Originally Posted by
Commodus
I've never seen a kid on a bmx with lights or reflectors. Having known many kids this age, I think it's ridiculous to expect them (let's say most, I'm sure there are exceptions) to be using and maintaining lights.
This is just one of those things that drivers have to watch out for.
Kids on bikes at night are at high risk if the don't have these. It is not that "drivers" have to watch out for them. It is the they are functionall invisible, even for an alert driver I have experienced this with a kid popping into vision
I understand teenagers...I have one and you can mandate saftety (picking battles)... his fixie has a brake...non negotiable. He uses light at night
It is only ridiculous to expect kids to use lights if you also think it is ok for them to ve invisilbe on the road. I don't.
And for those that care it here are the light/reflector requirments for the state of california which interestingly required lights and reflectors on sidewalks also. No mention of "vehicle" or type of bike, just bikes
V C Section 21201 Equipment Requirements
Equipment Requirements
21201.
(d) A bicycle operated during darkness upon a highway, a sidewalk where bicycle operation is not prohibited by the local jurisdiction, or a bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, shall be equipped with all of the following:
(1) A lamp emitting a white light that, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway, sidewalk, or bikeway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle.
(2) A red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.
(3) A white or yellow reflector on each pedal, shoe, or ankle visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet.
(4) A white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles that are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors.
(e) A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle, may be used in lieu of the lamp required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).