keyven

Love how a relatively small community of cyclists can't even agree with one another about basic, ESSENTIAL elements like lighting, behavior at stop signs, helmets, etc.

I think all the authorities need to do for mandatory cycling licenses is to provide a few key screenshots of the A&S forums and it'll be implemented within a month.

spare_wheel

You hope a human being is hit but a multi-ton potentially lethal vehicle?
I suggest therapy.

acidfast7

Someone needs reading comprehension lessons.

kickstart

I expressed myself poorly, my statement was meant to address those who intentionally aim their lights too high, or give it no thought.

acidfast7

It's not easily to mis-aim a proper light mounted to the fork with no adjustment possible and a beam cutoff.

kickstart

I don't know, the light on my Raleigh took some effort to get just right, and Ive never seen a light that doesn't need to be aimed correctly. BTW, its a very bright light.



I plan on putting a B&M Eyc T Senso plus on my Ross porteur, which is a correctly engineered light, but It still looks like it needs to be installed and aimed correctly to take advantage of its design.

acidfast7

Paul Barnard

[QUOTE=loosenit2;17154012]
Ban the school buses now.

noglider 

Not at all. I'm sure most miss-aiming is unintentional. Most recently, I was using my B&M light which attaches with a rubber band. This is a flaw, because it tends to tip up from vibrations. Someone riding in the opposing direction yelled out, "That's much too bright!" It's not all that bright, so it probably was going straight into his eyes. I corrected it right away, and it was too late to apologize or explain. I guess I better make a high-friction shim to make the tipping-back less likely.

JohnJ80

I'm sorry you missed my sarcasm as an attempt at humor in my post. We do have a need for a sarcasm font.

I'll be clear:

1. I like bright lights on my bike both front and back because they enhance visibility and visibility enhances safety.

2. I don't think there is a problem with bright bike lights because of the lack of concern by the general public.

3. Because it's not a big problem, ride with the lights you like.

I'm not at all unclear on this subject. There is no need for name calling. You don't help your argument by doing so.


J.

no motor?

Didn't happen, but I was behind a cop one day with the usual one Magicshine flashing and they didn't worry about it nearly as much as you did.

no motor?

The point is I'm not going to quit using lights that cause people to say things like:
1) I like your lights/I really like your lights
2) I wish other people used lights like that
3) You're really hard to miss with those lights
4) I could see you coming from waaaaaay back there with those lights
5) I wish they made lights like that when I rode a bike
6) Where can I buy lights like that(?)

just because some people on the internet think a “1,000 lumen” Magicshine is too bright. And I don't expect those people to suddenly decide they want to use that much light either, but I do hope that if someone who's still undecided on riding with enough light to be safe reads this they'll consider using something more advanced than Opticube technology.

sdwphoto

I agree with you completely,I just should have taken more time to fully explain my view in the post.I think what this debate needs is more facts and less exaggeration. PSE is a known condition and just as you pointed out not everyone reacts the same way to visual stimulation.Nor do we need to consider doing away with warning signals that have saved countless lives.A little less emotion and a rational approach to the problem may give us a win-win result.

JohnJ80

Exactly. It's not a problem.

Your experience with bright lights (although I'm generalizing here to just all bright lights) parallels mine. I think that many, many drivers appreciate being able to easily see a cyclist. Most people, leaving out the dangerous crazies that hate cyclists, understand that they have to share the road with cyclists and are more worried about not seeing them than having them be too visible. No one wants an accident with a cyclist and being able to see them is the first and most important step in being able to avoid them. It's "annoying" to have that on your conscience or to wind up with that on your driving record or insurance bill too or while you stand in your court hearing. It's frightening, as a driver, to be about to make a move in traffic only to see a cyclist there or approaching which a light that doesn't stand out against the other lights in the area or on other vehicles.

I've found that most drivers appreciate the bright lights and the visibility they provide. The *only* negative comment I have had was from a drunk driver which I'm not going to consider credible feedback. The good news is that he pulled over and waited until I went by. So the lights had the desired effect with regards to safety anyhow.

J.

acidfast7

I don't worry about it at all.

I just think it's annoying and you're giving all cyclists a bad name.

Luckily, I don't have to deal with America or American motorists.

spare_wheel

Love the cognitive dissonance. And keep on fantasizing about those cycling incidents, acidfast7.

acidfast7

PaulRivers

That's cool. I'm out of this thread, but I know in the future when I see a bike with an overly bright front light I'll immediately turn on my high beams. As you've explained, it's just not a problem. Many, many bikers will appreciate my ability to see them better when lit up by the high beams. It's about safety - so whether they complain about it doesn't matter. I can see them more clearly, they're safer, it's easier for me to avoid them when they're lit up more, that's what's important. If this causes the biker to feel that they have to stop and get off the road, it's not because using high beams is rude, I'm actually helping them by making them safer. If they claim otherwise, I'll just follow your lead of not considering it credible feedback.

That clears it up for me. Thanks.

JohnJ80

Great. I'm glad you've figured out what to do.

Now you can quit keying on everything I write where ever I write it and distorting it all. Feel better? Think of all the time you'll save.

J.

wnl256

^^ This. People with a recent history of epileptic seizures (regardless of the reason) are not permitted to drive by law in most (all?) states.

Footnote: I didnt see how far off track this thread got before I posted. Nevermind.

Mark Stone

What an interesting thread, with so many points of view and so much information. It has played itself out, however . . . therefore closed.