Originally Posted by
drewguy
The right question is how visible a light you need for daytime use - IMO a blinking light is going to be more noticeable than a solid, bright light. And blinking just needs to be seen at sufficient distance to make you visible to oncoming traffic.
As noted by others, if you're on a path without automobiles it's not clear you need any light, but certainly less bright than one you'd want for the road. I have a Bontrager ION light. It is plenty bright for visibility on the road. It also comes with a low power mode that blinks at much lower brightness. While I'm on the road I use bright, but on a trail might use the lower setting.
A blinking light is great for an emergency vehicle traveling at high speeds but for a bicycle it is dangerous and unneeded. I have a to close an eye and look away which is more dangerous. Blinding someone and good safe visibility go in two very divergent directions. Thankfully I am not prone to seizures or it would be dangerous to bike around other people who have a singular focus.