Comments on: Is there anybody out there?? http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/ Creating a better community through bicycling, throughout Seattle, King County and Washington state. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:56:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: dude http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-72174 dude Tue, 30 Oct 2012 06:40:25 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-72174 You will know when you pass me as I have my 1000 lumen light politely shielded by my hand. When you fail to dim your light it points directly at you highlighting how obnoxious your light really is on the BG. You will know when you pass me as I have my 1000 lumen light politely shielded by my hand. When you fail to dim your light it points directly at you highlighting how obnoxious your light really is on the BG.

]]> By: RickG http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-41302 RickG Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:33:38 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-41302 Cygolite 300 on the bar and L&M Urban300 on the head, flashing in daylight and dusk conditions, but on steady at night here in the hinterlands of Federal Way. It's barely enough. I learned early that 200 lumens wasn't enough to ferret out walkers in their stealth, light-absorbing fleece on the BPA trail. For visibility in traffic, I add an L&M vis180 tail-light on the post and a SuperFlash clone on the back of my helmet - day or night. At night, add a Cateye1100 on steady mode and a PDW Radbot1000 on the rear rack. And winter gets an extra kick - hokey-spokes on the front wheels to help them see me from the side. It's a belt-and-suspenders-plus-duct-tape approach to bike illumination. The bar light is aimed down at a reasonable angle. I use the helmet light to make sure drivers on side streets see me, and then I point it away from them. And when I do meet folks on the BPA, I point the helmet light to the side. Next replacement light could be one of the Phillips 'sealed beam' style LED's with a clear vertical cutoff, but the price has to come down a bit. Cygolite 300 on the bar and L&M Urban300 on the head, flashing in daylight and dusk conditions, but on steady at night here in the hinterlands of Federal Way. It’s barely enough. I learned early that 200 lumens wasn’t enough to ferret out walkers in their stealth, light-absorbing fleece on the BPA trail. For visibility in traffic, I add an L&M vis180 tail-light on the post and a SuperFlash clone on the back of my helmet – day or night. At night, add a Cateye1100 on steady mode and a PDW Radbot1000 on the rear rack. And winter gets an extra kick – hokey-spokes on the front wheels to help them see me from the side. It’s a belt-and-suspenders-plus-duct-tape approach to bike illumination.

The bar light is aimed down at a reasonable angle. I use the helmet light to make sure drivers on side streets see me, and then I point it away from them. And when I do meet folks on the BPA, I point the helmet light to the side. Next replacement light could be one of the Phillips ‘sealed beam’ style LED’s with a clear vertical cutoff, but the price has to come down a bit.

]]> By: Gilman rider http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-40170 Gilman rider Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:28:32 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-40170 Not blind (actually, I wear prescription bike glasses so I know I can see fine), and like I said, I turn it to 450 when approaching other riders. 150 is fine if you're going slowly in dry conditions, but going fast in wet weather, it's a whole other ballgame. Cars' low beams (xenon) are 3,000 lumens EACH. Finally, I am not forcing people to look away from where they are going. Down and to the right still allows you to see where you are headed. If it works in a car at highway speeds, it should work fine on a bike. And, again, it works fine for me when I come across people with bright lights. Not blind (actually, I wear prescription bike glasses so I know I can see fine), and like I said, I turn it to 450 when approaching other riders.

150 is fine if you’re going slowly in dry conditions, but going fast in wet weather, it’s a whole other ballgame. Cars’ low beams (xenon) are 3,000 lumens EACH.

Finally, I am not forcing people to look away from where they are going. Down and to the right still allows you to see where you are headed. If it works in a car at highway speeds, it should work fine on a bike. And, again, it works fine for me when I come across people with bright lights.

]]> By: overnight http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-34122 overnight Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:16:01 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-34122 1800 lumens on a bike trail? Are you blind? 150 is plenty for a bike trail. Don't kid yourself. If you are forcing people to look away from where they are going, your lights are too bright. Why do cars have low and high beams? Because it's dangerous to drive around blinding other drivers. If people are yelling at you to turn down your lights, do it. If you can't see without it, go ride in the street. 1800 lumens on a bike trail? Are you blind? 150 is plenty for a bike trail.

Don’t kid yourself. If you are forcing people to look away from where they are going, your lights are too bright. Why do cars have low and high beams? Because it’s dangerous to drive around blinding other drivers. If people are yelling at you to turn down your lights, do it. If you can’t see without it, go ride in the street.

]]> By: Gilman rider http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-33921 Gilman rider Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:28:02 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-33921 I second M.J. Kelly. I drive a car, and also ride a bike on the Burke-Gilman for fitness. I have crossed paths with MANY cyclists that had EXTREMELY bright lights, and it wasn't an issue for me at all. Why? Because I look down and to the right (where the white line would be if the BG were a street), as I do when I'm driving. No issues. Low-brightness lights on the BG are silly, and dangerous (unless you're moving slowly). A bright light is visible to cars at intersections before you even get to the intersection, and also allows you to see the many cats that like to hang out by the trail, ready to dart into your path. A bright light also lets people who are moving in the same direction as you notice you sooner. Finally, a bright light is ESSENTIAL when negotiating the piles of wet leaves that cover the trail these days, in the pitch black night, in the rain. I used to have 400 lumens and it wasn't enough. Now I have 1800 lumens. I put my light on low (450 lumens) when approaching other cyclists and still get yelled at. The light is pointed properly (towards the ground about 15-20 feet in front of me), and I go out of my way to make sure that I move as far to the right as possible, so they only get the peripheral light and are away from my "spot". No matter, some people still yell. Of COURSE lights are bright if you stare into them; don't! / end rant Finally, if you have a light, I'd rather you turn it on so I can see you. Don't listen to those who say it's polite not to use it. I HATE people who ride the BG without lights. It's not true that they're not needed. If I'm moving faster than you, or if we're headed straight for each other, I'd rather know you're there with plenty of notice. If blinking is all you've got, go for it. I don't mind. I second M.J. Kelly. I drive a car, and also ride a bike on the Burke-Gilman for fitness. I have crossed paths with MANY cyclists that had EXTREMELY bright lights, and it wasn’t an issue for me at all. Why? Because I look down and to the right (where the white line would be if the BG were a street), as I do when I’m driving. No issues.

Low-brightness lights on the BG are silly, and dangerous (unless you’re moving slowly). A bright light is visible to cars at intersections before you even get to the intersection, and also allows you to see the many cats that like to hang out by the trail, ready to dart into your path. A bright light also lets people who are moving in the same direction as you notice you sooner. Finally, a bright light is ESSENTIAL when negotiating the piles of wet leaves that cover the trail these days, in the pitch black night, in the rain.

I used to have 400 lumens and it wasn’t enough. Now I have 1800 lumens. I put my light on low (450 lumens) when approaching other cyclists and still get yelled at. The light is pointed properly (towards the ground about 15-20 feet in front of me), and I go out of my way to make sure that I move as far to the right as possible, so they only get the peripheral light and are away from my “spot”. No matter, some people still yell.

Of COURSE lights are bright if you stare into them; don’t!

/ end rant

Finally, if you have a light, I’d rather you turn it on so I can see you. Don’t listen to those who say it’s polite not to use it. I HATE people who ride the BG without lights. It’s not true that they’re not needed. If I’m moving faster than you, or if we’re headed straight for each other, I’d rather know you’re there with plenty of notice. If blinking is all you’ve got, go for it. I don’t mind.

]]> By: M.J. Kelly http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-32675 M.J. Kelly Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:05:32 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-32675 I lurve my new 350 lumen flashing light. I should have gotten it years ago! It has increased my safety around cars immensely. When previously, I noticed cars rolling through intersections without looking for me, I now see them coming to full stops (not California stops) and waiting for me to move safely past them. Solid lights do not get this response. At all. Even bright ones. They just get lost in the light noise of the street. But a high-vis blinking light stands out and commands attention and respect. That plus a wave when I pass, and my road riding experience is improved. I try not to use it in flashing mode on the trail. There's no intent to be rude, but it's a little difficult to switch modes on the fly. As for being blinded, what about looking to the side? Isn't that what we're taught as drivers? Don't stare into bright lights? At any rate, I'd much rather see lots of lights than fewer lights. There are too many bike ninjas (and on the trail, pedestrian ninjas and dog ninjas) out there who probably have no idea just how invisible -- and vulnerable -- they are. I lurve my new 350 lumen flashing light. I should have gotten it years ago! It has increased my safety around cars immensely. When previously, I noticed cars rolling through intersections without looking for me, I now see them coming to full stops (not California stops) and waiting for me to move safely past them. Solid lights do not get this response. At all. Even bright ones. They just get lost in the light noise of the street. But a high-vis blinking light stands out and commands attention and respect. That plus a wave when I pass, and my road riding experience is improved.

I try not to use it in flashing mode on the trail. There’s no intent to be rude, but it’s a little difficult to switch modes on the fly.

As for being blinded, what about looking to the side? Isn’t that what we’re taught as drivers? Don’t stare into bright lights?

At any rate, I’d much rather see lots of lights than fewer lights. There are too many bike ninjas (and on the trail, pedestrian ninjas and dog ninjas) out there who probably have no idea just how invisible — and vulnerable — they are.

]]> By: Chris http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-32185 Chris Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:40:55 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-32185 I second Jarvis. The key is to aim lights downward at the trail, far enough in front of you to see obstacles but not in people's eyes. Also SLOW DOWN; you wouldn't out-drive your headlights in a car either. I second Jarvis. The key is to aim lights downward at the trail, far enough in front of you to see obstacles but not in people’s eyes. Also SLOW DOWN; you wouldn’t out-drive your headlights in a car either.

]]> By: Jarvis http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-32174 Jarvis Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:50:48 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-32174 It doesn't take much brain power to aim the lights to only light your path 20 ft or so ahead of you if on a trail or path. I'll aim it higher when I leave town on the open roads so I don't hit the wild critters. As for the blinking lights, people are using them wrong. Ideally they should be used at dusk and dawn when the sunlight is tricky. End of rant. It doesn’t take much brain power to aim the lights to only light your path 20 ft or so ahead of you if on a trail or path. I’ll aim it higher when I leave town on the open roads so I don’t hit the wild critters. As for the blinking lights, people are using them wrong. Ideally they should be used at dusk and dawn when the sunlight is tricky.

End of rant.

]]> By: Brad Hawkins http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-32170 Brad Hawkins Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:51:43 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-32170 Look to Germany, my friends. Over there, blinky lights are not allowed on bicycles and the front lights are both powerful and designed to cast a light only on the ground in front. Look for lights named Schmidt, Busch+Muller, and Inoled that have an elliptical pattern as mandated by German cycling laws. Mountain bike lights (the universally available ones) are designed to shine in a round, scattered pattern that only serve to make oncoming traffic angry and blind them. Look to Germany, my friends. Over there, blinky lights are not allowed on bicycles and the front lights are both powerful and designed to cast a light only on the ground in front. Look for lights named Schmidt, Busch+Muller, and Inoled that have an elliptical pattern as mandated by German cycling laws. Mountain bike lights (the universally available ones) are designed to shine in a round, scattered pattern that only serve to make oncoming traffic angry and blind them.

]]> By: Kris R http://blog.cascade.org/2011/11/hello-darkness/comment-page-1/#comment-32102 Kris R Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:52:14 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=9639#comment-32102 It's that place between a rock and a hard place sometimes - you get the lights because people complain they can't see you, then they start complaining that your lights are too bright, even with them on the lowest setting, as is the case of my Seca 400 lights. It's always nice (but not always possible, especially given how tree roots have torn up the BGT in sections) when oncoming cyclists drop a hand over the light to make it a little easier to see. But no matter where you go or who you talk to... everybody hates the flashing lights. It’s that place between a rock and a hard place sometimes – you get the lights because people complain they can’t see you, then they start complaining that your lights are too bright, even with them on the lowest setting, as is the case of my Seca 400 lights. It’s always nice (but not always possible, especially given how tree roots have torn up the BGT in sections) when oncoming cyclists drop a hand over the light to make it a little easier to see.

But no matter where you go or who you talk to… everybody hates the flashing lights.

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