Family Begs Me To Not Commute At Night
#1
50/50 Road/eBike Commuter
Thread Starter
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?
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?
Last edited by kmcrawford111; 08-21-07 at 11:11 AM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
With a dinote setup, reflective tape on your bike, illuminite jacket you could be seen from probably farther away than during the daytime.
#3
******
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 949
Bikes: Specalized Tri-Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
__________________
In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
#4
Senior Member
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.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,779
Bikes: Leader 735TR 09 58cm 46/17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
With a dinote setup, reflective tape on your bike, illuminite jacket you could be seen from probably farther away than during the daytime.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mentor,Ohio
Posts: 196
Bikes: Ahearne CycleTruck, Marin Pine Mnt. Surly LHT,Spot SS MTB, Windcheetah trike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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
John
#8
del dot
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santa Cruz CA
Posts: 211
Bikes: Tour Easy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
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.
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.
Last edited by divergence; 08-21-07 at 11:48 AM.
#9
Blasted Weeds
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,182
Bikes: Trek 1200C, Specialized Rockhopper, Giant Yukon FX, Giant Acapulco
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
#10
not a role model
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,659
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.
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.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 2,369
Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#13
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
+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...)
#14
******
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 949
Bikes: Specalized Tri-Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Personally, I feel safer riding through the bar district at 2am than past an elementary school at 7:45 am.
#16
BF's Level 12 Wizard
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Secret mobile lair
Posts: 1,425
Bikes: Diamondback Sorrento turned Xtracycle commuter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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 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.
__________________
Shameless plugs:
Work
Photography
Vanity
Shameless plugs:
Work
Photography
Vanity
Originally Posted by Bklyn
Obviously, the guy's like a 12th level white wizard or something. His mere presence is a danger to mortals.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,242
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My wife's got her tentacles everywhere with me, 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.
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.
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.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
Your family's perception of your safety has *absolutely no effect at all* on whether or not you get hit by a car.
#19
Laid back bent rider
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Burien, WA
Posts: 1,134
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
I've been hit twice. Both times were in broad daylight.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Dallas Suburbpopolis
Posts: 1,502
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
5 Posts
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.
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.
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
Cheers & best of luck to you.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 959
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+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
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
#22
fixed for the long haul
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 366
Bikes: 1975 Raleigh Professional, 1990 Cannondale 3.0 Touring bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+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.
#24
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,942
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,511 Times
in
1,027 Posts
#25
Back after a long absence
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bay Area CA
Posts: 603
Bikes: 1974 Schwinn Speedster 3-speed, Raleigh Super Course
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.
With a dinote setup, reflective tape on your bike, illuminite jacket you could be seen from probably farther away than during the daytime.