This is the main reason I use a helmet-mounted light at night. Bike lights are lost in the sea of lights out there, and a quick flash on a car pulling out or turning in front of you gets their attention. If that fails, lighting them up with a 750 lumen beam on their face never fails.

There is one particularly dangerous area where car are frequently blocking the bike lane/crosswalk or coming around the ramp to merge into traffic that leads onto Key Bridge heading into DC. They literally aren't looking for bikes or pedestrians, and even there, full light in the face doesn't always work. It seems to stun them slightly, though, which is better than nothing. At least they come away feeling like something out of the ordinary just happened (temporarily blinded), and perhaps the next time they will realize there are others out there.

Look behind you, before you open your door..

Maybe this thread should be moved to the Advocacy & Safety section. Other than that lets all have a safe commute.

I have to agree with this. You stopped and looked and STILL failed to see the rider. Reflective gear is not useful if there are no lights illuminating the gear. Even a crappy front light would be better than nothing. Fortunately the rider was not going too fast to avoid a bad accident. I would be pretty shaken up if I were driving in this situation.

I'm glad you stopped, but I wish you would have suggested that the rider invest in a light.

And I'll post a PSA for everyone who drives to ALWAYS use your blinker even if you don't think you need it. The cyclist, pedestrian or silly 13 mph motorized skateboard rider passing you on your right will be able to react to you. Passing on the right is the one of the more dangerous moves for a cyclist.

I lived in DC from 2002-2007 and rode a bike exclusively. Heck, that is actually where/when my love of cycling happened! Wait for a bus to work, saw a bike commuter pass and thought "I have a bike, I love to exercise." 14 years later and I ride daily, rarely drive, and now have more bikes than I'd like to admit

I certainly would not ride in traffic these days as I rode when I was that age and living there. I guess age, a wife, and a child will do that.

I rode everywhere in the city and lived nearby the Key Bridge, crossing it weekly to visit a friend in N.VA. I'd be curious to ride in the city again. I was there around 2012 and the change from 2007 in terms of bike lanes was impressive. That said, I was hit twice while biking in the city, both times the motorist broke the law, one time I could have been riding more safely, the other time...person ran a stop sign, then right hooked me before I could realize what was happening. Some freaking how...I rode away both times.

Be safe out there, everyone!

In a perfect world ALL motorists would have to bike commuter for a month before even applying for a license. And all drivers would slow down by 5-10 mph.

That said, I'm dismayed by how many cyclists make themselves less safe than possible. I use lights all the time, both for commuting and for fast road rides. At this time of year, when the sun angles are bad, I can't understand roadies in all black kit with no lights. Head scratcher for me. And I'm talking people on very expensive bikes, so $ isn't an issue.

With a wife and a child, I really do my best to not be run over. Front and rear lights, bright jerseys and/or clothing.

I do have to drive sometimes these days to drop my newborn son at day care. I'm much, much more aware of peds and cyclists than the average driver AND I usually drive below the speed limit. I simply don't trust most drivers, even when I'm in a rather large truck.

That said...I nearly turned in front of a cyclist last week. Driving slowly, very aware of the traffic/road situation, but I simply didn't see him. Dark morning and he was in dark clothes without a headlight. I nearly turned in front of him, after making a full stop (I didn't have a light or a sign, left off of a main, busy road). I said a prayer for the guy, as I think many other drivers would have been driving too fast and/or while looking at a phone and hit him.