Don't worry about the law... Lights make you SAFE. Some people advocate using them all the time.

As jefnvk mentioned, 9:00 us usually pretty safe, but hours change, and by mid winter, it could still be a little dark by 8:00 AM. Likewise, if you use daylight savings time, then by mid winter, it is dark by 4:00 or 5:00.

Depending on where I am, I'll sometimes turn the taillight on at dusk (as soon as it would make a difference in rear visibility), but sometimes wait on the headlight until I need it to help me see. Or, I'll put the headlight on flash at dusk, then on steady when it gets dark.

I use flashers on the rear. I think it improves visibility, and identifies on as a bicycle, although some European countries require solid red for the rear. Do what others do. Flashing the headlight is annoying when it is dark, but ok at dusk.

Oh, another thing to think about is riding into the sunset. If you can't see, then the cars around you can't see you either. So, use extra caution, and turn on your taillight.

Oh hai wgscott, big surprise, another pompous and pretentious post.

I suggest you ride with lights on all the time, when riding in traffic. It really does help you visibility to drivers. Flashing bike lights are rarely bright enough to dazzle other road users, but keep the front-light angled to point about 5metres or less in front of you - it will will still be visible a long way off.

Edit: Oh, and wear a flouro vest of belt and something reflective on the moving parts of your body or bike (ankle bands, wheel reflectors, pedal reflectors).

Lights on all the time!!

Matt

Generally lights on half an hour before and after sunset and sunrise respectively. Or as suggested, all the time.

On that subject, I refuse to ride directly into a low setting or rising sun on the road. If I can't see cars in the sun, sure as heck they can't see me no matter what lights I have on.

I wear a backpack a lot which is a slight problem with some types of high visibility clothing.

I don't know if the vest is necessary. Perhaps it will help some, especially at night. But, I would also encourage you to consider bright colors. No drab grey. Get a cycling specific jacket (with bright colors, and good ventilation). Rain pants?

I know this thread is a bit old and i wear a backpack as well but it is yellow till it broke and now i'm stuck with a black backpack and i personally think hi-viz/reflective vests only work at dawn/dusk or during dark. When i i cycle i never wear a black or grey jumper i try to wear a different colour and times i have to wear black or grey i just wear my vest over it. The most important thing i think to make you visible are lights and because i don't drive i always switch my lights on when veichles change there lights (i dunno what it's called when veichles change there lights from day to night) (because it's been getting dark around 4pm i also have a a extra rear light for my helmet.

I've always had both my lights on flashing and i've hardly ever seen any cyclist in my area with a steady front light it's always flashing and rear i always have it on flashing. i turn my lights on when it's raining as well and i know some countries don't allow flashing lights like in the Netherlands. Also i remember once when i put my lights on in daytime as it was supposed to rain later.

yeah i know what you mean when you have to ride in the sunset. That can be annoying as it blinds you.

With the lights a van driver said your lights are too bright once to me. I personally prefer not to say anything when some driver says something as i didn't want to get in an argument/hold up traffic There not that bright there not as bright as dipped headlights. So i didn't really get why he said that. Was he just being annoying because he was waiting behind me because i was waiting for a mini roundabout to clear.?

Easy solution for the black backpack, go to an arts & craft store and buy some duct tape. I put some strips of construction orange duct tape and prism reflective duct tape on my backpack.

With lights, I was surprised to find out that using a steady headlight during low visibility daytime got the attention of cars a lot better than a flashing light.

As far as light brightness, 700 lumens is the standard for car low beams. I've seen lights for sale that are brighter, but that would be like using your high beams when there's oncoming traffic which is both a jerk move and I think illegal. If your light is 700 lumens or slightly less, the angle may be too high. Or the driver was just whiny.

My best advice is to work it out with your mother and to not make a decision you'll regret later. That's what adults do.

True, but not all parents capable of adulting.

Seems like it as we've moved on to talkig about lights and riding after dark

Older thread, and I think somewhere earlier notes indicated that the OP had made peace with her mother.

Nonetheless, some of the thoughts and ideas still are pertinent to others who may be reading this (or skimming the last page).

Good reflective gear should not be underestimated when they have lights shined at them. Of course, there may be instances such as cross traffic when the reflective strips aren't lit up, or perhaps they are only brightest when it is darkest out, and not as much under the city lights.

I find daytime strobes on front rather annoying as a rider, so I may strobe a little at dusk, but then it goes on steady. I did manage to pick up a light that has a dim/dimmer/dim/dimmer function which is less annoying, but I still would rather get a steady front light. Perhaps some kind of good side visibility lights should also be added.

As far as brightness. My current headlight is on a rubber band style flexible mount, so it can easily be aimed downward when approaching traffic.

Comparing brightness of LED lights to incandescent lights is apparently somewhat complex. One can compare the brightness of a spot on the pavement. But car headlights and bicycle headlights are very difference. One of the reasons LED lights are so annoying is the directed point source of the light. So, with a reflected car headlight, at least a 6" or 8" reflector is perceived by the viewer, while it is a single point for the bike headlight which makes it appear brighter when looking directly at it.

Since the 1920s, there has been an effort to make directed beam headlights on cars. So, low beam points more at the ground, and to the side of the road than straight ahead.

On the other hand, few bicycle lights have directed beams, and those that do are extremely expensive. Again, an issue with LEDs. So, if one points one's bike light ahead at the horizon, then half the light goes up into people's eyes, and half down at the pavement.

Anyway, have enough light to see, and be seen, but also be conscientious about others around you including other bicycles, pedestrians, and drivers.

That's an indication that your lights are poorly adjusted. In the old days, when bike lights were rather rubbish, it didn't matter where they pointed and straight at the viewer was probably a good thing. Now though, with bike lights so bright, we need to be aware of where all that light's going.
An example. A few years back when super bright LEDs started hitting the market at cheap prices, I bought a set. I the bike out in my street and sent my son a hundred metres or so up the road, asking him to tell me when they were no longer dazzling... and was very surprised to find how far down they needed to be pointed.
Of a morning, I tend to ride on bike paths against the tide of commuting cyclists and it's surprising how many of them have their lights set so they are annoying or worse.
Adjustment - something we need to be aware of but usually aren't.

Now, tail lights, they can be just as bad but how many of us just point them straight backwards?

Yeah ... headlights are pointed down and right (except in the UK.) Blinding oncoming traffic is not widely accepted as a safety maneuver.

Here's a thought though. When you are driving and you forget to dim your lights, you know all about it because oncoming traffic flashes their lights at you. If there's not even a decent minority of people flashing their lights at you, then how reliable is one solitary motorist? Especially since holding up traffic was a listed concern, which kinda indicates it was a motorist yelling out his window, and more likely than not the motorist was not in oncoming traffic.

I am not worried about oncoming motorists getting offended. I am interested in not blinding them. If One motorist flashes me, I will check my lights ... maybe they have moved (it is a high-vibration environment.) If my lights are fine, I am fine, and if other people choose not to be fine ... Freedom!

My Parents were diabetic, not riding a bike , I did , and am not..