Buzzatronic

I'm hoping to move into a new house this year and it will likely mean my commute changes from being 65% on a MUP to 95% on roads, some of which have a limited or no shoulder.

I'm considering ways I can light my bike to try and encourage safer passes from drivers. My first test will be to mount a tail light on my left side drop which extends out a few inches. My hope is that instead of focusing on my centered rear tail light when making the decision on how close to pass, drivers will instead use the left-most light and hopefully give me 3' of space from my shoulders rather than 3' of space from my seatpost (which turns out to be less than 2' from my actual body).

Here's what I have setup:



Has anyone had success with this sort of setup? Is there a better approach I should be trying instead?

Looigi

It's not something I tried or am likely to in the foreseeable future, but it seems like a good idea to me. IDK what you used to extend the light to the left, but ideally it would be flimsy enough not to cause you to crash if it brushes or gets brushed by something. Making yourself appear bigger and more prominent by wearing conspicuous colors during the day and reflective apparel at night is also a good idea.

jhazel

My son-in-law suggested that I use a flasher that moves left as a way of encouraging motorists to move that way and give us a little more room. He thinks it makes a difference and I think I have seen a little difference as well. I also keep a light on my left chain stay. I figure that few people really want to hit me. They just need a lot of help to figure out how to not hit me.

Daniel4

How about a bicycle flag placed horizontally to the left?

Chris516

I have never done that. Instead of 'hoping' that the motorists' will give you three feet of clearance, when they pass. Use the three feet as a buffer zone, and 'take the lane'.

B. Carfree

I'd go with a light that is so bright that it eliminates the possibility of target fixation. Dinotte sells such lights.

Rollfast

Wave 'em through. Lights are nice but you need to participate and show you're there anyway.

PS People are trained to follow lights.

Number400

Yes, I have a large blinky on the seatpost AND a smaller but very bright and faster blinking light on the left chainstay. Light are not going to dictate how closely people pass (not a force field) but they do make you more visible and most reasonable people driving get a better sense of your width when there are two lights.

Rollfast

A rack with paperboy baskets full of stuff and the rubber ends of busted pedals with the reflectors, or actual saddlebags doesn't hurt either...I keep to side roads and the less travelled main roads when it's darker. That sidewalk through town helps in that way actually.

Chris516

+1

Not sure what you mean by 'wave em through'. But, The rest of what you said, I agree with.

ModeratedUser150120149

Don't think it matters much where you install the light as long as it is bright and visible at distance.

But after my experience this past week I can tell you what not to do.
-Don't put the light on your seat post. The other night while driving I saw more than one bike that I thought did not have any rear facing lights. In fact they were on the seat post and were partially blocked.
-Make sure the light is BRIGHT. Motor vehicle lights are bright. Drivers are used to seeing bright lights. Help the driver see you by making your lights bright.
-Consider multiple lights fore and aft.
-Did I say BRIGHT? Maybe two fore and two more aft split between steady and flashing.

Whatever your setup test it in the environment you will be riding. Modern motor vehicle lights are much brighter and bigger than those of even a few years ago for a reason.