slvoid

I'm about 20 minutes from home, not one incident through 50 some odd miles of city and high way traffic when I out rode my HID's battery life and figured I'll just switch on my LED blinker on my helmet since I was only 20 minutes from home.

Well... I had 2 cars pull out in front of me, 1 car turn into me, 2 cars pull u-turns into me.
And I KNOW they saw me cause I stared my helmet blinker right at them (the battery was a little low 75%? and it was on solid).

Brooklyn... sheesh.

threephi

I wore my dayglo orange alert-shirt sweatshirt with reflective stripes for the first time on my ride home tonight (racing to make the polls), and it actually did make a big difference in terms of not getting cut off or ignored by the gas guzzlers.

CastIron

I think, once you're actually seen by drivers, half the battle is getting them to take you seriously. The more serious you look about this whole riding your bicycle on their streets business, the more likely they are to give you proper clearance. Just a theory, mind you.

jyossarian

Nah, I know Brooklyn. Those drivers are just knuckleheads. Some of them see the blinkie, but it doesn't mean anything to them and just assume you'll stop, slow down or go around them and some don't care cuz they're in a car and your life means more to you than to them. Now if it was the Bronx, they'da just waited til you were close enough, then run you over.

slvoid

Heh yeah i think that's the diff, with my HID in their face, they have no clue what I am until I'm basically pass them.

But i'll remember to stay out of harlem...

77Univega

--- When driving my car at night, the bicyclists' helmet mounted LED lights do not grab my attention because I am expecting lights to appear at auto-headlight height or bike-handlebar height. Based on my experience, I do not depend on a helmet mounted light to serve as my to-be-seen light.

2manybikes

Exactly...
They can't see you past the light and have to assume you may be a motorcycle or a car with one headlight. Or a cop. That makes them think you may be going as fast as a car, and possibly wider too, and they give you more room. An LED blinker is not as bright from straight ahead and the LED makes them think it's a bicycle if they notice it, so it's not that important, or going slowly, or both. I have people tell me they think I'm a truck, or a cop, or a car, all the time. They get way out of the way a lot earlier. Especially on a dark bike path, no problem with someone in the way, the kids always ask if I am a cop even after they can see me. I guess I should start saying yes.

It will help you get some space in the daytime too. Try it. It should help keep cars from turning in front of you from the opposite direction. Or from pulling in front of you as you go through an intersection.

Daily Commute

I have a helmet LED, but my backup is a 10w halogen with a small NIMh battery on my tube. I use my computer's timer to keep track of how long the HID has been on since the last recharge (the timer is the only part of the computer that works when the HID is on). I know I'll get between 3:15 and 3:25 out of the battery, so I can make sure to have the halogen on the bike when the HID's battery is getting near the end.

The one time I agree with the "invisible cycling" idea is when your light goes out at night. I, too notice the difference in "respect" I get with the HID as opposed to a 10w halogen.

Brian

Doesn't the laser sight on your 9mm grab and hold their attention? Maybe the missus will get you a backup battery as a wedding gift.

Daily Commute

I helmet mount my laser pointer. It really freaks out the cagers.

(In case you can't tell, I'm joking)

Brian

It seems like it might work on some people. I wish this ebay auction would end so I can get some sleep. It's almost 10PM here.

2manybikes

You get 10 points just for thinking about it, and the disastrous results !!
You get ten more if no one dies from this idea in a year.
You get 20 points if I survive this.

ItsJustMe

I felt almost like that this morning. I was back with my HID after some redesign work last night, and it was misty and foggy. I have the 6* spot version from TrailTech, and it cut quite a beam, like a fat blue-white laser. It was funny to watch it slice back and forth with my handlebars.

oboeguy

One of those laser pointers for presentations would make an awesome helmet mod to freak out drivers when you catch them at intersections after they pulled some nasty $%#@ on you. Where's the evil grin emoticon, dang it!

2manybikes

If you cause an accident and get yourself killed, Daily Commute loses 10 points!

recursive

What do you rely on?

mike

In the dark, reflective tape and reflectors out-perform nearly any bike light or blinky for visibility. This is especially true in fog.

Blinkies and lights do have their place, however. As many of us have noticed, a reflector only works when your headlights are shining directly at them - and sometimes that is too late. I often can see blinkies to the left/right sides when I am driving a car. I will often see the blinkie before my lights shine on the reflectors.

The smart commuter is sure to have a combination of both reflectors and electric lights.

77Univega

--- I rely on my handlebar mounted Planet Bike 5000X Headlight with 3.5-watt, 6-volt Vision Optics™ xenon bulb.

Daily Commute

Helmet-mounted laser pointers? That brings back the Borg thread.

As to the game, I forfeit all points if you shine it into a cop car, and the cop shoots you because he thinks you have a gun on him.

It would be kind of fun to have one with some kind of switch that you could easily turn on in just the right situation. It certainly would be less destructive than some of the advice I have seen (e.g., hit the window with your U-lock).

2manybikes

I accept your additional game rule.

In that situation I forfeit all........

I wonder if you shot a taser into the side of the car, if it would stick in?
Could you short circuit the car ignition and stop the car?
Could you shock the driver?

should I not bring this up in public?

noisebeam

If only freaking drivers turned their headlights on before sunrise. This morning I counted 6 cars at 6:30am (it is still quite dim, sunrise at 6:56) with no headlights. They too f'in lazy to turn their headlights on for the 25min it is legally required.

Al

BIGPAKO

Heh yeah i think that's the diff, with my HID in their face, they have no clue what I am until I'm basically pass them.

But i'll remember to stay out of COMPTON...

BIGPAKO

Heh yeah i think that's the diff, with my HID in their face, they have no clue what I am until I'm basically pass them.

But i'll remember to stay out of SOUTH SACRAMENTO...

BIGPAKO

Heh yeah i think that's the diff, with my HID in their face, they have no clue what I am until I'm basically pass them.

But i'll remember to stay out of TIJUANA...

mike

Well, there you have it, noisebeam. The most dangerous times to bicycle are at dawn and dusk because it is not dark enough to have lights on and it is not bright enough to see. Unfortunately, bike lights and blinkies and reflectors are not very visible during these times of the day.