livedarklions

BS. I have no choice but to look straight ahead on a path if I want to ride with any level of responsibility. If we're passing in opposite directions, we are going to be looking right at each other if only just to see who is next to you and me on the upcoming pass. I don't have the option of turning my head away without endangering the pediestrian or other rider that might be alongside you. If you're pointing a flashing light directly into oncoming riders' eyes, you are absolutely compromising those riders' perception. It's an idiotic thing to do.

Rootman

Just depends on how sensitive your eyes are or mind set is. I've had riders scream at me abut being blinded coming from the opposite way even though it was on low and slow blink, not sure what lumens it puts out on low, but high is 450. Despite the fact I have it aimed low some people react to certain things irrationally anyway.

Just the other day someone started to scream at me as I passed them on the MUP because I ride an ebike, stating they ought to be banned because we ride too fast. Funny thing is that the assist was off and I was passing him under my own power. I dropped back and told him so too then continued to pass him again under just my own power. People gripe about anything and everything and lumping them all together is just not going to gain anything. Because, how bright is too bright? How fast a blink is too fast? If it's a real issue then complain to law enforcement and demand something be done about it. Complaining on a forum nets you zero benefits.

livedarklions

Look, there are complaining jerks everywhere, but we have people saying being seen from a half mile in broad daylight is their strobe's "job". Do the math on how bright that has to be by the time you close within a few feet of someone--it's the inverse square law.

And law enforcement on a path? Puh-leeeeze! That's never getting anywhere. I ride on paths in 2 states regularly and another state occasionally--who exactly am I supposed to lobby and should I quit my job to have the time?

I'm going to continue advocating telling people their lights are inappropriate for paths. If people who want to run optics experiments on other riders don't like it, good. Maybe they'll flip a switch so they don't have to deal with it.

And you seriously think it's hard to distinguish between a fast strobe rate and a slow blink? C'mon, you're grasping at straws.

Rootman

And posting on a bike forum is actually going to do anything? People are always going to complain, people are always going to have too bright a lights, or blink them too fast, or ride too fast or have the wrong type bike, or ... or... or. Just because YOU have issue with it doesn't mean that other's do too. And like I said, mine is NOT bright and does not blink fast and I still get yelled at. So being a nutjob and complaining on the trail or just moaning about it on a forum does exactly ZERO good. If you have issues about it then DO something about it. MUPS usually have some sort of governance group behind them, contact them and make it an issue. If it's a city trail then contact the parks department or police department. I know ours is patrolled by city police regularly. I stopped a cop a few years back and told them about some kid on a minibike riding the trail. I later caught up with him just in time to see them take the minibike from him.

livedarklions

Have a nice day.

Rootman

Yep, I will, blinking headlight and all.

veganbikes

The easiest way to end these issues are stop using flashing white lights. If you really feel you need to have a disco going on with your bike point the white light at your own eyes and use just a standard non-flashing light at the front like every other vehicle. If you were in an emergency situation I can see using a flashing light but normal riding does not warrant flashing white lights. Even the coppers and actual emergency vehicles don't use flashing white lights. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should or that it will help you. Just get a good bright front light and you will be fine. Distance is going to help you out more than a flashing light.

livedarklions

+1

livedarklions

Don't whine so much when people yell at you. Maybe they have a point.

Rootman

I don't, I only advise ****ers who think posting on a forum and whining about issues like lights being too bright from thinking it will solve anything instead of actually doing something about it in person.

livedarklions

Well, I've actually seen people change their behavior as a result of my telling them their light is dangerous, so I'll stick with my strategy and you can whine about yours some more.

woodcraft

I also say something when lights are too dim.

The other day I passed a gal & told her that her rear blinky was so dim as to be worthless- could hardly see it 25' back.

She thanked me.

Rootman

Well good for you. Have a cookie on me and a pat on the head. I too mention to people about things on the MUP, I had a brief chat with a couple last week after nearly colliding with them, they decided to stop mid MUP just outside of a blind corner after a tunnel. I told them that they were in the worst place possible to stop, they ignored me and I rode off. When I was about 50 feet away I heard the undeniable sound of bike colliding and yelling behind me as someone popped out of the tunnel and ran into them. I didn't even look back.

I also stick up for myself and other's too when the people, like you, are moaning and whining about things that just aren't true or taken too far. Me, I have a lower intensity flasher aimed low, even when goofs like you yell about it I am NOT turning it off. It's legal, safe and effective. But again, I remind you that griping about it on a forum does nothing, Taking action does, even when it's just telling them or telling authorities. Too bright a light? If its constantly a problem and they don't listen then notify someone who controls the MUP. Two years ago there was a rash of MTBers on a section of the MUP around here that kept jumping off their dirt trail onto the paved trail right next to it without looking, someone got hurt. Several people reported it to the governing committee that created the MUP and the police. In a few weeks there was a barricade up to prevent them from doing it. So, whine all you want to on a forum, unless you actually DO something, even just register the issue with authorities then you accomplish nothing. People sometimes listen, sometimes don't, if they don't and it's a genuine issue then report it.

Flip Flop Rider

didn't read. is the consensus a solid white light in the front? thanks

livedarklions

Yes, when I encounter someone on a MUP in the middle of a Saturday century ride and I'm 40 miles from home, I'll be sure to go to the local PD or City Hall and find the local person in charge and lodge a formal complaint against the miscreant. I have nothing better to do, and they'll start a massive manhunt for the culprit, right?

No, if more people say things to jerks with bright strobes, there will end up being fewer people who can pretend they don't understand that it's a dumb and inconsiderate thing to do. Encouraging people who bike a lot (like the people who read this forum generally do) to say something is my strategy, and I really don't have any reason to respect your opinion on whether it makes sense.

And I encounter plenty of people who have flashing lights that are neither disorienting nor painful--y'know what I say to them? "Good morning". I'm very polite to people who aren't addling my sense of vision.

Rootman

Well good on you, you won an argument on the internet, your momma must be so proud. They DO have these magic devices called phones and computers that you can report stuff like this ya know? No reason to actually pedal to the police station or whatever. Again, if it's an issue, then just do something, report the problem, document it. You said you already were telling people, then continue on doing it and just keep leaving the rest of us with our low watt blinkers alone. Despite the fact that I still get yelled at by people like you about my blinker, even though it IS low and slow, I will continue to ride with it just as I do. Until I see signs posted about not using them, or get stopped by a bike cop, I will continue to do so.

livedarklions

For the umpteenth time, I have never said anything to someone with a low powered flashing light so your assumption that you are encountering "people like" me yelling at you for nothing is rather stupid. Considering that one of the rideshare bikes in Boston has one built in that's always on when the bike is being pedaled, when I'm riding on the Paul Dudley White, I'd pretty much have to yell myself hoarse to complain about something that isn't really a problem. I'm yelling at people whose lights can be seen from upwards of a half mile away on a sunny day, don't know how many lumens that equates to, but these lights are not borderline inappropriate, they're absurd overkill.

So now, I'm supposed to stop my ride and call 911 for the bright flashing light? What the hell are you talking about? Maybe you live in Podunk and Barney Fife is waiting for your call, but I'm riding in big metropolitan areas that don't know it's someone calling about "crazy Uncle Jed with his whacky light thingamajig again". And what the hell am I documenting it for? Posterity? I have a ride to finish, I don't have any interest or time for that crap. Your suggestions are completely idiotic.

And no, I wasn't talking about "wining" internet arguments. I have told people in person their light is dangerous on a path, and I have been told by them they didn't know, and they switched it off. Yes, I consider it a good thing, no praise from momma needed.

I'm sorry the bad person made your feelings hurt when he told you a flashing light in a tunnel isn't a good idea or whatever the point of that cool story was.

Rootman

Wow dude, you need to stop take a pill or something, you have completely devolved into nonsense now. Keep doing what you are doing, and I'll keep doing what I am doing. I hope you you have success with it. Next time just read the comments before spouting off

End of conversation.

indyfabz

****?

livedarklions

Don't know, I was too busy lobbying 37 police departments to set up an anti-bright strobe SWAT team per Rootman's suggestion.

u235

The discussion of blinkers and when and where comes up every few months. I'm ignoring this one and to doing something better with my time like read about what chain lube is best

Rootman

So, you decided to quite hanging onions from your belt and yelling at clouds then? Good on you!

livedarklions

Do you have some sort of advanced degree in trite insults?

Now do "clown college".

BTW, you blew the "end of conversation" bit.
/ignore

no motor?

Yep, and nothing really changes either.

I'm going to turn on an extra strobe light during tonights ride home in your honor.

livedarklions

Great, the guy you blind might run into you.