I Hope You Flash
Indeed I do, but recently I have taken up “cycling.” Last week I responded to this video of a bike-car accident:
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
…On your video, it seemed the driver came in from the right side. I have for years sought out something for side illumination. A couple weeks ago an article in the Boston Globe reported something to the effect that illumination of the pedaling motion is more effective than a simply flashing light to signal a cyclist.
It just so happened...this afternoon I was at REI, and bought a set of a small red and white light that look like they can easily and securely fit onto my reflective ankle straps. I figure I will use the red one directly behind my left ankle for traffic behind me, and the white one on the lateral side of my right ankle. I can’t say it might have helped prevent your crash, but it a simple add-on…
So here are what they look like. Note that I had to clip the lights vertically on the
inside of the leg bands to expose maximal brightness from the undersurface, because the lights are meant to be mounted horizontally. The battery life is touted as Front: 16 hrs flashing, 8 hrs steady; Rear: 48 hrs flashing, 24 hrs steady.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
I have not seen lighted leg/arm bands, other than those clumsy cylindrical lights of the 1970’s requiring two D-cell batteries with yellow and red lenses…
A few examples:…
From the reviews the first one (Planet Bike) sounds like of good quality. I got the cheap one in the one in the last link. They use button batteries, probably not as bright as the Planet Bike product but better than simply reflective straps that I used to use. What especially like is they don't use velcro. They are nice even just for the elastic to hold one's pants in windy weather.
Thanks for your reply. I haven't seen such products at a few of the (quality) bike shops I visit but maybe I didn't look too hard. The new lights are Planet Bike "Spok" [sic] though not spoke lights but can go onto the wheel hub according to package.
I don't recall seeing lit leg bands on other cyclists out on the road either. I cycle-commute in the early morning in the vicinity of Kenmore Square, a major transportation hub, and the Harvard Medical School and Hospitals, partly on a MUP, so I see a lot of well-lit cycle commuters. I do recall once seeing a well-appointed rider with right and left
reflective leg bands, and that caught my eye. I started to wear both leg bands soon after that encounter.
I have seen a few runners with illuminated
arm bands.