bbeasley

I recently (about 400 miles ago) started riding with a rear blinkie turned on all the time. I've noticed drivers generally seem to treat me different with the light. Now I ride mostly on rural roads and drivers are very, sometime too , courteous. But these same folks change when I ride into our little town. In town on a 4 lane boulevard I'll get passed, buzzed, several times by drivers in my lane. There is no shoulder so this means they are much closer than 3 feet when they do this.

The other day, I rode up this boulevard for the first time with the blinkie on. I didn't get passed, in my lane, one time. Everyone passed me by using the other lane. This is the fist time I've had anything objective to lend to my theory about day time use of blinkies.

Anybody else experience this?

TrekDen

Hmmm, trying to think if I have ever noticed a difference. A flashing light automatically reads as caution when I'm driving. It probably does the same with others.

RichardGlover

Increased visibility increases visibility.

Neil_B

Hmm, I'll have to try it.

Agave

My guess would be that drivers now see you as unsafe and stay away from you.........A clown outfit might get he same result.

CACycling

I always ride with a rear blinkie (PB Superflash) and, on my commuter, a front flashing light as well (PB Blaze 1W). It does help get me noticed earlier (I've heard this from coworkers as well as seen a difference in the way traffic treats me).

10 Wheels

I bought a Dinnotte 140L for daylight riding...it works well.

exile

I really don't notice a difference. For the most part drivers give me a wide berth. However you will always get those who are way to close for comfort.

Jim from Boston

I ride with a daytime flashing rear blinker. I don't specifically note any increased attention by drivers, but it can't hurt. I further even ride with two rear blinkies, for redundancy in case one burns out and for the dyssynchrony to further enhance their visibility.

rdtompki

I've had drivers slow down as they passed me and comment on the brightness of my Dinotte 140L. I think in general drivers appreciate the ability to see bicycles from a distance.

JayButros

Always on...

For myself, I don't see any point in having it mounted if it's not on ...and it doesn't hurt and so on...

kjc9640

Front...140 Dinottee amber on flash
Rear... 140 Dinottee red on flash
Both always on when I am on the road and yes I do get respect during daylight hours. When I ride with others they like for me to bring up the rear because of the lights. I ride in the right hand tire track until I see the cars have moved over then I drift to the right behind the other rider(s).
I also have a PBSF that I no longer use in the daytime(nighttime use only), it is just not bright enough IMO. When they come out with the turbo I will try it but my money is on Dinottee.

Metric Man

Ever since a local cyclist was killed last November on a stretch of road I ride almost daily, I have been using them as well. Infini 2 LED for the front and a Road ID blinkie on the rear bag. I know the front one helps because I've had people tell me they see me from way off. There was a time when I wouldn't consider riding with a light because I was worried it looked "amateurish", but I'm beyond that now.

dipy911

Clown outfit? How about I wear my kilt instead.

seenoweevil

I don't know if there's a difference. If I'm riding, the blinkie is on. Most folks are cool, but of course there are occasional exceptions.

StephenH

I've noticed people seem to give me a bit more room when I wear a reflector vest.

Of course, there was one time, I was riding my Worksman at night with a reflector vest, and a kid in a yard hollers "I didn't do anything!" I guess to him, wide tires + helmet + reflector vest = policeman.

john423

I just got a reflector vest today. I hope it helps on daytime rides.

I've got a red rear light, but it doesn't blink. I may try turning it on next time I ride during the day, though, just for funsies.

iforgotmename

I run front and rear daytime lights and it seems as if I get noticed more...but that may just be my perception...

ecovelo

There was an article by Bob Mionske in the Dec. 2010 issue of Bicyling, regarding visibility. According to "expert data", when cyclists wear fluorescent clothing, a driver's perception distance increases from 400 ft to 2200 ft in the daytime, and from 150 ft to 560 ft at night.

I would imagine lights increase this perception as well, although they were not mentioned. I've been cycling for 40+ yrs - I am a night commuter - and it wasn't until I read this article that I even considered having my lights on during the day.

...but it makes sense. Of course if we all where "hi-vis" colours.... there goes the C&A fashion thread....

john423

Does it matter how much light we run? I dunno if there's a need to run all 290 lumens of my nighttime riding front lights during the daytime. I thought about maybe trying my 110-lumen flashlight, but I'm not really sold on front lights in the daytime. I can see where back lights would be helpful since cars behind you get plenty of warning of your existence and can prepare to move over, but people in front of you shouldn't have to be moving over for you, unless you're salmoning your way up the road.

CraigB

The only difference I've noticed in motorists' behavior on the road was one guy who yelled, "Nice light!" while passing me.

bautieri

I don't think I've noticed much difference running my blinky during the day but it does make me feel better so I guess that helps.

Bright colors and lots of reflective tid bits seem to a pretty good job during the day.

Neil_B

I've been mistaken for a cop when riding at night. I've also been solicited by a prostitute. Not on the same ride, of course.

CACycling

I would agree with this if you never deal with cross streets. What I've noticed is the front blinkie alerts cars on cross streets ahead of me that are about to cross my path (either crossing the roadway or entering the roadway from the cross street). The blinkie seems to keep me from getting lost in the flow of traffic.

I also started wearing a vest recently. I was stopped at a light while driving through town one day and noticed a cyclist on the other side of the intersection riding away from me. He had some wide, reflective stripes on his backpack. It was a really sunny day and there were some trees along the roadway. When he got in the shade, he completely disappeared except for the reflective stripes. Without the stripes, he would have been invisible to me even though I was aware of his presence. Enough for me to see the value of a vest.

ecovelo

Good information! Makes sense.....

Not too many cyclists in my neck of the woods - high percentage of people on bikes are not avid cyclists but mostly kids and some adults needing transportation in this economy. No helmets, lights or reflective wear... one was smoking a cigarette. Most are examples of "cyclists" I didn't see until last minute - "what not to wear"...