Cycling in and around Birmingham England

Blinking Headlamps

Recently I've noticed people cycling at night with a white LED head/handlebar lamp set to strobe mode.

Does anyone else find this disconcerting and problematic?

I don't have difficulty with the red lamps flashing, but the white ones really interfere with my ability to see. This is whether I'm a predestrian or a cyclist. I would guess it affects drivers too. When I've cycled behind someone with a strobe, it affects by ability to see what's ahead, as the view goes light dark light dark light... . As a pedestrian, the flashing light is about as distracting as an emergency vehcile, and whilst less of a problem, still means I'm inevitably distracted by the thing. I think cycling does not count as an emergency.

Tags: lamps, night, riding, safety

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Permalink Reply by Andy on October 15, 2011 at 19:05

Very cool - Especially the way that when the wheel is turning, the lighting remains in a stationery position. As you have invested in them will you be their sole UK distributor?

It may be worth us having a chat sometime.

Andy.

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Permalink Reply by david.cherry on October 15, 2011 at 20:04

Revolights

It was a kickstarter project, if I remember right. If you pledge money and the project gets all the money that they asked for the backers get rewards based on how much they pledged

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Permalink Reply by Ian Ingram on October 15, 2011 at 21:10

They must be fitted to the bike and the pedal and Rear reflectors are Mandatory not optional, there are also rules about position of fitment. For more info click here to go to the CTC (Cycle Tourists Club) website, what they don't know isn't worth knowing on these matters.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4071

Remember that any failure to meet these rules could give a driver a lesser blame if they hit you hence less compensation.

Andy said:

Hmmm...

This is interesting because I don't have the rear red reflector on my bike although I do have the pedal reflectors. I'm curious as to what your interpretation of "At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit". Do you believe that they must physically be fitted to the bicycle or that it's ok if they are being worn (as in a jacket or helmet lights)? Maybe I'd better see if I have one of those reflectors sitting in my shed somewhere.

Andy.

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Permalink Reply by David on October 16, 2011 at 10:37

Revolights is pretty cool, and I'd go for a gently flashing version - if it were set to my rate of breathing, so that when paused at a junction, the bike resembles a set of lungs. These could be set at a level that isn't likely to induce disabling afterimages on the retina.

Was also curious about SpokePOV until I saw how clunky it looks. But can imagine the benefits of a wheel-based display that says 'bicycle!' in little lights.

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Permalink Reply by Andy on October 16, 2011 at 13:09

This gives me a lot to think about then because if I happened to be riding at night in my jacket and got hit by a car, I expect that in theory at least, the insurance company could claim that I partly contributed to the accident through my failure to meet the laws regarding lighting ;-(

Andy.
Ian Ingram said:

They must be fitted to the bike and the pedal and Rear reflectors are Mandatory not optional, there are also rules about position of fitment. For more info click here to go to the CTC (Cycle Tourists Club) website, what they don't know isn't worth knowing on these matters.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4071

Remember that any failure to meet these rules could give a driver a lesser blame if they hit you hence less compensation.

Andy said:

Hmmm...

This is interesting because I don't have the rear red reflector on my bike although I do have the pedal reflectors. I'm curious as to what your interpretation of "At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit". Do you believe that they must physically be fitted to the bicycle or that it's ok if they are being worn (as in a jacket or helmet lights)? Maybe I'd better see if I have one of those reflectors sitting in my shed somewhere.

Andy.

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Permalink Reply by Darren O'D on October 16, 2011 at 14:36

"(and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85)" - How does that work with my SPD SL pedals then, they have no reflectors nor the ability to add them, so am I breaking the law everytime I cycle at night?

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Permalink Reply by Ian Wacogne on October 16, 2011 at 17:11

I often get followed - and sometimes overtaken - by someone with a really strong front flash, and I have to say that I find it quite distracting; it blinks off the road signs etc and makes me think more about his cycling than mine. Which, perhaps, is the attention, but then I only weigh about the same as him, and I'm not sure he would want this if I weighed 10 times what he does.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Ingram on October 16, 2011 at 18:42

It doesn't work, they are not legal to ride at night. I'm just saying what the law is and leave it up to you all to make your own call on what you want to do. I have the same pedals and standard SPD's neither have reflectors and I use ankle bands but I'm not strictly legal and not suggesting following my lead but just making you aware of the situation and possible problems you could face.

Darren O'D said:

"(and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85)" - How does that work with my SPD SL pedals then, they have no reflectors nor the ability to add them, so am I breaking the law everytime I cycle at night?

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Permalink Reply by Kim on October 18, 2011 at 11:13

Indeed. Most clipless pedals, recumbents, bikes with panniers on the rear rack and so on aren't legal at night.

I take a pragmatic approach and try to comply with the spirit, if not the letter, of this law, in so far as it is possible (a bit of Scotchlite tape around the cranks is a good one). In reality, pedal reflectors only seem to make a significant difference to visibility if your lights are rubbish.