A couple of months ago I started mounting my old Dinotte lights as well as an extra Magic Shine tail light to my handlebars. The resulting effect of the flashers striking the ground on either side of my bike is some what like an emergency vehicle.

Across the last several weeks I've heard comments that lead me to believe that pedestrians and park users think I am a law enforcement officer.

Tonight was special, I had a group of youths come out from a wooded area after coming near them on my bike at the end on a trail in a city park. One of the youth's asked: "Are we not supposed to be here now?" (9:30 pm)

Oh -well - I'm not dead yet.........

Bravo - If they can see you they can see you...

If you're not law enforcement or a first responded don't act like it. Come up with a better way to "get"respect".

I didn't say or do anything, any time - I just look like a really geeky guy on a hybrid bike with black bags and lots of lights.

And I would suppose when enough cyclists get a little more geeky as well - no one will give two cents of attention to seeing bright lights in dark areas of parks.

My night riding is on fairly deserted rural roads. I can hear cars coming from a long ways off and I'm very attuned to the sounds they make. Often, cars coming up behind me will quickly slow down when they catch sight of my lights. I'm guessing they think I'm an emergency vehicle or a cop car. It seems like it takes them a moment or two to figure out what I am, then they cautiously go around me. It's the cars that are used to me, the ones where I recognize their plates, that zoom around me without slowing down. People tell me my lights are very bright. Most of the time I use a PBSF on flash mode and a flashlight with a bright red LED. I think the flashlight is about 90 lumens.

It's fancinating seeing driver's different reaction to the rear blinkies we use on our bikes. Some looks confuse and slow down and some change to the next lane and pass slowly while other just don't care. I'm sure as time passes, they will get use to it as more cyclist use the brighter lights as prices drop (I hope it drops).

I recall the last time someone thought I was a law enforcement was when I passed through the shopping mall. I was running two PBSF and one MS. This SUV came fast along side of me with her lights strobing on top of the roof. I stop and she ask me if I needed assistant and thought I was pursuing someone. Ha ha, you should have seen the looks on her face when I answer "no" when she asked if I worked for them at the mall security.