Not sure if that was a compliment or a warning
Rode my bike down hwy 25 to Pinnacles National Park and back yesterday. The park is approximately 25 miles from civilization and the road has very light traffic. On my way back, I was passed slowly in a construction zone by a highway patrol. Before she reached me, she got on her loudspeaker and said something which I couldn't fully understand. What I heard was " Your blank is blank blank to motorists". Then she went on by.
I'm thinking, what was she saying? Then realized it must be something about my tailight, which is the cygolite hot shot pro 200. Then I thought maybe she was telling me that it was blinding to motorists or perhaps just that it was highly visible to motorists. Either way, I figured it was good. Riding on rural highways with little to no shoulder, you want people to see you from as far away as possible. |
How nice of her to stop and give you her thoughts so that you could actually hear what she was saying
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I'm sure to her she just performed a valuable public service. Serve and protect.😒
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200 lumen taillight can be anoyingly bright, so my money's on it being a warning.
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Always amazed at how universally pathetic police PA systems are. You would think that, with such an import role, agencies could outfit their cars with products from Marshall or Klipsch etc.
....as for flash, lord knows the flashy lights on their interceptors certainly are very bright! |
i'd rather have motorists blinded by my rear light(s) than effectively blinded by their phones.
really really need to get back up to the hollister/pinnacles np area this spring. |
they should have classes about how to use a mobile PA system
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Clear case of flash envy.
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I always assume that unintelligible yelling from someone passing by in a car are positive and uplifting words!
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I don't know anything about your taillight. I have seen some headlights on bikes that were so bright they cause me to see spots. That's too bright and in fact a safety detriment. Have you ever seen your taillight from behind? It may have focus characteristics that make it so bright that motorists have to look away. Just a thought.
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
(Post 21125107)
I don't know anything about your taillight. I have seen some headlights on bikes that were so bright they cause me to see spots. That's too bright and in fact a safety detriment. Have you ever seen your taillight from behind? It may have focus characteristics that make it so bright that motorists have to look away. Just a thought.
For the record, I've never used this light at night and do not see a reason to have anything that bright except for daytime use. |
Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
(Post 21125107)
I don't know anything about your taillight. I have seen some headlights on bikes that were so bright they cause me to see spots. That's too bright and in fact a safety detriment. Have you ever seen your taillight from behind? It may have focus characteristics that make it so bright that motorists have to look away. Just a thought.
Agree totally. Frankly, unless you're riding at night I'm not really sold on the importance of a front light. But I really want people on their cell phones bearing down on me from behind to see me....even if it irritates them for a few seconds while they do so. |
It happens with frightening regularity. Motorists run into emergency vehicles with their flashing lights energized. Why? Is there a lesson we can apply to our irritating or annoying lights?
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She said, hey good looking, we'll be back later to pick you up later.
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Originally Posted by smoore
(Post 21125495)
...even if it irritates them for a few seconds while they do so.
Nothing wrong with a flashing light in terms of safety..however, we all know that irritated drivers are totally rational beasts. A light that's too bright may well attract as much grief as it repels. It only takes one.. |
Originally Posted by u235
(Post 21125808)
She said, hey good looking, we'll be back later to pick you up later.
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What I heard was " Your blank is blank blank to motorists". Then she went on by. I agree with the other poster that said to just assume it was something encouraging, such as, "Your athletic prowess is intimidating to motorists." |
Actually, the PA systems that are used double as the sirens. Acoustical clarity is not the prime factor in their designs.
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Ah, so us civilians are not expected to hear the precise words of the LEO loudspeaker announcement, just the overall tone and timbre, and react accordingly? I guess that's pretty much what I do already. :rolleyes:
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
(Post 21125778)
It happens with frightening regularity. Motorists run into emergency vehicles with their flashing lights energized. Why? Is there a lesson we can apply to our irritating or annoying lights?
The biggest danger to a cyclist is the driver that doesn't see them. Conspicuity is important. If the flashing of a taillight irritates a passing car for the 2 seconds it takes them to pass, well frankly, good. Bicycle taillights are brightest directly on-axis for a reason. From ~8 feet to either side, they're not nearly as bright-- visible, but not blinding. |
Originally Posted by DrIsotope
(Post 21125951)
Bicycle taillights are brightest directly on-axis for a reason. From ~8 feet to either side, they're not nearly as bright-- visible, but not blinding.
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Brightest on-axis because that's where someone is going to be when they hit you. Having it spray light 30º off to either side is just going to make it dimmer to everyone. Think flashlight vs. floodlight. From an oblique angle, a light needs only be visible and recognizable. From a narrow cone surrounding "dead on," it should be irritatingly bright.
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Originally Posted by u235
(Post 21125808)
She said, hey good looking, we'll be back later to pick you up later.
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
(Post 21125778)
It happens with frightening regularity. Motorists run into emergency vehicles with their flashing lights energized. Why? Is there a lesson we can apply to our irritating or annoying lights?
Cheers |
Originally Posted by bakerjw
(Post 21125911)
Actually, the PA systems that are used double as the sirens. Acoustical clarity is not the prime factor in their designs.
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