Rubble

I've been doing a regular M-W-F morning ride for the past month or so. 20 mile route on Siesta Key and at 0530 it's wonderful. Virtually no cars and I can ride in the middle of the lane. I've moved my average mph up about 2 mph over the past month so I am enjoying the progress.

I've got a red blinker on the back of my helmet and on my tire bag under the seat. My 500 lumen front light lights the way.

There are two guys I regularly see - one always going the opposite direction and another I always pass - that have no lights at all. On Friday the guy I pass was wearing black shorts and a black shirt. It's pitch black outside!

While I want to call out "hey pal, get some lights" I've kept my mouth shut and hope the local cop will stop him.

Should I say something or is this a Ron White 'you can't fix stupid' deal?

Biker395 

I've asked myself that 1000 times.

Part of me wants to stop and have a friendly chat about how headlights are pretty cheap nowadays, how much the increase safety, and how if they can't afford it, I'd gladly buy them one.

The other part of me knows that I'll probably be told to mind my own effin business.

woodcraft

I have said "get a light dip-****" multiple times,

as I pass.

JanMM

"You need some lights" would be perfectly valid and non-offensive. If they react poorly, that's their problem. Their state of ninja-ness is not just a hazard to them, but to you or others, too.

B. Carfree

You see him three times per week. Rather than be perceived as the know-it-all jerk who tells him to get lights, how about starting with a friendly greeting? There's no rush to get him lit up since he has clearly been doing this for quite a while without getting whacked and a few more trips likely won't get him killed. After you've gotten him to respond to your "good morning" greetings a few times, then you can move on to let him know that he's kind of hard to see. He'll probably own his invisibility and get lights shortly after that.

Kindaslow

Is there something wrong with natural selection?


Mostly kidding.....

jon c. 

They see your lights. They know what lights are. There really isn't anything you can tell them that they don't already know. So odds are your sound advice would not be well received.

John E

That is my reaction, as well, except that an unlit cyclist -- particularly contraflow, but even in my own direction -- could endanger me, as well. I do freely yell "wrong way" at contraflow cyclists and get the expected F.U. response, but these clowns are a real menace.

nobodyhere

Some folks don't know/realize how invisible they are to others. I see this all the time on my walks and rides on our trail system.

How about a friendly - "I would be able to see you, and it would be safer, if you had some lights" I do this, and sometimes get results.

When I walk in the dark, I often strap on a red rear flasher, as well as a flashlight, and a couple of other walkers do, also.

Ball Bearing

If you are like me you have a box full of old lights that probably are destined to never be used again. Bring a couple of these redundant lights with you on your next ride where you see these ninjas and offer to give them a set.

10 Wheels

They Don't care.

catgita

I don't know how LACBC does it.
Operation Firefly | LACBC

jyl

You can't fix stupid.

Biker395 

Whoa ... great idea!

Jim from Boston

Started on 10/26/15 was a similar thread on A&S, ”What do you say to a cyclist riding at night w/o lights or reflectors?,” that was closed after 79 replies so I can't link to it. The replies ranged similar to those above. My post was,

Since that thread though, I did pass a seemingly new rider and suggested that her rear, steady red light was kind of dim, and she thanked me as I passed with my bright flashing rear blinkie. This AM I went by a skateboarder, and though on a well lit segment, I shouted “Ninja,” and he seemed to smile in acknowledgement. Since i only see ninjas on my commute to work, I’m not inclined to stop and prostelytize.

If inclined, one needs to says something clearly,and definitively to get the message across. My best thought so far is ‘”Heads up.” as if I am suddenly surprised by their presence, because I was startled since I just saw them. (I also use that with oncoming lit-up riders too). And let's not forget the peds, skateboarders, dog walkers, etc.

Biker395 

On my AM commute currently as now it's in the dark, it seems there are not a few riders who (self-righteously) overdo the lights to the detriment of oncoming riders, but that's another topic.

That sure rings true. There are times I wonder if people know that their lights have more than one setting and that on a dark bike path, all they are doing by leaving them on the MAX setting is ruining their night vision. Some of those 1000+ lumen lights are ridiculously bright for someone rolling along at 15 miles an hour or so.

One of the nice things about a helmet light is the ability to have something bright enough to see where you are going, but narrow enough to point out of someone's eyes when they are approaching.

10 Wheels

I have given lights to neighborhood riders.

After a weeks time the lights are No Longer on their bikes.

RedC

I have to dodge Ninja cyclists, walkers and runners in dark clothing in the dark to get out of my neighborhood to the ride. Florida law requires reflectors but no one enforces it, Nor do they cite motorists who hit cyclists

dim

I commute on a cycle lane that has been built alongside a guided bus route (brilliant as the roads are new and you can go at speed .... no cars or traffic lights and built for cyclists and pedestrians ... one stretch of my commute on one of these lanes is 5km with no stops on flat ground except for one steep bridge

The problem is, that there are no streetlamps and the cycle lane cuts through old farmland etc .... it's pitch dark

but you can see oncoming cyclists, even if they have poor lights .... however, there are pedestrians who use these cycle paths aswell ... they dont wear hi-viz clothes, so you only see them with normal lights when you are 3 meters away ....

I ride carefully and slower at night but I need to get stronger lights and will most probably offend oncoming cyclists

osco53

I'm not the police,
I tend to mind my own business,

If they want to die on a bicycle so be it,, Forest Gump said, "Stupid Is as Stupid does"

Rubble

Those guys with the 1000 lumen lights love to put them on the strobe setting. Riding a MUP with a strobe going seems a bit overkill. There's a lot of folks, me included, that don't handle those strobes well.

Re helmet lights. One guy I see often has a very bright helmet light. The problem is he always looks at me as we pass. Damn thing is blinding. I held my hand up to block it the other day, maybe he got the hint.

BobbyG

I've also decided others can see my lights and how the work. As for "salmons" if I say anything ( rarely) it's "ride WITH traffic."

2manybikes

Same here.

Null66

They're SO HEAVY!

dksix

When should someone have lights? I don't ride at night, strictly a recreational rider who unless something drastic happens won't be out after dark but often the daylight is starting to dim and some places heavily wooded area it's pretty dim sooner. I haven't needed lights to guide my way home, I can see fine but I worry less about me hitting what I can't see and more about being hit because I was seen.

I have a small cheap set I picked up a K-Mart on close out for (I think) $4.00 2 LED Flash Light Reflector Cycling Bicycle Head Front Rear Wheel Silicone ME307 | eBay . I keep them in my under-the-seat bag in case I need them. My question is, when should I get them out and have them on?