Originally Posted by
PlanoFuji
1) Sidewalks are well with the cone of light projected by cheap conical optics, including the 'bright spot'
2) Sidewalks are designed for two way traffic, so they aren't 'against traffic'
3) To avert their eyes means they aren't able to watch where they are walking
4) The beam patterns I 'like' have little to do simply with my personal preference, but an acknowledgement that others are using the public facilities as well and deserve consideration.
5) You are confusing light output with shape. I am talking about the shape of the cheap conical optics used in battery powered lights. With proper optics the output power would have minimum affect on others and you simply diminish your own night vision (which is as you say your choice) with brighter lights than needed, but the poor optics also do so to others, even at much lower output levels.
6) This is least important, but the poor optics is a waste of the limited battery power available. It does so by emitting light to wasted areas (like the sky). About 40% of the beam is used to illuminate the sky. Wouldn't you prefer a light that was 40% brighter on the road ahead of you or 40% longer battery life? That is what well designed optics would provide.
People aren't likely to get well designed optics unless they ask for them.
On point #3; this isn't going to kill them and people often don't look straight ahead when they walk. All they have to do is advert their eyes downward or to the side. This is why God gave us necks that move and eyes that roll.
On point #4: When I consider the needs of others I also consider my own needs and who has the greater risk. If someone is on a sidewalk and I'm in the roadway I think it fair to say I'm the one with the greater risk. I'm not going to sacrifice an element of my safety for what would only be a momentary inconvenience ( at best ) to another person. The fact that someone walking on a sidewalk might see my bike light ( noting it's brightness ) means they will not walk in front of me if they decide to cross the road. This protects them, this protects me.
On points #5 and 6: From my perspective, my lights have minimal ( negative ) effect on others. Like John said, most every comment I've received about my bike have been positive. I'm not concerned that there is an amount of light that is wasted. If too much light is going upward then the beam pattern is too wide. That is why I like tighter beam patterns. I want "most of the light" to be driven toward the road. My lights do that. What concerns me the most is that the lamp I'm using is giving me enough road surface coverage for me to see what needs to be seen. Since it does ( 90% of the time ) I'm happy. I'm not worried that there are people who don't like my bike light. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who once said,
"You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time.”
Hard to argue with that logic.
