When I cycled over the Alps, I found it unnerving to ride through tunnels, even with flashing lights on. I waited for gaps in the traffic, and then rode as quickly as my legs would carry me.

That was 20 years ago. Bicycle lights are much brighter these days. Maybe excessively so. As an occasional car driver, I have come to view super-bright bicycle lights as potentially distracting. The lights draw attention to the cyclist, which I appreciate; but some bicycle lights are almost blinding in their intensity. That's not good. As a driver, I want to notice cyclists and be able to predict where they're going to be and when; but I don't want afterimages burned onto my retina!

I like the idea others have expressed: use bright flashing lights, but aim the beams downward. As cyclists, we need to find a balance between being visible and not causing unnecessary distractions to other road users.

If I were to ride through tunnels in the Alps today on a bicycle bejeweled with modern lights, I think the experience would be just as freaky. Sharing narrow, winding roads the huge trucks, fast cars, and noisy motorcycles was NOT a highlight of my cycling trip to the Alps.