nm+

So I'm in Buffalo, NY and I want to see the falls without being staying in the cultural wastelands that is Niagara Falls, NY and ON (I hate casinos), so I rented a car today. Plus Buffalo has a better selection of resturants.
The first incedent occured early after sundown and its overcast here and raining so visibility's not so good. I'm driving down a street with parallel parked cars. Out of the corner of my eye, i see the flash of metal, a BMX bike with no lights/reflectors darts out midblock between two parked cars. I slam on the brakes, stopping a few feet before him. He stops just as a car zooms past me.
The second incedent just occured. I was in a taxi returning from the car return. We're almost there, when two cyclists without lights and reflectors, very hard to see, run a red light. I see them, yell something like "Oh crap" (but stronger), and we're too close to stop. Somehow the cabbie just misses em. I gave him a $9 tip on a $21 because of that good driving (plus he was a cool guy) that saved two lives that would have been darwinized.
Tonight, I saw 20 odd bikes and 1 with a light. Use lights and reflectors and stay safe out there. When its overcast, dark (no moon), you are invisible without them.

maddyfish

Just bought some lights.

Falkon 

and people wonder why the cops are ticketing for no lights....

nm+

I wish they were here. Second incedent happened with a cop waiting at the light. He didn't seem to do anything, though he might have after we left.

sunofsand

I nearly got hit walking from the corner of 9th to the corner of 10th streets one block up from Wishire in Santa Monica by a woman in a jeep whom for whatever reason thought she had the right of way at a stop sign while I began to walk
She barely slammed to a stop only once she realized that someone was in the road
Laid on the horn and got pissed as though I had actually done something wrong
I had to actually point to the STOP sign ..normally I just walk away from idiots.
It was late evening -summertime- around 8:00 and had been playing ball down at Lincoln Park with Woody Harrelson on Lincoln just a handful of blocks behind me
Lighting was not a factor

I could tell that at 100 feet from the stop she was not slowing rapidly enough so I scooted just fast enough to get out the way in case she missed the stop completely and blew on through.


What is the point of all this?
Really isn't one


But I didn't go on some forum that night and post my story, either.
People do stupid ****
Gotta plan for the stupidity.

You're really not getting to your target audience here in the bicycling safety and advocacy forum at bikeforums.com
Sorry.

Welcome to Buffalo, though!
I'm just a bit away in Indian Falls, NY where there is a nice, quaint, Sports-type bar atmosphere restaurant/dive overlooking a decent waterfall on the Tonawanda Creek.
Supposedly they have better wings than Anchor Bar, however, I haven't seen them on the menu and have never asked about them. I like their ribs.
Log Cabin Restaurant.
Should definately check out Letchworth while you're here. Only about 50 miles or so. Great park. Nice restaurant. Glen Iris Inn.

wahoonc

Ongoing problem all over the country. People, some responsible and some irresponsible, ride bikes without proper lighting/reflectors and wear dark clothing. It seems years ago we used to have bicycle education in the elementary schools, and parents didn't let there kids roam around on bikes after dark (at least mine didn't ) I had a paper route while in Jr high, I wore a reflective vest and had cheesy battery lights mounted on the bike. My dad installed extra reflectors on the bike too. Law enforcement can hand out all the tickets they want but I seriously doubt it will make much of difference. It is a personal responsibility/education issue. Also IIRC there was a massive lawsuit/settlement many years ago against Huffy? by someone who was injured riding at night. Claimed that the bike should have come with lights, I believe they settled out of court. All we can do as cyclists is set a good example and support bicycle education. Remember Bike Rodeos? Also I can remember the elementary schools haveing road ways painted on the blacktop in the school yards so you could practice your "driving" skills...on second thought maybe that was being carcentric...

Aaron

Eboo

I know what you mean about the crazy light-less bikers. I'm shocked you actually saw 1 out of 20 with a light. I ride to work every day via main street, and not only do I NEVER see lights on bikers, I'm also constantly having to dodge the wrong-ways (usually right before it's almost too late, because hey, I couldn't see them ) I wonder if I'm the one you saw with a light...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy/ed Buffalo. I just moved here a year ago, and I'm still trying to get used to the mean drivers and paved roads (I learned how to ride on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere)

If you're looking for the best wings in Buffalo, might I suggest Duffs off of Sheridan? Best I've had yet, trumps even Anchor Bar.

bbonnn

I'm beginning to wonder if the factory-installed reflectors on bikes do more harm than good.

"Oh, I have reflectors, so cars should be able to see me"
and
"Cars have headlights so they can see me"
and
"I don't want to add any crap to my bike"
and
"It's just a little battery powered flashlight, how much good can it possibly do?"

I definitely believed those things during my years of youthful biking indiscretion.

Caspar_s

Maybe instead of tickets they should let them show that they have a light installed to get off the fine. If you don't have a light because they are expensive then having to pay a fine is not going to help much. You know like cars can get off having broken taillights by having it fixed.

Da Tinker

BINGO!

I have long believed that the CPSC-mandated reflectors on new bikes, particularly the front, white reflector, are some of the most dangerous 'safety' equipment ever made.

After all, it's a reflector, and it isn't worth spit unless the car's headlights are pointed your way.

I-Like-To-Bike

Most Dangerous? You really are a dedicated disciple of John Forester. Would you feel reflectors were not dangerous if only they were SAE-type amber reflectors as preached by the Master?

Da Tinker

You read me wrong, or perhaps I did not express myself well.

The front, white reflector lulls some riders into thinking they are safe, that the little front reflector is all they need to ride at night, all they need to be legal. And therein lies the danger. I would prefer no front reflector on any bike sold.

The CPSC reflectors are better than nothing, and I still have them on some of the bikes at my house. SAE reflectors are better, but they are also bigger & heavier, and more difficult to mount.

For night riding, a white light is needed to the front, both to alert other vehicle operators to your presence before you cross into the beams of their lights, and to comply with the law.

Disciple of Forester? Dude, I'm a League Cycling Instructor.

I-Like-To-Bike

You are not expressing yourself well. Reflectors are better than nothing, yet you wish new bikes came without. Presumably you think that the presence of a reflector is what keeps the cycling public from going out and buying, mounting and maintaining working front lights.

Also presumably somewhere on the Internet there are LCI 's who don't mouth/repeat the Forester line of bicycling correctness (such as the dangers of the CPSC reflector) as a mantra, but none have surfaced yet.

bbonnn

Actually, yes, I think a lot of people don't buy lights or better reflectors because they consider them unnecessary. They are unnecessary because the bike already has reflectors. Why fix what ain't broke?

People are certainly welcome to make themselves not-visible if they choose, but a lot of cyclists don't realize just how not-visible they are without lights. They think the reflectors are enough to make cars see them at night.

Ideally, I'd like to see more low-end hybrid or commuter-type bikes come with built-in lights. Sure, some riders would swap them out for their preferred brand/style, or remove them, but on a base level, I think they should be included on more models. Right now, only one or two special $1300 "commuter" models have them.