortably up the ramp before inevitably braking into traffic, while the off-ramp folks know they're approaching a short, mostly-blind merge with cars that could seriously damage their paint in a collision. Perhaps the obstructed view helps me here; they have trouble seeing that the road is empty with enough confidence to carelessly roll through... usually. Maybe it's that the on-ramp folks have just left work and are all antsy, while the off-ramp folks know they're almost home? Who knows.

Stay safe,
JAB

Mine is northbound 85 at cottle rd. Same type of exit tho, a full 360 (more than 360 actually) and at night I feel aprehensive about it. Sometimes a take a different route home and don't have to deal with it though.

I agree that the on-ramp people are worse, i was on a ride once near campbell where Camden (think it's camden) turns into San Tomas expressy way, and also there's a HWY 17 onramp there. That was pretty bad. I stopped and waited about 5 mins for the planets to align and stop all the cars so I could proceed to the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

I bought a new bike yesterday, and the LBS upgraded the tires for me and the new tires have reflective sidewalls, so now I've got a bit more reflectivity from the side.

Reflective sidewalls are the way to go. I added reflective tape on the rims until I replace the tires.

Definitely use side lights. Recommend not mounting near handlebars. Helmet side is ok if you're into that look. Best location is low on front forks at 45 degree angle. You want to get yellow maker lights.

Why low?
-- expect to see vehicle clearance lights low
-- more separation between headlight and marker light, so marker light does not get drowned by headlight
-- more separation, so you look bigger and more dangerous to drivers

Why 45 degrees?
-- without a marker light, you have no reflective presence here. Front reflector will not work because angle is too small
-- headlight will not work, because it's angle of illumination is too narrow
-- reflective sidewalls/rim tape will probably not work because vehicle turning into you will not bounce light back to them

Why yellow?
-- to give directional clues. By convention: yellow is front and red is back. White is confusing.
-- you want active lighting and yellow penetrates darkness and fog best.

Reflective sidewalls are the way to go. I added reflective tape on the rims until I replace the tires.

Definitely use side lights. Recommend not mounting near handlebars. Helmet side is ok if you're into that look. Best location is low on front forks at 45 degree angle. You want to get yellow maker lights.

Why low?
-- expect to see vehicle clearance lights low
-- more separation between headlight and marker light, so marker light does not get drowned by headlight
-- more separation, so you look bigger and more dangerous to drivers

Why 45 degrees?
-- without a marker light, you have no reflective presence here. Front reflector will not work because angle is too small
-- headlight will not work, because it's angle of illumination is too narrow
-- reflective sidewalls/rim tape will probably not work because vehicle turning into you will not bounce light back to them

Why yellow?
-- to give directional clues. By convention: yellow is front and red is back. White is confusing.
-- you want active lighting and yellow penetrates darkness and fog best.

OK, call me dumb. What is a "marker light"? Do you mean just a yellow reflector? I'll see if the white blinkies will fit on the fork. I just wouldn't want them to come loose and go into the spokes. I also bought some of that black reflective tape from intensitape (sp?) and plan on applying liberally all over the bike.

OK, call me dumb. What is a "marker light"? Do you mean just a yellow reflector? I'll see if the white blinkies will fit on the fork. I just wouldn't want them to come loose and go into the spokes. I also bought some of that black reflective tape from intensitape (sp?) and plan on applying liberally all over the bike.

"marker light" is a clearance light. You have probably seen them on semitrailers or spruced up trucks. Not a reflector, but an active light. You can get 3 or 5 LED's in yellow. They are either white LED's with amber lens or yellow LED's with clear lens. They are hard to find and you may have to shop on the web for them. Ideally you would want AA batteries, but will probably have to settle for AAA batteries. They are made to mount on the seat posts and it is very very easy to mount them on a front fort arm.

Interesting idea, has anyone seen a yellow reflector?

Maybe I could put some amber celephane over the white blinkies and put them on the fork. I'll look into it. Thanks.

I'd put the cellophane inside the cover. You should be able to pick it up at any hobby lobby, or hobby store. Actual yellow blinking lights cost about $5..$8 ea.

Link to lights from coollights and nashbar is
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-73673-p-2

Someone over on roadbikereview recommended these Tirefly lights. They are a single LED that screw onto your air valve.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-43157104609923_1818_9603052

I'd put the cellophane inside the cover. ...

Good photography/camera stores will sell lighting gels in all sorts of colors. Gels are transparent plastic sheets in some sort of color and are used to correct for light color balance or to give off a light desired light color. Gels are easily cut with scissors and are heat resistent.

They are about $6 for a large sheet around 16x20 inches.