I think bright lights would have prevent this..
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I think bright lights would have prevent this..
IMO, I think strong and bright lights would have prevented this..
It was obvious they weren't seen.
https://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2...5721#c74275721
It was obvious they weren't seen.
https://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2...5721#c74275721
#3
The Recumbent Quant
IMO, I think strong and bright lights would have prevented this..
It was obvious they weren't seen.
https://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2...5721#c74275721
It was obvious they weren't seen.
https://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2...5721#c74275721
That being said, yes, please do use lights to make yourself visible. I ride with lights both at day and at night.
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Bright lights would have made the bike noticed BEFORE the driver looked down. From their description, the driver looked down right as he was close to the riders, and when he came up, he was on them. It was obvious that he didn't see them BEFORE he looked down. Bright lights would have made the driver aware of their presence before he looked down.
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Bright lights would have made the bike noticed BEFORE the driver looked down. From their description, the driver looked down right as he was close to the riders, and when he came up, he was on them. It was obvious that he didn't see them BEFORE he looked down. Bright lights would have made the driver aware of their presence before he looked down.
tell me, what kind of lights were the couple using?
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They are not assumptions, they are what I have found out from actual experience. When I ride WITHOUT lights opposed to the when I ride with lights, the reactions I get from cars is NIGHT AND DAY. My rightaway is almost always taken if I have no lights. On the other hand, with lights, brights lights too, they go overboard to give me my rightaway. Nobody had to tell me that, I found that out myself. That is why I am a firm believer that brights lights makes us/me safer in traffic!!
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Don't know if they were using lights or not. Sounds like they were not using lights. I am just guessing on that..
They are not assumptions, they are what I have found out from actual experience. When I ride WITHOUT lights opposed to the when I ride with lights, the reactions I get from cars is NIGHT AND DAY. My rightaway is almost always taken if I have no lights. On the other hand, with lights, brights lights too, they go overboard to give me my rightaway. Nobody had to tell me that, I found that out myself. That is why I am a firm believer that brights lights makes us/me safer in traffic!!
They are not assumptions, they are what I have found out from actual experience. When I ride WITHOUT lights opposed to the when I ride with lights, the reactions I get from cars is NIGHT AND DAY. My rightaway is almost always taken if I have no lights. On the other hand, with lights, brights lights too, they go overboard to give me my rightaway. Nobody had to tell me that, I found that out myself. That is why I am a firm believer that brights lights makes us/me safer in traffic!!
#9
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The driver was picking up a cap from the vehicle floor when hitting them, so it is still possible that he did see them beforehand but didn't expect the car to veer into them when he bent over to pick up the cap.
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I ain't got no panties!! Also, I am not arguing. What you have in bold, I would feel safe betting 1000 to 5. If he had saw them before he looked down, most likely he would have done two things or both. First, move away from them, second, don't look down until after he has passed them. When I drive, and I am getting ready to do something while I am driving, such grab something off my seat, touch the radio, anything that would take my eyes away from up front, if I see something needs my attention, I put that movement on hold until I have passed. I have a lot of miles under my belt, and I am talking from experience, not here-say. I fully agree that all I am saying is just my opinion too.
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Could you recommend a good tail lamp for daytime use? In my case it would be powered by a hub dynamo.
Last edited by Ekdog; 02-18-13 at 03:33 PM. Reason: Added the last sentence.
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I ain't got no panties!! Also, I am not arguing. What you have in bold, I would feel safe betting 1000 to 5. If he had saw them before he looked down, most likely he would have done two things or both. First, move away from them, second, don't look down until after he has passed them. When I drive, and I am getting ready to do something while I am driving, such grab something off my seat, touch the radio, anything that would take my eyes away from up front, if I see something needs my attention, I put that movement on hold until I have passed. I have a lot of miles under my belt, and I am talking from experience, not here-say. I fully agree that all I am saying is just my opinion too.
#14
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Does a white front light make difference in broad daylight? I tried a couple of times with a strobbing one in bright daylight, and I doubt it made difference, as the daylight is so bright, so I turned it off. I use an amber light in the rear during the day.
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Also, on the cars in motion where the driver does a fast right/left look, I see them jam their brakes, because they have picked up my lights coming their way.. And almost everytime I DON'T turn my lights on for in the subway parking lot they jump/turn in front of me. Never happens with the lights..
#16
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Comments well taken. One scenario when front light definitely helps in daylight is when an upcoming vehicle (such as a bus) makes left turn in front of me at an intersection, they notice me and slow down. Without the front light, they should still see me, but it seems I would not be making the "loud" assertion of my existence and right.
#17
You gonna eat that?
See, I wonder if they had rear view mirrors. They can be pretty useful for watching traffic approaching from behind. It's very rare, but every once in a while I bail out to the gutter/shoulder/even up the curb if it looks like an approaching car is approaching a little to close.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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#18
The Recumbent Quant
I find that cars are much less likely to pull out in front of me during the daytime if I run a flashing front light. I also find that cars generally give me more room when passing when I have rear lights.
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I'm not sure anyone makes a dynamo powered taillight bright enough that it would be considered daylight visible. Nor do they flash. You would have to build your own, it seems.
A bright light may have prevented this but I regularly see drivers doing things that no light can protect people from. Thankfully, no one is in their path most of the time. I think the resistance here is it the original post borders on placing some fault on the cyclists rather than just discussing ways things like this might be prevented. The only thing it seems safe to assume is that the driver should have been performing his obligation of paying attention to the road.
Sad to hear. They sound like they were wonderful people having a great trip.
A bright light may have prevented this but I regularly see drivers doing things that no light can protect people from. Thankfully, no one is in their path most of the time. I think the resistance here is it the original post borders on placing some fault on the cyclists rather than just discussing ways things like this might be prevented. The only thing it seems safe to assume is that the driver should have been performing his obligation of paying attention to the road.
Sad to hear. They sound like they were wonderful people having a great trip.
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does anyone catch hell from other bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists about the brightness of your lights?
i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.
i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.
i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
#21
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Sheesh, I want all of us to reach the ripe old age of 100!!
#22
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does anyone catch hell from other bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists about the brightness of your lights?
i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.
i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.
i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
#23
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does anyone catch hell from other bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists about the brightness of your lights?
i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.
i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.
i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
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I can attest to what others here have said about cars and bike lights.
Without the lights on my trike, auto drivers don't "see" me, and more often than not come close to hitting me. With the lights on, most every driver gives me plenty of room, with the exception of the few inattentive idiots who --in my opinion-- shouldn't even have a licence to drive. seriously, Why is it here in the US we grant driving privileges to kids that can barely walk and chew gum at the same time?
A dollar to a doughnut says this couple didn't have lights on their bikes and would probably be alive had they taken that precaution.
Without the lights on my trike, auto drivers don't "see" me, and more often than not come close to hitting me. With the lights on, most every driver gives me plenty of room, with the exception of the few inattentive idiots who --in my opinion-- shouldn't even have a licence to drive. seriously, Why is it here in the US we grant driving privileges to kids that can barely walk and chew gum at the same time?
A dollar to a doughnut says this couple didn't have lights on their bikes and would probably be alive had they taken that precaution.
#25
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See, I wonder if they head rear view mirrors. They can be pretty useful for watching traffic approaching from behind. It's very rare, but every once in a while I bail out to the gutter/shoulder/even up the curb if it looks like an approaching car is approaching a little to close.