Originally Posted by randya

as far as 'mandatory' lights are concerned, let's see a show of hands of folks who would buy a new car that came without lights, and required a further investment to add aftermarket lights?

EU countries, where bicycles are actually used for transportation, as opposed to sport, seem to have figured out how to apply reasonable lighting standards and require new bicycles to come equipped with affordable, useful lights without causing the bicycling public to freak out.