CharlieChuckles

Wow, long thread. Southwest Bike Trail here in Madison does have that flasher problem once in a while but it's not that bad. Trail gets a lot of commuters through inner town. My problem is the group rides of a dozen or more bikes. I stop and get off the trail to let them pass coming or going.

loky1179

Did not run the light, was oncoming traffic, attempted left cross.

Spoonrobot 

That's great, turn your light off after you leave the intersection and re-enter the trail.

TimothyH

It was pointed out to me by someone elsewhere that a small strobe or light helps him see riders rider approaching in the shade while he is in the sun. He is an older guy, probably more that 60 and wears glasses.

At 55 and effectively blind in one eye, I had to concede his point. Similarly, he conceded that there is a point, like everything else in life, where it becomes overkill.

Everyone wants to turn everything into a binary argument, intrinsic evil vs the beatific vision. I think there is room to compromise, even if the compromise isn't exactly as we would have it.

FWIW, I got on the trail last Saturday and forgot to turn off my L&M Urban 900 which was set on low/pulse. I rode several miles with some of the MACC guys until one asked me what kind of light it was - probably a polite way to suggest that I turn it off. Doh!


-Tim-

livedarklions

Like I've said above, it's strictly the combination of bright and fast strobing that's creating the problems. Slow blink rate is fine.

Paul Barnard

I encountered a path moron today. Not one but two high intensity strobes. This under sunny skies and on an open path. The lights didn't appear too bad at first, but when I got into the focal area of his left light, it left me seeing spots for a few minutes. I guess these are the same kind of idiots that run around in boats with led light bars and a spotlight blaring everywhere they go.

TimothyH

What ever happened to conversation and discussion?

It seem to me that one could simply ride up next to a person with a bright light and say, "Hey, that's a pretty bright light!" and have a conversation from there. If the person listens then you have won a friend. If not then your conscience will be clean.

Instead, nowadays we just go to the internet and call people morons and idiots.

livedarklions

Huh? This is pretty much only a problem when we're passing in opposite directions, so now I have to do a u-turn with my vision a little messed up, catch up to the guy and start a conversation? No thanks, I just tell them firmly but without insult to turn it off as we close the distance. My conscience is fine--it's the level of discourse appropriate to the situation. I've actually seen people look surprised it was bothering people and turn the thing off.

Erubi

I totally agree. Total distraction and annoying as hell. I wondered if those things could cause someone to have a seizure?

Paul Barnard

I am pretty quick to strike up a conversation when the whole of the circumstances tell me it's the right thing to do. It wasn't the right thing to do with this moron.

Metieval

I think we just figured out who those people are though. It's the same people that are selfish on the MUP's

Metieval

the L&M pulse mode is attention grabbing without distracting, annoying, irritating, blinding, causing brain malfunctions, etc.....

in my opinion it should be the standard for all bicycle lighting.

that and a horizon cut off. there is no reason why a cyclist light should shine as bright above the handle bars!

downhillmaster

So when you are driving your car at night you leave your high beams on all the time I guess?
Good stuff

Speedway2

I just picked up a couple of mini LED's that have the strobe feature. The rear red is 8 Lumens and the front clear is 18 Lumens.
I had no idea how some fellow cyclists felt about seeing them flashing but I'll be sure to limit the their use for the streets only.
I actually saw a few on the trail yesterday. Didn't find them annoying at all but then again it was a very sunny day.....

indyfabz

At this very moment I am charging my 45,000 lumen headlight. I have to work late today so it will be dark for my evening commute. Can't wait to have some fun on the MUP. I'm going to put the light on strobe mode and blast the B-52's "Strobe Light" through my blue tooth speaker.

livedarklions

Don't take the brown acid.

Milton Keynes

I've never found it necessary to use a strobe on the rail trail. Nor a taillight, except when it was close to dark. The lights on my bike are primarily to alert car drivers to my presence, and other cyclists or pedestrians will see and hear me coming soon enough.

Speedway2

Maybe these hi-intensity strobe lights good for bear defence......

no motor?

I'm going to be late leaving work today too. I'm going to dress all in black and not use any lights for the trip home, and may throw caution to the wind and keep left too.

Paul Barnard

They will stop a pit bull in its tracks.

Al_in_NH

You just crashed didn't you? There's no other explanation for that kind of idiotic logic other than sever head trauma. I truly hope you feel better soon.

livedarklions

Your logic was "If my lights annoy you it's because you see them." If you say something that stupid, you have no business insulting other people's logic.

I see lots of lights, and I'm often informed of people's positions by them. The vast majority of those do not annoy me in the slightest and they are highly effective at promoting safety. If your lights annoy me, it is because they are aimed at my eyes in such a way as to actually impair my vision and they are bright and possibly strobing.

@downhillmaster was absolutely right to say your logic would justify shining high-beams into the eyes of oncoming drivers. If you're aiming bright flashing strobes that can be seen from a half mile in broad daylight directly into the eyes of oncoming cyclists in an effort to be seen, your strategy is self-defeating. All you're doing is making sure that the oncoming cyclist cannot look at you while you close the distance--exactly the same reason that running high beams when there's a car approaching from the other direction is illegal.

ThermionicScott 

What makes this extra-frustrating is that every year, LEDs get brighter and more efficient, and batteries become smaller and lighter for the same capacity. So there's really no good reason for lights to strobe at all when they could just be a steady visible brightness that lasts for hours and hours...

Al_in_NH

Stop assuming I am using a 5000 lumen high intensity strobe just so you have something to argue about. I stepped out of this thread more than a month ago because it turned idiotic. Don't try and drag me back into it. I use a light so I can be seen. I also use a bell, and I say on your left, I thank people when they move out of the way. While I would like it if other people would announce when they pass my wife and me, it's not the end of the world. We realize that some people Strava time is more important than our safety. The bottom line is, I am a courteous and polite path rider. I want to go ride my bikes with my wife safely. If you want to argue, find someone else to play with. I did not join this forum to fight or argue.

Bikeloverr

thanks