vol

Today I used 3 tail lights: one on the rear rack (center), and one on each seat stay. The way I mount the light on the seat stay is to let the one on the left seat stay slightly tilted toward the left, and the right one slightly tilted to the right. Since I also have the one on the rack that faces directly backward, I had three lights that is very visible from directly behind, slightly on my left behind, and slightly on my right behind. Is this a good idea? Any cons?

MijnWraak

The one on the right seems useless, since nobody will be over there.

vol

Some bike lanes are on the left side of the street

JanMM

Not useless if he's in the left-most lane of multiple lanes going the same way.

vol

It would not be a good idea to let the left (right) light completely face toward the lef (right), would it?

MijnWraak

Heh, guess we need more information on your commute! MUPS, dedicated bike lanes, public roads, busy city streets, low density 1 lane roads?

And filling out your location can help sometimes too.

JanMM

Says that they are slightly tilted to the left and to the right

tsl

As I recall, Vol lives in NYC. Hence the bike lanes on the left side of one-way streets.

vol

Yes. I ride mostly in Manhattan. They are "busy city streets" for the most part. Not many bike lanes, but where there are, they are often on the left side of narrow 1-way street (I saw cars driving there, too, to pass other cars).

MijnWraak

Ah gotcha nevermind then disregard my comment hah.

vol

So, no cons?

katcorot

I don't see any. If anything you may be onto something with all round coverage.

Sundance89

No, because you are obviously responding to the specifics needs of your route. I manipulate both my rear lights to shine exactly where I want. With the light on my pannier I use a piece of duct tape rapped around a small piece of cardboard on the back of the clip. It shines slightly up and to the left. (Sorry if that sounds too much like the Warren Report.)

The PB Superflash on my helmet is mounted with a zip tie and all I have to do is slide it to favor whatever side I want while riding. But since I don't encounter any bike lanes on the left, I rarely have it shining to the right.

ptle

No "negative aspects" that I can think of. I do something similar, but with just two lights. I always have one on my left seat stay and one on the rack (attached to my bag). They're usually on two different flash patterns. I have been none to put two on the messenger bag and have the 3rd one on steady.

When I'm using two lights, I try to point the seat stay light off center to the left.

009jim

Can you post a photograph showing how you fixed it to the seat stay? I've been trying to figure out how to do that.

Rollfast

Only if your bike is stolen.

AdamDZ

I have three blinkies facing back, but yeah, I'm thinking about adding one one each side too.

ezdoesit

Try this they can't miss you.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/stor...y-triangle.cfm

xtrajack

I have three blinkies/taillights, set up similarly to the OP. The PBSF is PC7ed to the fender, the other two are zip tied to the V-racks on my Xtracycle. they are aimed slightly to the left and right. The idea is/was add a little more side visibility without losing rearward visibility of the lights. Whether or not it is necessary is probably debatable, but, I figure it can't hurt.

colleen c

One MS facing directly back and two PBSF where each one are facing 45 degree outward. I have a freeway overpass where the cars exiting off the freeway does a 270 degree loop. When they get to the top of the overpass, they got their own lane. However it is a short lane where they have to make a lane change to the left otherwise that lane goes back into the freeway heading the opposite direction on the freeway.

Everyone flies off the freeway trying to get left while car on the city street is making a right lane change to get on the freeway. All thus is happening with me in-between the two groups of cars. Those blinkies turn sideway helps a lot.

slowandsteady

That is what I do. Even motorcycles have two headlights and two taillights. It helps for the motorist when they attempt to figure out what you are and how wide the vehicle is, if you have lights that bracket the width of your bike.

Just because people pass on your left doesn't mean you just need a light on the left. What about people entering the roadway from the right?

Booger1

3 should be enough no matter where they are.

QuakerProf

Sounds like a good set up to me. I have a suburban commute, so I cover the right to be sure that I'm seen by people pulling out of their driveways. I have three PB SuperFlashes: one on the back of my helmet (flash mode) and two on the back of my trunk bag tilting left and right. I then added the smallest PB lights (come in packs of red and white); white on the fork and red on the seatstays for more side visibility. Topped off with two Cygolite Expilion 250s on the front.

My recommendtion is to combine active and reflective lighting and hi-vis colors (I wear a hi-vis/scotchlite "surveyor's vest" from Lowe's over my shell jacket. You'll be visible from front, side, and back day and night.

fietsbob

B&M 4 diode Toplight on my Tubus rear rack has similar function,
1 LED on each edge, 2 in the center, for 180 degree visibility .

so I guess your having more batteries to replace is the only issue,

other than theft and damage while locked up on the street.

exile

The more lights the merrier. I have 3 lights myself on each bike. Although my lights are either situated on the left chainstay or on the center line of my bikes. Remember, some lights lose significant visibility if they are not pointed correctly towards their target.