Eric S.

I pedal after dark a lot, but don't have wheel reflectors. The 26" wheels on my MTB commuter have bladed spokes for some reason; not sure if I could mount reflectors. The wheels are, however, covered in reflective tape.

When I see other bikes at night with wheel reflectors, the wide range of motion really grabs my attention. I think they're worth it.

ClarkinHawaii

So how do you avoid getting hassled about the blue light?

FBinNY 

In the 5 years that I've used it seasonally (don't need lights for about 6 months a year), I've been stopped twice. In both cases I was able to get the cop to agree that I couldn't use a taillight to chase anybody down, and there was no real harm in an approaching driver thinking for a moment or two that maybe I was a cop. Both agreed that it was no harm, no foul, and anyway if it spared them writing up an accident report that was all to the good.

The reality here is that police are so happy to see a cyclist well lit and obvious, because most have no lights at all.

I don't know about elsewhere, but around here, the police have enough to do, and don't waste their energy on cyclists they acting reasonably.

However, if you do get stopped, you need to know how to speak to cops, admit it's technically wrong, and emphasize your safety and visibility reason for using it anyway. But what's the worst that can happen? a small fine, having a $15.00 light confiscated? If that happened after all this time, it's not a big penalty for the added safety.

BTW- I strongly believe that red rear lights are less than optimum for bicycles. They don't stand out in traffic, and even when seen, can be taken for a motor vehicle traveling at the same speed as the approaching car. Before going to the blue light, I used amber strobes, which in NYS are reserved for stationary hazards. IMO cyclists are better served by anything that makes them stand out among other distractions.

ClarkinHawaii

Good for you! I like the idea of an amber strobe rather than a red one on the rear for my daytime use--never thought about it before and it makes a lot of sense . . . Thanks!

Reynolds 

Contrary to common belief, I think wheel reflectors improve visibility.

FBinNY 

I don't think there's any debate about that. The question is whether they alone are enough.

Reynolds 

^ I read many times here that wheel reflectors were totally useless and you should take them off immediately...
Of course they alone are not enough, but as a complement I think they work.
Also I read that they could be bad for spokes, but never experienced that.

FBinNY 

The only meaningful thing that can be said against wheel reflectors is that they're uncool. I understand sport riders who ride daylight only getting rid of them. But otherwise you might as well leave them in place until they break off on their own.

I don't use them, and remove all lighting on the commuter bike once daylight lasts until about 8PM. Other I use some improvised wheel lights, which I believe to be more effective than the reflectors.

One very good thing about wheel and pedal reflectors is that when seen, it's obvious that it's a bike and not anything else.

Wilfred Laurier

even with zombies
it sometimes pays to answer
to get info out

i have a different opinion of wheel reflectors
although i dont have any on my own bikes
there have been many occaisions when driving
that a faintly glowing object in my peripheral vision
moving in a circular pattern
alerted me to a bike about to be in front of me

Wilfred Laurier

in ontario canada
flashing red rear lights are specifically forbidden by the highway traffic act
aka the law
but they are also pretty much universally used by cyclists
well
the ones who have lights anyways
because they are so obvious and easy to see

and in all my years of riding
i have never been stopped by a pi... er... police officer
for having the wrong lights
as having any lights puts me far ahead of a lot of cyclists
and even farther ahead of the actual criminals

bike_forever

Only the owner can remove them by law. It is an extra safety feature even if you use lights. Better yet... Always a good idea to have light reflective tape on the rims if you are a night rider!

slickrcbd

I thought I posted back that shortly after I started the thread, I got a flat tire.
I was able to get a new reflector last fall when I took the bike in to get that fixed. They had a bunch of extras for fifty cents.

As for the concerns about the amount of night riding I do, I haven't done a lot of that in almost fifteen years. Not since I graduated from community college around 2000 and quit the Jewel job to go to a 4-year school after I failed to secure a transfer to the Jewel near the university.

The worst has been when I've been caught after dark at some place like the library or a friend's house. I used to include Grandma's house, but she's been gone since 2006. Often it's usually I notice it's getting dark so I'm going home at dusk. Not that I hang out at the library that much, usually it's go there, get a book or movie, and go home. It's just that in the spring or fall, after work it can be close to dark. In the winter it is already getting dark at 4:30 so I just use the car on weekdays.
I haven't managed to secure a job within five miles of where I live since I worked my first part-time job at the Jewel back in high school and community college. Nor have I ever gotten one I could take the train to work even though I live close enough to the tracks. I've had two near train tracks, but the wrong lines. I'd have had to go to Chicago, switch tracks and then go all the way back to take the train.

GravelMN

While both active (lights) and passive (reflectors) visibility aids are valuable, drivers regularly run into other cars, trucks, trains, even buildings, so you have to assume they do not see you even if you are lit up like the Vegas strip. I've been downtown at night and have seen riders with plenty of lights, blinkies, reflectors, high visibility/reflective clothing and they still disappear among all the lights from businesses and traffic.