Nighttime safety products
 

I'm a bit paranoid about being seen by drivers when riding at night, and have been using a product called Tracer 360. It has a battery pack that lights up and flashes a number of different colors. The colored lighting is also transmitted through a pair of fiber optic cables that are worn as shoulder straps.

https://www.noxgear.com/tracer360

They are having a 40% off sale today with code PRIMEDAY17. They seem to have a similar sale once a year or so. I have no affiliation with this company or any of their employees. I've been using the product for the past three years or so and have been pretty happy with it.

I'm also intrigued by Tern's Vizy Light, a rear light that throws a halo of red light onto the ground. I haven't ordered one yet, but it does look very interesting. No affiliation with Tern, either.

Vizy? Light | Tern Folding Bikes | United States

Please feel free to post others that you've found interesting.

I'm paranoid about being seen by drivers during the day also.

I use a day time running lamp. The new cygolite 350 dart is tiny, bright, and has a low profile mount.
https://www.rei.com/product/110176/c...ont-bike-light

In the fall (dark), I'll probably mount it to my helmet and use a brighter light as a secondary light).

I mount my rear light on my chain stays so it lights up the wheel too. your solutions look good too - I like the idea of throwing light on the ground, or anything that isn't so directional.

My bike is also loaded up with 3m reflective tape. I use tapes that match (or accent) the color of the bike, you can't even tell they are there during the day.

The red spot thing is the same general principle as the laser lane markers.
They might make you FEEL safer, but there's no data showing their efficiency.
Keep in mind that when the car gets close enough to matter, the driver will no longer be able to see the spot.
As for the lighted vest - as long as I have a decent lamp, I'm entirely happy with people using Hi-Viz, reflective vests.
I see them well enough, and have never found myself wishing for more.
A few lit lines like that, I'm not sure I'd see that as an improvement compared to reflective surfaces.

That is what I thought too, until someone told me they couldn't' see me from the side. That is my "data."

My head and tail lights alone don't' prevent someone from T-boning me at an intersection. The idea for me it to be seen "before it really matters"

As a driver, I find my eye is attracted to light, and more to to moving light - be it a bright spot on the ground, or a direct light on a bike's handle bars. Most of those little red blinky lights don't really attract my attention when driving - they are just too small (the 2 watt lights do get my attention though).

The Tracer looks good. In fact, I think I've seen it and liked it.

Lighting up the ground doesn't seem to help. Some of the bikes in the Citi Bike program have a green laser which draws a bicycle on the ground in front of the bike. It's not noticeable at all unless I look for it, which I do, but who else does?

I use a Nite Ize Spokelit in my rear wheel. It's not very bright, but because of the motion, it's extremely noticeable. People tell me they notice it and admire it. I tried it in my front wheel, and it was too distracting for me.

http://www.niteize.com/images/SKL_Feature_05_l.jpg

If you guys are so paranoid about being seen, why are you lighting yourselves up like Christmas trees? :)

This is the commuter forum, right?
A fair amount of my (non summer) commuting is in the dark/dusk. No fun surprising a car in those conditions.

I actually prefer night riding, as is is much easier for the car to see me and for me to see the car...

[QUOTE=noglider;19715701]

I use a Nite Ize Spokelit in my rear wheel. It's not very bright, but because of the motion, it's extremely noticeable. People tell me they notice it and admire it. I tried it in my front wheel, and it was too distracting for me.

good point. Almost forgot that in the fall I use these little lights attached to my spokes in the fall. Like yours, they make the bike pretty visible from the side. They cost about a $1 each...

The spoke lights are visible from the front and back, too.

That looks great, Tom. I'll check it out.

:lol: I guess I should have said, "I'm paranoid about NOT being seen."

A pickup truck pulled over beside me once to compliment me on how much I was lit up.

Another idea is to mount a white light on your rear rack aimed at your back reflector vest. You can't always rely on a motorists to see you until his lights are aimed at you.

That's a brilliant idea, pun slightly intended.

I have the Vizy light and like it. I feel I can be objective and say I think it's a good rear light, even though I am a Tern bike owner and have been fairly active on the Tern Forum. See my comments here: http://www.bikeforums.net/19691520-post2.html
It's a decent light and has held up well. As I indicated, the circle on the pavement shows up best in darker areas, but the rear-facing LEDs are quite visible under street lights.
If you want *really* bright rear lighting, see the Dinotte tail light: NEW 2017 Quad RED Taillight with built in battery ? DiNotte Lighting USA Online Store. My wife and kids gave me its predecessor (300R) about 3 years ago. It is *incredibly* bright; I had to point it slightly downward to avoid blinding approaching motorists. It cost about five (5) times what the Vizy goes for, so you have a choice. For the money, I think the Vizy is a reasonable choice.
Steve

My boss has mentioned a few times that he's concerned when I ride in the Falls since I commute back home in the dark. May be this will put his worries to rest :)

One thing I have done is put a light blinky light in my (dry) water bottle. Makes a nice 360 degree visible strobe to help with side lighting at dusk/night.