datlas 

One other comment about night riding. I think it’s best to ride on FAMILIAR roads whenever possible. You are less likely to have a surprise pothole or unexpected road change that way.

Amt0571

Sorry, didn't want to offend, but I think it's light is way too weak for safe riding.

rumrunn6

I don't think the video camera does it justice but I've also added a beam cutoff hood so I don't blind oncoming traffic. maybe that influences how it appears on video? the man. advertises it as 900 lumen. I can see where I'm going & traffic approaching me, can see me. this is what I use rear-facing

burnthesheep

Lights, lights, and reflective stuff. And take a route that you deem fits your life's risk mitigation tolerance levels.

We have a guy here that commutes somewhere to work and home daily. He takes the road in daylight an I see him on our greenway in darkness. That has him avoid a bad area in dark.

Nothing wrong with dark. I just adjust my risk mitigation strategy according to the perils.

delbiker1 

Quoting Pink Floyd: " I know I'm mad, I've always been mad aahhahahahahahaha!"

rseeker

I feel the same way. I feel safer at night, and most of my rides are at night, usually three times a week.

The car-commuter mindset is not conducive to safety, but that's true whether it's light out or not.

Mad Honk 

I guess you can be in good company with me, Smiles, MAD HONK

2manybikes

Another benefit on rural roads with light traffic, not being in a car, the cyclists can hear a car coming from far away. There are places where I can hear them close to a mile away, at night.

79pmooney

A jogger (or car or anyone else) crossing your path at right angles, ie coming out of a sidestreet or driveway or crossing the road may not see enough of the beam of a narrow bike headlight to have any idea we are coming; not until they are about to step or drive in front of us. And their light or headlight isn't being reflected back by anything we have. I get around this by wearing blinkies on the forward corners of my hips; really visible to anyone who turns their head to look for cars. (Both sides. I fear left turners the most.) I put them on the straps for my night vest. Cars wait for me and are looking at me as I pass. In my early days with these lights, I rode home one evening minus my headlight. Entered right of way intersections very slowly so I wouldn't get hit by the cars turning left across my path or pulling out on my right - until I realized I had to just keep riding. Everyone else just waited for me!

Ben

TheDudeIsHere

I love riding at night. I get a sense of security. I feel I can see every and any vehicle approaching. I do a good job of being seen, 2 headlights, 2 rear blinkies (one on helmet, one seatpost) and ankle reflectors so that i can be seen from the side with the motion. I actually see many joggers from quite a distance with the little tabs on their shoes so I am sure these tri color bands are very visible, especially with the motion.

I actually feel safer at night than I do during the day. Less traffic, better visibility imo.

As far as peds stepping off a curb surprising me? I actually see them looking back when they see my lights coming. Pretty bright, maybe they think they are being stalked by a slow passing vehicle.

Peds surprising me, no!

indyfabz

Yeah. Night riding can be great. Here in the big city Friday and Saturday nights in August are terrific. So many people are either "down the shore" on up in the Poconos that center city seems deserted. I can ride to dinner and a movie with much less traffic than normal.

wipekitty

There's nothing wrong with riding in the dark. There are some routes that I avoid after dark, but this is mainly due to my own levels of skill and confidence. Anyone who lives in northern (or far southern) latitudes and wants to ride outdoors year round will probably, at some point, be riding in the dark.

Plenty of people initially think I'm nuts not only for riding at night, but for riding on actual roads with actual cars. These are generally people who do not ride at all, or only ride on rails-to-trails type setups. I show them my lighting setup, explain that it looks more frightening from the perspective of a car, and that usually sets them straight.

If you really want to freak out your well-meaning co-workers and family members, tell them about randonneuring. The Minnesota Randonneurs have one called the Golden Pancake 200 - it's a 200K that *starts* at 8PM and goes overnight.

tankist

Judging by statistics from our local newspapers (East Bay San Francisco Bay Area) most bicyclists are killed when they ride in dark.

BarryVee

I like to add some reflective motion immediately recognizable as human.

A large safety yellow reflective band Velcro’s around my left ankle every road ride day or night.

2manybikes

Ogsarg

People who don't ride are always saying how dangerous it is to ride at night. Ask your friends how often they have run over cyclists at night. Ask them if they've ever even come close to hitting someone that wasn't riding without any lights.

Wildwood

I always say, 'Consider the source'.
If your co-workers are not cyclists or have never cycled with good lighting at night, then they are not a good source to evaluate your actions.

Remember, most drunk drivers are out after dark.
+1 on the comments regarding familiar roads.

Amt0571

I mainly ride while dark when commuting to / from work, so I always ride familiar roads when dark. Hope there are not many drunk people on the road on work days at 7 pm.

RiceAWay

It was my experience that around here with heavy commercial truck traffic that trucks actually give you more room at night than during the daylight. Especially when you have blinking lights front and rear. Blinkies especially improve your visibility in the twilight times. Since you are in such a bad position because of lmited visibility I always take special care to stay as far away from traffic as possible. This includes take the route less traveled

2manybikes

Some of the rural roads I ride on, will go by a bar or restaurant. I found out that I have to avoid the area around closing time. On Sunday night almost everyone is off the road. My theory is that they are home resting up for work on Monday.

Wildwood

Did not see Catalonia before - many people getting off work at 7.. Dinner at 9 - 10 is what I remember, but it's been a while. And I was muchly in Mallorca where afternoon siesta was widely observed outside the tourist areas & businesses.

Amt0571

I get out of work between 17 and 18. Siestas are not so common on workdays. I almost never sleep siesta.

Dinner at 9 is the usual here.

krecik

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KraneXL

Statistically speaking it is more dangerous at night because nobody expects you to be there. I worked the graveyard shift for many years and road my bike to work at night many times.

When you ride at night its easy to let your guard down and that's when accidents happen. Even though you may have lights people can see you but don't realize you can't always see them. Some of my closes calls were pedestrians walking (or sitting) on the bike path at night -- when and where you least expect them.

Anyway, you only need one good headlight, but make sure you have reflective tape/clothing as well. Just make sure you're easily seen -- from all angles -- but not distracting.

nycphotography

A bunch of people with no, none, zero experience with something are telling someone who not only has experience with it, but has also thought carefully about it, and has improved their skills and equipment over time, and is very well aware of the risks they are managing? Yet you are asking which one is the nutter?

The bell curve is real. Very very real. Worse, a great many people punch way under their weight class by being willfully stupid. You were only born with what you were born with, but fail to actually use what little you have in the first place? Eff people. Especially eff willfully stupid people with big mouths.