Originally Posted by
spare_wheel
No one is denying that lights are useful when it's dark outside (to see and be seen) but the idea that lights are necessary in a well-lit urban environment is not so obvious. I have no problem seeing where I'm going in urban portland at night. (And judging from complaints about bike ninjas most motorists have no problem seeing cyclists either.)
I live in an urban area (Atlanta). Even though most areas are well lit enough that you won't be stumbling around without lights, that doesn't mean that lights don't make objects stand out more noticably and at greater distances. And even though the area is urban, there may be many pockets of darkness here and there. It would be quite a waste of electricity if there weren't!