Originally Posted by
mechBgon
I really cannot relate to this urban legend, any more than I can relate to the idea that blinking lights make drunk people run into me. Maybe it's just that I'm extra-specially awesome, but I have no inherent problem getting approximate range on a blinkie in flashing mode. And there's no risk of it being overlooked as something else, such as a stoplight in the distance. Sign me up for 100% flashing.
That's the way I personally see it myself in my car - the bikes that are the easiest to track and the least annoying (to be clear, I also find bikes that I don't realize are bikes until I'm close annoying, which I like the blinking light as well to keep track of) are bikes with one blinking light and one on steady. It's not a "big theory", it's something I see myself.
I also did not warn of "catastrophy" without 2 lights, just said it was easier and makes the bike easier to track in traffic.