How Many Tail Lights
 

How many Tail Lights should one have on the rear of their bicycle? I've heard all sorts of answers to this question but I throw it out to the list if there is a proper number to have. If one were to practice redundancy, then several would be the answer in case one or more fail during your journey. So how many do you have on your bicycle?

3 with mucho reflection.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...dlights007.jpg

There is no "proper number" - totally up to individual predilection! Except that some places have an ordinance that you must have at least one, or at least a reflector.

In contrast with 10 Wheels I only have a single tail-light, actually an LED clearance light rigged as a brake light.

This guy has a few:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/18lights.jpg

Depends on where you live .. Hub Dynamo powered B&M 2LED Toplight Line Plus
is enough for me where I Live..

have had a 4D senso, now senso plus, on another bike for years..
2AA power the light , in senso mode , and shut off after 4min.

the line tech one is smaller and flatter but still it lights up the whole surface.
capacitor keeps the light on when stopped .

How long does it take him to turn all those on and/or off?

I run three. Two on the bike and one on the helmet.
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I wouldn't be so presumptuous to say everyone should have three, but I like having redundancy.
The law only requires rear reflectors here.

I will echo "there is no set requirement", but will add the amendment to that you need at least 1 (after sunset).

This site gives a good idea of the UK rules - http://ukcyclerules.com/2010/11/08/b...rs-the-basics/

Personally, I like to have more than 1.

On my bike, at the rear, I have 1 static light mounted on my rear rack, and 2 blinkies (mounted at the rear axle, 1 on each side).

I also have a little blinky in the pedals as well.

The correct answer to that would be 2. Both of them being CatEye Rapid 5s.

On my bikes, I have one.......CatEye Rapid 5. They have never failed to worry with another.

Longer than it should. I can easily spot two different brands that I bought and for some reason have not yet sold on eBarf.

I have four- two on the seat post and two on the rack. Not all are on at once, unless I'm in traffic and it's foggy/rainy/snowing.

One more than you expect to fail.

My main tail light is on the helmet (Knog V4 Blinder, 4 LEDs and very bright). I also have a couple coin-cell blinkies on the saddlebag flap, as backup. Oh, I also have some Trax bar-end lights, but I don't think they are all that effective as tail lights.

On the rear, reflective is as important as lighting, because the car's headlights are more powerful than bike tail lights. I save most of my lighting efforts for the front.

I have been riding century's at night to beat the daytime heat.

Thought I would have fun with the lights.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...dlights008.jpg

One Dinotte is really all you need.

I use one for day Safety.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...eenShot080.jpg

N+1

Seriously, it can be extremely difficult to judge distance and relative speed of just a single light at night. So I always run 2 - one on the bike, and one on my helmet.

One really bright one if it's daytime. Two at night, because one can fail. I don't use anything less than 30 lumens. What I have in the stable now is a Magicshine, a Serfas Shield, a Knog Blinder 4V and a Cygolite Hotshot.

I have some PBSFs around but they're too wimpy. I might throw them on my helmet as a 3rd, maybe, if I am in the mood.

Two usually. One on the bike and one on the pack.

Count me in this camp. Although I am considering getting a third. Not sure where I'd mount it (the one on my trunk bag is on steady, the one on my helmet is blinking), perhaps on the seatstay.

I'll agree with that. If you have 2 static points of light, then an observer can get a much better idea of your position, speed and direction by observing each light relative to the other. For instance, how far apart they appear. As you approach, the gap between them will seem to increase thus allowing easier judgement of the observed object.

The same can be true of blinkies or mixed lights, but is easier with 2 static lights.

this. i have a bright flashy one on my rack, and another flashy one on my trunk bag.

Not if he has to park the bike outside for a short time.

I like a few different lights and reflectors on the rear. I run pedal reflectors as well as a reflector on the rack and the bags. Plus I have a blinkie on the seat post and my meesenger bag (which also have reflective material. I think I'm getting one for my helmet as well (why the heck not).

Hope you really don't believe that.....If you do, you have it wrong.

Sure does, I had a cop stop me a few years ago to tell me he could see my single red 3-LED blinkie light over a mile away. He then asked where I bought it as he wanted to get one for his daughter's bike.

I use three, along with some reflective tape. I've also had a cop tell me how he could see me from a mile away
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