Bike Forums - How Many Tail Lights

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fietsbob (Post 16055241)

... maybe some reflective spots on the heel of your shoes , Rick

Glue reflective tape on to the back of your shoes.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/ShoeTape.png

Just one Radbot 1000 for me (backpack), although I'd eventually like to run a second one somewhere on the bike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murray Missile (Post 16056050)

Blue lights are only allowed on emergency vehicles and at K-Mart where I live. I think you could get by with blue reflectors here but it is a common color for driveway and mailbox markers so may not get the desired attention in rural areas like mone. It may work for more urban areas though.

I should probably add that my trunk bag has reflective strips back and sides and my handlebar bag has reflective strips. I have red reflective tape on the back of my helmet and had strips of 2" wide reflective tape sewn to the front and rear of my cycling jacket which already had reflective stripes on the sleeves.

Flashing red taillights aren't allowed in many US localities, yet cyclists still use them. If the desire is to be noticed, nothing will beat a flashing blue tail light.

I got some of those cheap Chinese wheel lights that are activated by motion and lack of ambient light. They flash blue and red alternately. I had an incoming car pull over for me. Or maybe not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlanoFuji (Post 16056166)

Flashing red taillights aren't allowed in many US localities, yet cyclists still use them. If the desire is to be noticed, nothing will beat a flashing blue tail light.

Never heard that in the USA... So why are Turn Signals Legal.

Here is your Blue One...Have one on my helmet.

http://www.fasttech.com/products/160...-lumen-blue-le

What's the beam angle? Tail lights should be wide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noglider (Post 16056238)

What's the beam angle? Tail lights should be wide.

Very Tight hot spot with a wide hallo.

I use it as a head light to warn side street autos to not pull out into me. I only turn it On when I need it.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...dlights013.jpg

My helmet has one built in, I use a Planet Bike superflash, and I bought a Magnic Light. The Magnic light is pretty cool, there are no wires, no batteries, no contact, no wheel mounted magnets. It works off the residual magnetism created by the spinning aluminum rim. It is always on while moving, although it doesn't have a standlight function.

How does aluminum have anything to do with magnetism?

Quote:

Originally Posted by noglider (Post 16056442)

How does aluminum have anything to do with magnetism?

Beat me to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Wheels (Post 16056226)

Never heard that in the USA... So why are Turn Signals Legal.

Here is your Blue One...Have one on my helmet.

http://www.fasttech.com/products/160...-lumen-blue-le

Get one of these and now you have flashing mode.

http://dx.com/p/cree-xlamp-xp-e-b5-5...8-4v-max-26346

These police style strobe lights are awesome, but requires a 12v battery.
http://www.fasttech.com/products/169...s-w-controller

Since I am presently sidelined with a knee problem, and have to drive a route with lots of bike commuters, my recent observations have been:

multiple flashing lights > single flashing light > single non-flashing light > reflectors

Modern car headlamps have such a sharp cutoff that they really don't do a good job lighting up standard rear reflectors. I also have not noticed any pedal reflectors. The challenge of any rear light where I commute is standing out in the visual clutter from other light sources.

I have never, ever heard of any police officer having a problem with a cyclists' flashing red tail lights.

Blue lights are illegal on any non-emergency vehicle. Red lights are illegal on the front of any non-emergency vehicle. I have never heard anything restricting the use of a flashing red light facing the rear.

I saw someone with a blue taillight (on a blue bike) yesterday. But there have been lengthy discussions on these forums (probably the Gadget forum) about the illegality of using blue lights, because it risks being accused of impersonating police. It also confuses driver as to which direction you are moving. Otherwise I would have also liked to get unconventional colors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbubbles (Post 16056534)

Get one of these and now you have flashing mode.

http://dx.com/p/cree-xlamp-xp-e-b5-5...8-4v-max-26346These police style strobe lights are awesome, but requires a 12v battery.http://www.fasttech.com/products/169...s-w-controller

Mine has 5 modes...The Strobe mode is blinding.

FLASHLIGHT MODES Mid > Hi > Lo > Strobe > SOS
LENS TYPE Tempered Glass Lens
MODE COUNT 5

http://www.fasttech.com/products/160...-lumen-blue-le

Quote:

Originally Posted by noglider (Post 16056442)

How does aluminum have anything to do with magnetism?

Eddy currents, per their web page.
I know eddy currents only require *conductive* material, but I'm not sure how these work.
Website: http://www.magniclight.com/magniclig...mepage-english

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Wheels (Post 16056754)

Mine has 5 modes...The Strobe mode is blinding.

FLASHLIGHT MODES Mid > Hi > Lo > Strobe > SOS
LENS TYPE Tempered Glass Lens
MODE COUNT 5

http://www.fasttech.com/products/160...-lumen-blue-le

Oops, didn't see that. I thought yours was one of those 1 mode dx versions.

Folks here should get the red one, 100 lumens of searing red brightness.

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/1...-lumen-red-led

I've been using this for a few years now and it's terrific.

I think there is an overkill point. Some of these lights are so bright, you could risk blinding (so to speak) the driver behind you, making it difficult for them to navigate around you. I came home recently shortly after dusk and saw some bikers at the top the hill I was approaching, and I thought a building was on fire and the fire trucks were responding. I'm not an expert by any means, it's just a thought, but I think the brightness of some of these lights could actually cause the car driver to try to look away from them, reducing their visibility and possibly end up in them hitting you or another driver. If you've ever been at a stop light when the sun is low and shining right in your face, it's the same principal. You have to hold one hand up to block the sun so you can see the traffic light. I do think redundancy is good, so I would have two on the front and two on the back. Especially the back because you don't always know if one stops working (which mine does often).

I use 3.

i have a blinky on the loop on the back of my bag.

i have a blinky mounted on the seatpost.

i have a landing light mounted under the saddle which I run on steady. It is actually a Gemini Titan, that used to be a headlight, I got a red lens for it (shaped) and run the 750 lumens on steady along with the two blinkers.

the blinkers are both Blackburn Mars 4.0 -1 watt LED's.

i'm bright.

Two. One on solid on the frame. One on blink on the helmet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbubbles (Post 16056897)

And how would one go about mounting it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1mad (Post 16057111)

And how would one go about mounting it?

Pick any one of these.
http://dx.com/s/flashlight+bike+mount

Personally, I made my own.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ltrafire-W501B

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbubbles (Post 16057121)

Pick any one of these.
http://dx.com/s/flashlight+bike+mount

Personally, I made my own.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ltrafire-W501B

I've got something like that 5th item currently for the front. As I'm (supposedly) getting a new light that does not require the mount, I'll see if it will work on the top tube... if my current light doesn't pop out or rub me while riding... I can see myself getting one of these lights.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noglider (Post 16056442)

How does aluminum have anything to do with magnetism?

That's what this guy figured out. I don't really know how it works, but it does, and it is pretty bright too. Check the website magniclight.com for more info. (I am not a shill, check my post count and join date.)

Tom, since you now live in the city, I'll demonstrate it for you if we can come up with a time.

I see someone beat me to the website address.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashvillwill (Post 16057040)

Two. One on solid on the frame. One on blink on the helmet.

+1
And when it is rainy I use three. Two on the bike, one on the helmet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shimagnolo (Post 16056761)

Eddy currents, per their web page.
I know eddy currents only require *conductive* material, but I'm not sure how these work.
Website: http://www.magniclight.com/magniclig...mepage-english

He did a demo in one of his videos of a very strong magnet in a piece of straight box rim material. It provided enough magnetic resistance to prevent the magnet from just dropping off. Instead it slowly rolled down. He somehow harnesses this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Wheels (Post 16056226)

Never heard that in the USA... So why are Turn Signals Legal.

Here is your Blue One...Have one on my helmet.

http://www.fasttech.com/products/160...-lumen-blue-le

Turn signals are usually specifically given exemptions. Texas has a similar law, but is restricted to motor vehicles. Here is an example of the law from Florida.

Quote:

316.2397
Part 7.
Flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles except as a means of indicating a right or left turn, to change lanes, or to indicate that the vehicle is lawfully stopped or disabled upon the highway or except that the lamps authorized in subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), and (9) and s. 316.235(5) are permitted to flash.

and here is section 316.235, don't see an exception for bicycle lights

Quote:

316.235 Additional lighting equipment.—(1) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare.
(2) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.
(3) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with one or more backup lamps either separately or in combination with other lamps, but any such backup lamp or lamps shall not be lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.
(4) Any vehicle 80 inches or more in overall width, if not otherwise required by s. 316.2225, may be equipped with not more than three identification lamps showing to the front which shall emit an amber light without glare and not more than three identification lamps showing to the rear which shall emit a red light without glare. Such lamps shall be mounted as specified in this chapter.
(5) A bus, as defined in s. 316.003(3), may be equipped with a deceleration lighting system which cautions following vehicles that the bus is slowing, preparing to stop, or is stopped. Such lighting system shall consist of amber lights mounted in horizontal alignment on the rear of the vehicle at or near the vertical centerline of the vehicle, not higher than the lower edge of the rear window or, if the vehicle has no rear window, not higher than 72 inches from the ground. Such lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight. Lights are permitted to light and flash during deceleration, braking, or standing and idling of the bus. Vehicular hazard warning flashers may be used in conjunction with or in lieu of a rear-mounted deceleration lighting system.
(6) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

The Texas law for flashing blue lights specifically only applied to motor vehicles. So as long as you also have the required lighting/reflectors you may also use a blue flashing light as well on a bicycle.

Quote:

Sec. 547.305. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LIGHTS. (a) A motor vehicle lamp or illuminating device, other than a headlamp, spotlamp, auxiliary lamp, turn signal lamp, or emergency vehicle, tow truck, or school bus warning lamp, that projects a beam with an intensity brighter than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the roadway at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.
(b) Except as expressly authorized by law, a person may not operate or move equipment or a vehicle, other than a police vehicle, with a lamp or device that displays a red light visible from directly in front of the center of the equipment or vehicle.
(c) A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light unless the equipment is:

(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter; or
(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp, or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.
(d) A vehicle may be equipped with alternately flashing lighting equipment described by Section 547.701 or 547.702 only if the vehicle is:
(1) a school bus;
(2) an authorized emergency vehicle;
(3) a church bus that has the words "church bus" printed on the front and rear of the bus so as to be clearly discernable to other vehicle operators;
(4) a tow truck while under the direction of a law enforcement officer at the scene of an accident or while hooking up to a disabled vehicle on a roadway; or
(5) a tow truck with a mounted light bar which has turn signals and stop lamps in addition to those required by Sections 547.322, 547.323, and 547.324, Transportation Code.
(e) A person may not operate highway maintenance or service equipment, including snow-removal equipment, that is not equipped with lamps or that does not display lighted lamps as required by the standards and specifications adopted by the Texas Department of Transportation.
(f) In this section "tow truck" means a motor vehicle or mechanical device that is adapted or used to tow, winch, or move a disabled vehicle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1mad (Post 16057111)

And how would one go about mounting it?

Livestrong band works perfectly for this purpose.

Medic Zero~ nice job with the reflective tape man, right on!

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1mad (Post 16057111)

And how would one go about mounting it?

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...ndyTrip003.jpg

I could not get mine level to be used as a tail light. So I put on my helmet.