BarracksSi

Count how many times people say, "This guy pulled out in front of me" versus "This guy hit me from behind".

Simply put, there's more chances of getting doored, right hooked, left crossed, getting hit by someone moving out of a driveway or a parking spot, or all kinds of other situations than simply getting run down from behind.

What really drove this point home to me wasn't when I was on my bike, it was while I was driving. It was late in the day, the sun was setting, and drivers were turning their headlights on. I had a truck behind me whose lights were awfully bright (he was likely loaded down, which points the headlights higher than usual), so I flipped my mirror to night mode. I saw a cyclist ahead of me with a blinky taillight, and he seemed to be riding well, so I gave him some room and passed him. I checked my side mirror as I passed to be sure he wasn't to my side before I moved back to the right.

Once I got past, I had absolutely no clue where the cyclist went. NONE. All I saw in my rear view mirror was truck headlights -- the cyclist had simply vanished. I checked my side mirror again, but didn't see him there. By this point, I was approaching a stop sign, and really hoped that the cyclist was back far enough that I didn't cut him off.

Nothing bad happened, as far as I know. I never saw whether he continued on the same street or if he turned on the cross street. I didn't hear anything hit my car (neither a wheel nor an open palm). However, if he had been running a headlight at the time, I would have had a much better idea of where he was and whether I might cut him off.

Like I mentioned, motorcycles run their headlights all the time (at least that's the legal requirement), and daytime running lights for cars (again, headlights only) have also been shown to reduce the rate of accidents.

daredevil

Believe me, I understand the value of DRL. I wasn't questioning that. It's just that I figure the back side is just as if not more important on a bike, that's all. The situation is a bit different with cars. They aren't continually being overtaken.

JOHN J

yep,

Dyno Hub and a very bright homebuilt LED light , since I dont have to worry about batteries Nor lamps I just leave it on when riding.

I only use a rear blinkie in bad weather or dark.

"John"

BarracksSi

Maybe it depends more on the traffic density, then. I'm doing about as much overtaking as is being done to me, and all those side hazards are much more of an issue. I get more close calls from the front (especially if I'm not using a headlight) than I've ever gotten from the back.

When I see a driver at a stop sign give their standard-issue glance in my direction, then do a double take and actually look at me, it's because of my headlight. They don't give that second look nearly as often if I don't have it on.

snowman40

Depends on the light conditions. Cloudy/foggy/early morning or evening/rain/mist or drizzle - you betcha!

2pm on a sat or sun - maybe, depends on traffic and local events.

My Blackburn Mars 3.0 on blink is very hipnotizing....so I only use steady.

daredevil

I agree. That or the type of road you are on.


I don't know about that. Sometimes bright sunlight can hurt a driver's vision just as much as cloudy or foggy conditions. I think it's proven that DRL on cars is necessary for ALL conditions. No different on a bike I spose. If you are on a two lane highway and an oncoming car wants to pass someone heading your direction, a light would be very helpful for them, right? That's just one example of course.

AlmostTrick

Most riders wait too long to change their batteries. Waiting until the light grows very dim is foolish economy or laziness. An Energizer 8 pack cost about 6 dollars. If you change out the 2 batteries in a super flash every month, that comes out to around $1.50 a month. This is a small price to pay to ensure that your tail light is always at it's brightest, so overtaking motorists can see you as early as possible.

Kept up like this, the super flash is visiable in day light from a good distance, according to co workers who have passed me on their way in to work.

tarwheel 

That's why rechargeable batteries are so great -- there's no excuse for running dim lights. I recharge my batteries every few days and also carry spares in my seatbag. This morning I noticed that my Dinotte tail-light was running dim, just as I was getting ready to leave for work. I had forgotten to charge the batteries as often since the mornings started getting brighter, so I tossed my charger into my seatback and recharged the batteries at work today.

aaronechang

It helps to run daytime lights on your bike even if the sun is out in full force. What may appear to cyclists as a bright and sunny day may not appear to be bright and sunny to a driver with heavily tinted windows, sunglasses on, and visor in his face.

rumrunn6

ABSOLUTELY!

When you are in deep shade you vanish completely regardless of garments or flags, etc. Mid day summers days are the worst because everyone's eyes are adjusted to the bright light and they are wearing sunglasses. Without a strobe a cyclist is invisible when under the shade of the trees or a road overpass.

Randochap

Nope. Unless it's cloudy, raining.

Nightshade

It's been proven that "driving" light(s) on motorcyles and cars save lives by increasing other driver
awarness of the said vehicle. I don't know why this wouldn't save lives on a bicycle if not more so.

dlester

Front and back blinking all the time. I get comments from co-workers all the time about how far away they saw me. That is why I do it.

Cyclist0383

+1

I've found a HUGE difference in how cars react to when when I'm using lights in the daytime. It's as if they actually notice me......

jwbnyc

I do.. but if it is an off hour - not during rush hour - in a quiet part of town, then no. If traffic is heavy: definitely.

MIKEnDC

I do. Front and rear all the time. Why not?

I got into the habit because my daily homeward route is in shadow for the first mile or so even on the sunniest days. And plenty of those sunny days are actually partly cloudy, and plenty of times through the hairiest section of my ride I've had the sun become obscured leaving me very glad indeed that I'm running a B&M mounted on my rack, and have a Superflash 'gettin' busy' on my saddlebag.

LEDs and rechargeables. Again, why not?

daredevil

exactly

skijor

The newer Gold Wings have flashing headlights during the day.

I added a modulator to my Yammi Roadstar's brake light and it has made a big difference in getting noticed. It flashes at a decreasing rate until it's full on. I find those Gold Wing headlights kind of annoying but they certainly are visible.

Raffi

+1 and +1

Raffi

And don't forget the glow in the dark and day safety vest, you can see that from ALL angles from mile away it seems. beside it helps with the geek factor

woodenidol

Mostly just on cloudy days, but that may change. I was driving with wife this evening (still daylight) and a commuter was up ahead with his superflash on. It really struck me how visible and eye catching it was, so I just may ride with mine on constantly now.

uke

I didn't use to, then I started, then I stopped, and now I've started again. This afternoon, I was in the crosswalk with the signal at a place I've crossed dozens of times when a car began turning right into the walk and stopped a few feet short of hitting me. On the way back, I got out my P7 and ran it the rest of the way home. It's a minor inconvenience to prevent a much larger one.

znomit

There are debates on this. Over here most headlights are hardwired now. With the sun behind you perhaps not a good idea... The general problem was, while headlights make a motorcycle more visible, it is much harder to judge its distance or speed.

Regardless, cages are beginning to run daytime headlights so we should too, because thats all they are going to be looking for.

StephenH

I've done it a few times when it was all overcast.

daredevil

Really? I've never heard the side of the debate where being more visible created problems.