Just another thought about vests. I ride across a two lane huge suspension bridge most of the time when I go for a ride. I usually come back over it after dark. There is room to ride a bike safely next to a car, but no way to allow extra room if a car is too close. I was riding across one night and a cyclist was going the other way. As we were about side by side I looked over at him. A car was coming and the lights were on him. He had no lights at all. He had a safety vest, bike reflectors, reflective ankle and arm straps and possibly some on his helmet too. I remember thinking WOW that guy is bright! I think I have seen him during the day. He uses his bike as transportation, I think he has no car. He has no worries about buying batteries either. The gear he has is not expensive and will almost never wear out. It was incredibly good, I was amazed. I wish I had a picture to post, it might make a few new vest wearers. Also he was clearly a rider on a bicycle too, no confusion about what he was.

If you have not seen the newest brightest LED taillights you may be surprised. I have a couple that are MUCH brighter than car or truck taillights. They are much more visible 1/2 mile away than a car. They stand out in traffic among the car taillights from 1/2 mile away. They are very bright during the day too. They help drivers give me more room during the day than anything reflective that I have tried yet.
But only the newest and the best are that good, there are many LED taillights that I consider almost useless. Unfortunately most riders probably have older weaker lights. Also the angle is important, the light has to be horizontal to be visible, and most of the older style lights are not highly visible from the side.

My vote is not vest or light. It's vest and light. They each have a benefit.

I wear a reflective armband around my left elbow area. One of those Jaand things. I figure it is good to outline the boundaries. Also, don't forget to change those tailight batteries before they go dead. Don't get hit trying to save 60 cents on batteries. I've been wanting one of those vests and I'm gonna 'git one next time I'm in a bike shop.

That's a good pont. Check the tailight, and the reflectors once in a while too. Just in case.

I ride with a guy who will not put new batteries in his tailight untill I tell him I'm
going to break into his house at night, and put the batteries in myself.

This is one of the main reasons that I dis-like blinkies so much. THEY ARE NOT SET AND FORGET...
as many think they are. However, Lights & a vest are the hot ticket available today.

This is why I turn on my lights BEFORE I put on my helmet.

i really don't think had anything to do with the biker in this accident, it seems to be the second driver ignoring the brake lights directly in front of him.

as to the vest light deal, my vote is for both, they won't hurt you.

If you want to bike safely, you can:

a) bike after midnight

b) bike only on bike paths, survive but run the risk of hitting pedestrians and
roller bladers and similar people

c) buy a Hum-Vee vehicle, and ride your bike on rollers, in your
home, instead. i.e. Indoor Bike Trainers

Or you could use the proper safety equipment mentioned here............

Good advice.

Try to make a habit to check your bike and gear, before you go for a ride. If it becomes a routine it's easier to remember.

Lifes to short to not look cool while riding my bike.

Order some IllumiNITE stuff from performance bike.....of course it will really just help you when people have their lights on.....

OK, now you've stepped in it -- all the anti-illuminite people will tell you about it washing off, not being very bright, etc.

I agree though -- I use Illuminite everything -- helmet cover, arm and leg warmers, jackets, tights, windpants, etc.

And then I have many blinkies, reflector tape, ankle reflectors, front safety, and handlebar end lights.

And polish it off with an orange safety vest.

If they can't see me, they are clinically dead.