I regularly bike on a paved trail in my city that runs along a boulevard and even has light poles, but when I'm riding in the evenings I'm constantly blinded by other cyclists' high powered headlights, especially ones worn on the helmet pointing directly at eye level!

I literally can't see the ground without shielding my eyes and looking straight down as far as 100ft away. When they get into shouting distance I try and yell as calmly as possible "high-beam!", but most times it goes completely ignored.

I'll pass at least half a dozen riders like this on a 2 mile stretch, it blows my mind.

Does anybody else noticed the same thing in their area? It really steams me up because I see it more often now there are more riders, I want more people biking, but the use of high powered beams like that drives me nuts.

Just start crashing into people and then tell them you were blinded by their headlights.

Good idea!

I find those lights on High Beam to be blindingly bright and I ride either early morning or early afternoon as I work nights. I understand if you street ride the safety bonus these lights can offer. I ride 2 miles each way on the street getting to and from the trail and if I am not killed almost every ride it aint normal. Anyway I cannot see why on a 12 foot wide, flat paved trail, in broad daylight these lights are on at all. The rider sure is not getting any illumination benefits and it is a major annoyance to other oncoming riders. I have to look away as it hurts my eyes. My best friend I ride with on weekends is an Epileptic and he says someday he won't be able to look away in time to avoid having a seizure....

Max Bryant

Cyclists need to take the time to properly aim their lights so that they prevent this effect on other road users. Helmet mounted lights are difficult. I occasionally use one, but only when my intended route is really dark. I either dip my head or turn it slightly when oncoming traffic is close.

The German engineers & B&M designed the reflector optics with a cut off , at the top of the beam..

... but of course most are just like a flashlight.. a parabolic reflector with the bulb/ emmitter, in the center...



wear a cap with a brim - under your helmet - so you don't have to take your hand off the bars ?







....

I taped a rectangular tab to the outside front of my helmet so it hangs down to the top of one eyebrow. This gives me a place to hide behind (for the eye on that side, by turning my head) when something bright is coming at me. I think it works pretty OK. I had it hanging lower at first, but because of the way my helmet is riding these days (haven't figured out why yet) I raised the tab by about a centimeter.

I love the MUP riders who use bright lights during the middle of the day . . . . .

Bush & Muller designed the cutoff light. Schmidt uses this on there Edelux II headlight and it lights up the whole road but does not blind on coming traffic. I hate the battery powered flood lights many people use. I leave my lights on during the day this allows cross traffic to see me as I approach intersections.

I know you don't really love them. I don't either. So far I have tried two reponses. First one: call out "Too bright!", second one: twist my face around to (hopefully) let them know it's too bright. It's hard to know if these techniques are working. I'm considering slapping a sticker on the oncoming rider with a notice of which technique was used. Later on if I see them again I can check the sticker or just get beat up. Well, maybe not. Sometimes riders are just jerks. Sigh.

I treat high beams on my bike the same way I treat high beams on a car. If nobody is around, high beams can help me detect hazards - primarily deer, little critters on the path, and unsavory characters. As soon as I see human figures, I turn to low beam (and reduce speed for increased safety). My bike light is nicely set up so that the low beam follows the high setting in the sequence.

I am tempted to take the handheld spotlight from my boat with me one day to engage in some empathy training.

I had to ask one of the riders with our group, on a MUP during the day, to angle his light down as it was blindingly bright. I use a small light, just to be seen in the shadows when riding, but it's not high powered (understatement). I've noticed the cyclists coming the other way are much easier to notice them approaching from shadowed areas. Most don't have super-bright lights (or maybe have them on low and angled downward).

worst is when they look at you with their helmet mounted lights. no change that, worst is when they cover their light repeatedly making it "blink". what the heck, just ride your stupid bike & stop "signaling" like you're in the Navy or something ...


I totally prefer more remote paved trails or roads after dusk. but if you don't like bike lights you probably wouldn't like car headlights

what's on the front of your bike?

don't know what this guy had going on


ppl should just keep their light pointed straight a head or down somewhat. lights in general don't bother me. what bothers me are ppl who cover their light cuz they think that's polite, but when they do that, I can't see them! & it's distracting. this clip has one of those ppl, but the rest are fine normal every day bikers, runners & dog walkers. on my light I added a beam cutoff hood & wide angle diffuser, so it's not in anyone's eyes

It looks like the rider in the first video was using a light mounted to his helmet and was looking to the right and ahead to avoid shining the light in your eyes. The second video looked like a bicycle out of Quadraphenia riden by a mod.

That's not how we ride MUP's here. I'm not going past a dog at that kinda speed. No wonder you guys have problems.

It's a good example though, of why i don't like dedicated cycle lanes. If you give a cyclist a lane, he'll take it as his right. That's what the highway system is for.

the name of that trail is the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway (speed limit 15mph?). so mostly you're just passing other cyclists. but excerpted from page 7:

• Bicyclists of various skill levels including children, novices, and experienced cyclists, using standard bicycles, tandems, recumbents, bicycle trailers and “trail-a-bikes.”
• Pedestrians including children, the elderly, disabled persons in wheelchairs or electric scooters, people pushing strollers, dog walkers and others.
• Runners and joggers.
• In-line skaters, push scooters, skateboards, etc.

Common trip purposes include transportation to and from work and school, and natural, cultural and historic sites; running errands; shopping; visiting friends; attending events; and gaining access to entertainment venues. Intermodal trips are enabled by the trail’s access to the Alewife MBTA station and many MBTA bus routes/ stops.







here's one road crossing





including extremists



but there is no control / limit over who uses it. it also features elderly ppl using their walkers

& ppl on dates?


kids learning to ride bikes



I prefer it, in the winter when the traffic is more predictable

we certainly have highways but we share ...

that trail has a unique way of making us turn left on Mass Ave in Arlington sharing w/ cars before it turns back into a shared path w/ no cars


at night time too

& this guy who passed me. if one can't share this kind of trail, one shouldn't be on it