RadfahrDavid281

Hello, BikeForums. I'm really losing my mind over this issue! Here in Northern Virginia, SO MANY (in fact, most) cyclists do not use bike lights at night. A few of them do, but they're mostly "working professionals" who make biking their lifestyle. The majority who don't, I've noticed, are mostly immigrants and a few teenagers (without picking on those two groups of people, I'm sure some "regular" people don't either).

As part of my anger used to control/manipulate people, I love yelling at people who break rules, when I get a chance: "You're supposed to have lights on at night!! Everywhere else in the nation, everyone uses bike lights!!!!"

Granted, I haven't been everywhere in the nation, but at least in Albuquerque, NM and Seattle, WA, and during a short trip to Charleston, SC, most everyone uses bike lights at night. OR, at the very least, the cops pull them over and cite them (I saw that in an episode of Cops that took place in California; of course, just like in most episodes, the suspect/cyclist had drugs on him ). It's funny, I remember one time in Albuquerque, I almost got run off the sidewalk by a college kid riding recklessly and with no helmet. But at least he had the sense to wear a headlamp.

In Fairfax County, you're supposed to have at least a front light and a rear reflector. BUT Fairfax County police almost never enforce that law. Plus, it requires people to go out and buy a separate clip-on light. Hence, most people/immigrants/teenagers simply don't bother. I am ready to move out of Northern Virginia as soon as possible and to a place where people (hopefully) have the sense to ride with bike lights at night.

Please help me put an end to this insanity. In YOUR area, do people use bike lights at night or no?

NYMXer

Given what you said, maybe it's a simple matter of economics. If they can't afford a light, they won't have one. It could also be an issue of not knowing better.

This is a common issue in many parts of my area too. Even with street lights, just because you can see where you are going, doesn't mean others can see you. Lights work both ways like that!

I-Like-To-Bike

I recommend that you do not be so quick to claim that others are demonstrating insane behavior.

wphamilton

I see lights on about a quarter of them in the day (excluding the sidewalk riders and kids) and about half at night.

Don't yell at them please. They already know about lights and would have one if they wanted.

lostarchitect 

I'd say in my neighborhood in Brooklyn a majority of riders--maybe 70% as a rough estimate--have some kind of lights at night. There are still plenty of ninjas, though. And not all the people with lights have effective lights. But I do feel this is getting better, not worse.

KD5NRH

Sure, let's not huwt thew widdwe feewings by pointing out to them that they're complete idiots creating a hazard for all road users.

wphamilton

I don't care about their feelings, but it's none of your business And you're not necessarily right about whether it's that critical, or a hazard.

BobbyG

While your goals are noble, your self-righteous anger is not. Just as unlit cyclists may not be aware of the rules, or more fundamentally of how they may be endangering themselves and possibly others, you, David, may not be aware of the rules of civility, and how your anger may be endangering yourself and possibly others.

Riding or biking in traffic with this kind of anger is a danger to yourself and others.

The sooner you seek help managing your anger, the sooner you begin a happier, healthier life.

The sooner you learn to address life's injustices in a calmer, more positive manner the better. If you can't handle unlit bicyclists, how are you going to deal with life's true injustices like cancer and other debilitating, painful illnesses, natural disasters including flood, fire and famine, the the unfixable suffering of loved ones and others. And what of social injustices like war, poverty, hatred and bias.

The news is filled with headlines about angry, sanctimonious individuals and groups who lash out at others who don't follow "the rules" whether through choice or ignorance. This angry self-righteousness drives them to hurt, kill and maim those who don't see things their way.

David, the best way to help others "see the light" is to lead by example, not just how you equip your bicycle and follow the rules; but by how you interact with others.

Consider being considerate, and learn about your anger.

JoeyBike

A cheap bike light and some batteries costs less than a 6-pack of beer. Now tell me they are too economically challenged to purchase beer...

More and more cyclists in New Orleans are getting lights, and many are using those decorative lights that string all over the bike and wheels because it is cool, not because it might help motorists see them after dark. Bottom line, I am noticing plenty of lit up cyclists as compared to just five years ago.
.
.
.

RichSPK

I don't know about the ratio, but it's definitely a blend of lights/no lights here in Worcester, Massachusetts.

NYMXer

We have some migrant farm workers that ride bikes to the fields (local black dirt region) in the early morning hours with near dark conditions and no lights. I doubt they can afford beer or a light and the bike was probably something someone threw away.

Then of course, there is the definition of what some people are calling beer today. A friend offered me a beer when we bbq'd with his family over the 4th of July and that beer was literally "flavored water". One was too many and it was warm before I finished it.

I like that the trend in your area is going in a safer direction. I ride with lights and wish everyone would but they don't and I can't make them but often wonder their reasoning. Is it lack of money, ignorance, defiance or do they feel immortal?

I guy once joined us on a night Mtb ride with a cheap light that held 3 or 4 AAA batteries. It was worthless beyond 5 feet of vision. As a matter of fact, we could hardly even see him sometimes. He never rode with us again and we put him in the middle too.

BTW, I have many friends down in La that are senior motocross riders that used to go by the club name "SSR". Maybe you know some of them? That would be a small world!

RichSPK

When I was a letter carrier, I noticed the poorer neighborhoods had lots of beeping smoke alarms. If they can't afford a battery for their smoke alarm, they probably aren't going to allocate money for a bike light.

Darth Lefty 

Get therapy.
Only if they want to get caught.

randomgear

In Boston some do and some don't; but it has gotten far better over the last 10 years since I started riding again and LEDs have replaced traditional bulbs - costs have gone down and brightness and battery life have increased. As previous posters have mentioned, those who in poorer neighborhoods or working low wage jobs probably won't have lights.

Bikes, unlike cars, don't come with lights and aren't required to come with lights. Most bike lights require changing out or recharging batteries at least once a week during the fall and winter when days are shorter and at least one leg of most commutes takes place in twilight and darkness. These are all barriers to full adoption of bike lights by everyone who bikes at night.

In previous years, BostonBikes, the City of Boston's bike program has given away free lights to people. But the batteries don't last for more than a few hours even on blinking and the batteries are expensive to replace. Still, they are trying.

JoeyBike

Some people can't think. So your ignorance theory comes closest to the truth.

Y'all kept blinding him with your ridiculously bright lights!

Nope, never had the pleasure. NOLA is a small world for sure but the state is pretty spread out population-wise.
.
.
.

KD5NRH

They're not Clintons. They bear the responsibility for learning the laws regarding any activity they decide to participate in. Or would you be OK with random people just deciding they want to drive, picking up a car off Craigslist for cash, and not bothering with training or a license?

Yelling at them doesn't cost them anything, and might eventually get the point across.

10 Wheels

Become a nice rider.

Buy some extra Lights and give them away to those that You think need them.

jefnvk

In Michigan, it is state law.

That said, I'd say it is about a 50/50 mix. The people commuting on bikes because they have no other transit options generally don't, the people that would likely be on this site generally have nice light sets, and everyone else is a crapshoot from nothing to back only to single LEDs to actual sets.

1nterceptor

"Do cyclists use bike lights at night in your area?"

Some do, some don't.

CliffordK

Around here, maybe 90% of the riders on the road use lights at night.
Some bike paths, however, are treacherous.

I would assume lights are used more by long-distance riders than neighborhood riders.

Perhaps there would be a way to get a grant from the local city to buy and distribute lights.

With some luck, one might be able to do a bulk order of these lights, white front, red rear,
15¢ each.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...145786719.html

1000 should cost about $150.

Find a place to give them away for free, limit a couple per person.



You could also come up with a logo "Safety First" or something that you could get printed on your lights. Which could also track resale if that would be an issue.

CB HI

Homeless cyclist - NO
other cyclist - YES

jefnvk

The City of Ann Arbor did that last summer for anyone who lived or worked in the city.

Not particularly a fan of handing out required safety equipment myself, we don't hand out free lights to motorists who can't afford to replace a burnt out taillight, we give them a fix-it ticket. In any case, with a light set running under $10 at most big box places, I don't really buy the argument that it is cost prohibitive.

rekmeyata

Most riders in my city of Fort Wayne do not use lights of any kind! They hate living here so bad they would rather die since they can't leave.

Lately in the last 2 or 3 years I do see a tad more riders using lights but for the most part they don't.

Chris0516

I know what you are talking about. I have participated in light give-aways in Fairfax and Arlington Counties when it has started to become dusk. Yet cyclists' with no lights would just ride by without stopping.

Northwestrider

Yes they do in my area , but I'm old enough to remember as a kid , many of us didn't . Back then it was a matter of short term poverty . No consideration for long term pain if you don't have the dough maybe .