Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

Blinded by the light

Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Blinded by the light

Old 08-02-20, 06:58 PM
  #1  
Herb
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Cape Cod,MA
Posts: 85

Bikes: Fuji Team SL , Dahon Flo, Dahon Mu P8, Ritchie Skyline tandem.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Blinded by the light

Just wondering if I am the only one being blinded by mega Limon flashing
tail lights while riding on crowded bike paths. I'm all for high visibility when riding on roads, but the mega lights on multi use paths seems to be unnessery overkill to me
Herb is offline  
Likes For Herb:
Old 08-02-20, 07:25 PM
  #2  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,106
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8191 Post(s)
Liked 8,849 Times in 4,396 Posts
I know what you're talking about. Those lights are distracting and quite annoying to other cyclists. The mup is dangerous enough without them.
big john is offline  
Old 08-02-20, 07:26 PM
  #3  
GlennR
On Your Left
 
GlennR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373

Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303

Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times in 1,187 Posts
Don't ride on MUPs.
GlennR is offline  
Likes For GlennR:
Old 08-02-20, 09:40 PM
  #4  
sch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Mountain Brook. AL
Posts: 4,002
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 303 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 136 Times in 104 Posts
Tailights are bad enough, the superbright headlights are even worse in steady mode and horrible in flash mode.
sch is offline  
Likes For sch:
Old 08-03-20, 07:34 AM
  #5  
Papa Tom
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,440
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 863 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times in 136 Posts
Yes, today's headlights and taillights are quite blinding and are probably overkill on a multi-use path. However, I know for a fact that they have saved my life at least once on the open road, when a texting teenager caught my Metro 150 blinking in the corner of her eye and steered back into her lane. There and then, I decided I can live with having to look away when another cyclist's lights bother my eyes a little.
Papa Tom is offline  
Likes For Papa Tom:
Old 08-03-20, 09:06 AM
  #6  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,501

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3872 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
One is supposed to point superbright taillights toward the ground. We need regulation of headlamps like they have in Europe: only sharp cutoff lamps allowed. The lamps which drive me nuts are extremely bright lamps with very low flash rates being used after dark. Our visual systems aren't built to handle those things. I can't even tell where the light is - on the road, near the road, 1 mile away?

One is not supposed to use flashers, either front or rear at night, steady lamps only. Flashers are for daytime. I'd do the right thing: yell at them!
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Likes For Carbonfiberboy:
Old 08-03-20, 09:15 AM
  #7  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,810

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times in 3,262 Posts
Both steady and flashing lights can be annoying when they have a large lens or other factors of their design create a sheet of light when the lens hits you square on. There does need to be some regulatory action on this. But not looking directly into it does help. I still favor using lights in the daytime and I'm not adverse to the smaller flashing lights during the day. They don't bother me.

Even driving on the road in my car it's becoming a dazzling array of lights both front and rear on automobiles that apparently old regs need to be updated and looked at. Cars with more than two headlights shining at me, rear taillight arrays that look like the Vegas Strip. And don't get me started about those that turn their hazards on in the rain.

Last edited by Iride01; 08-03-20 at 10:18 AM.
Iride01 is online now  
Old 08-03-20, 10:07 AM
  #8  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
German Busch & Muller headlights put the optics engineers to work & came up with a shaped beam putting light on the street ,

not in the trees & the oncoming traffic's eyes..

fietsbob is offline  
Old 08-03-20, 10:25 AM
  #9  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,290 Times in 7,228 Posts
"Yes, and the avatar said 'Blow the bar but first remove the cookie jar. We're gonna teach those boys to laugh too soon.'" Sorry. Couldn't resist.
indyfabz is offline  
Old 08-03-20, 11:31 AM
  #10  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,106
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8191 Post(s)
Liked 8,849 Times in 4,396 Posts
Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy

One is not supposed to use flashers, either front or rear at night, steady lamps only. Flashers are for daytime. I'd do the right thing: yell at them!
I've read that drunk drivers are attracted to flashing lights and will steer toward them.
big john is offline  
Old 08-03-20, 11:35 AM
  #11  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,106
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8191 Post(s)
Liked 8,849 Times in 4,396 Posts
Originally Posted by fietsbob
German Busch & Muller headlights put the optics engineers to work & came up with a shaped beam putting light on the street ,

not in the trees & the oncoming traffic's eyes..
I don't know if that's the one but a class I had told of a headlight on Mercedes Benz which would put the light where it was needed, sensing oncoming cars, levels of darkness, and even upcoming turns in the road. The cost was about $5000 per light. I think they were arrays of LEDs.
big john is offline  
Old 08-03-20, 12:06 PM
  #12  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
The LED emitter on those is on the top facing down towards the reflector , rather than at the bottom of a parabolic bowl ..

I don't have a history of owning a car costing $5K ...

But if you buy a Mercedes SLK , I think the headlights are included..
fietsbob is offline  
Old 08-03-20, 10:35 PM
  #13  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,501

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3872 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
I've read that drunk drivers are attracted to flashing lights and will steer toward them.
That's one of the reasons that we strongly discourage, and when possible outlaw flashing lights at night on bicycles. Steady lights only. Flashing lights in daytime are not a problem.

The only decent study I know of is here: https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstr...ect_Final.pdf?
I've never heard of a well-lit cyclist being hit for this reason. I've had motorists thank me for being well lit.
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Old 08-04-20, 02:02 PM
  #14  
OldsCOOL
Senior Member
 
OldsCOOL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317

Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 313 Posts
Blinkies are the roadie’s best friend, more obnoxious the better (day use)...but, on a path?? So the Ebikes don’t hit you from behind? Seriously, if I have to temporarily hop onto a MUP, first thing I do is reach back and shut off the little red flaming eye-torch.

Last edited by OldsCOOL; 08-04-20 at 02:06 PM.
OldsCOOL is offline  
Old 08-04-20, 02:04 PM
  #15  
Mojo31
-------
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,632
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9528 Post(s)
Liked 6,268 Times in 3,456 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
I don't know if that's the one but a class I had told of a headlight on Mercedes Benz which would put the light where it was needed, sensing oncoming cars, levels of darkness, and even upcoming turns in the road. The cost was about $5000 per light. I think they were arrays of LEDs.
I've had several cars with adaptive headlights that would automatically dim in oncoming traffic, turn with the steering wheel, and do some other things. They have worked great.
Mojo31 is offline  
Old 08-04-20, 02:31 PM
  #16  
texaspandj
Senior Member
 
texaspandj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Heart Of Texas
Posts: 4,238

Bikes: '85, '86 , '87 , '88 , '89 Centurion Dave Scott Ironman.

Mentioned: 99 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1605 Post(s)
Liked 582 Times in 379 Posts
Blinded by the light was the only #1 song Bruce Springsteen ever had and he wasn't even singing in the cover version.
I'M just thankful I'm not living where I have to ride on a MUP.
texaspandj is offline  
Old 08-05-20, 07:20 AM
  #17  
thehammerdog
Senior Member
 
thehammerdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704

Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 722 Post(s)
Liked 353 Times in 226 Posts
Originally Posted by Herb
Just wondering if I am the only one being blinded by mega Limon flashing
tail lights while riding on crowded bike paths. I'm all for high visibility when riding on roads, but the mega lights on multi use paths seems to be unnessery overkill to me
the Bruce version or manford man?
thehammerdog is offline  
Old 08-05-20, 10:16 AM
  #18  
Goldrush
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 156
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by OldsCOOL
Blinkies are the roadie’s best friend, more obnoxious the better (day use)...but, on a path?? So the Ebikes don’t hit you from behind? Seriously, if I have to temporarily hop onto a MUP, first thing I do is reach back and shut off the little red flaming eye-torch.
+1

I wouldn't ride without mine. Lights on other bikes do not bother me. I just don't look directly at them.
Goldrush is offline  
Likes For Goldrush:
Old 08-05-20, 10:30 AM
  #19  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,290 Times in 7,228 Posts
Originally Posted by thehammerdog
the Bruce version or manford man?
The song is the first track on Bruce's first album: "Greetings From Asbury Park." Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
indyfabz is offline  
Old 08-06-20, 12:34 PM
  #20  
Paul930
Old
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Berlin, CT
Posts: 16

Bikes: Trek 930.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Herb
Just wondering if I am the only one being blinded by mega Limon flashing
tail lights while riding on crowded bike paths. I'm all for high visibility when riding on roads, but the mega lights on multi use paths seems to be unnessery overkill to me
I was walking and this couple parked a mile away, facing me with those idiot lights. It was daytime! On a paved rail/trail. I was still going blind. They’ll remember me.
Paul930 is offline  
Old 08-06-20, 12:58 PM
  #21  
njkayaker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Posts: 14,240
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4222 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times in 916 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
I've read that drunk drivers are attracted to flashing lights and will steer toward them.
Drunk drivers manage to run into all sorts of things.

Nothing is going to be perfect.

Presumably, the likelihood of getting hit by a drunk driver is low. So, if flashing lights work to prevent more frequent collisions (of other types), maybe you just have to accept the risk of being "attractive" to a few.

Further more, if flashing lights attract drunk drivers (not well established, anyway), it might not attract all (or most) of them.
njkayaker is offline  
Likes For njkayaker:
Old 08-08-20, 11:37 AM
  #22  
Miele Man
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,655

Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times in 640 Posts
I've been blinded a couple of times with high-power strobe-like lights coming towards me at dusk or dark. Once it was on a narrow two-lane road and i had to slam on my brakes because I couldn't see a darn thing ahead of me and the road was twisty.

Cheers
Miele Man is offline  
Old 08-09-20, 11:25 AM
  #23  
BEC111
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 98

Bikes: Specialized Turbo Vado SL

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times in 15 Posts
I didn’t think the headlight on my Specialized Vado SL was too bright, but I was standing in front of my LBS with the light on and a recumbent rider came by, about 2 feet from the bike, and complained that the light was too bright. I apologized, but didn’t feel I had done anything wrong. He was riding on the sidewalk right in front of me after all.

I do know fellow riders are grateful they can see me whether coming or going.

Last edited by BEC111; 08-09-20 at 12:09 PM.
BEC111 is offline  
Old 08-10-20, 12:18 PM
  #24  
oldlady62
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by sch
Tailights are bad enough, the superbright headlights are even worse in steady mode and horrible in flash mode.
Yeah, I used to commute year around in Seattle and people were pretty rude about those bright lights on the Elliot Bay Trail. I couldn't see a darn thing!
oldlady62 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.