Bob Ross

Somewhat germane...although this probably constitutes thread-drift: Among the other fascinating things I've learned studying cognitive science is that 1) humans are also predisposed (hardwired genetically) to react unfavorably to looming objects ...so keep that in mind next time you lean over the crib to admire a newborn; and 2) humans -- along with most mammals -- are also predisposed (hardwired genetically) to have increased perceptual sensitivity to bilateral symmetry ...we can pick out a face more easily than a profile.

None of that will necessarily keep you safe on a bike though.

Jasper Storm

I'm definitely a convert to front illumination in daylight hours.

When I'm out riding on the road I use a Light and Motion 650 (bright enough, but not "rave party strobe-like") on my bars set to "pulse." I can tell when an indecisive motorist probably would have turned across my path had there not been that "little extra" visibility. This isn't frequent, as motorists are fairly accustomed to seeing bicycles where I am. When it does, I'm glad to have spent the extra $60.

I run the old-reliable 2xAAA Planet Bike Superflash on the rear. Plenty visible in daylight .

I dress in a fairly subdued kit in good weather and black Castelli wear in cold rain/winter rides, preferring to let the lights do the talking.

I have teammates who wear Velotoze fluo booties and gloves during the winter. The look good as color accents and the rotating motion of the booties really stands out. I'll probably do the same.

mcours2006

Like when you see a Ford Excursion bearing down on you in your helmet-mounted rear view mirror.

popeye

+1

Maelochs

I do this with my bar-mounted light but that is much less effective. Still ... motion catches attention ... or at least, has a better chance.

I have seen studies where a pedal reflector is the most attention-getting device, because ( I assume) it moves and looks unlike anything else on the road.

Flashing lights are easy to see, but it is easier for a driver to judge distance off a steady light---however if the motorist doesn't See the steady light---doesn't register it---then it makes no difference.

I use one or sometimes two flashing tail lights because if I can catch a driver's attention. s/he can find me in his/her headlights.

As other note, if the driver ignores you, it doesn't matter what you wear or what lights you use. And let us recall ... cars drive into other cars.

Garfield Cat

OK, then just focusing on the driver: collection of data on bike versus motorist shows what?

The type of road, the hour of the day, the type of intoxication of the driver, the age of the driver, the history of the driver, etc.

If we knew which roads, what time of day, maybe a ride will be safer just by avoidance?

That might mean we all start gravel riding, at least sometimes when the high risk driver is around. Why? We can't have our cake and eat it too.

Bob Ross

So iow, the terrorists have already won.

Doctor Morbius

Indeed. Frequently my eyes catch things that are bouncing up and down.

Garfield Cat

What does high risk drivers have to do with terrorists? Even a 70 year old driver has different reaction times than when that same driver was 25 years old.

Bob Ross

I'm guessing you didn't read the news -- or the internet -- ~20 years ago. Post 9/11 "The terrorists have already won" was a common meme in response to the notion that we should be forced to alter our behaviors because of the actions of others.

ddub

I do as well. It often causes distraction and that can be hazardous.

Doctor Morbius

Yer darn tootin'. I feel like I'm a victim!

wayne310

when i used to mount my phone on handlebar, i would switch on its flashlight while headlight is on. it would illuminate the bikes front fork and tire underneath...makes u illuminate and be more visible to cars.
but looking for a dedicated light that does the trick....its good to have bikes frame little illuminated for lateral visibility.

bobwysiwyg

Plus spend TONS $$ as well.

79pmooney

I was using ankle/calf lights 40 years before biolighting existed. It works - far better than any other lighting system because 1) it is moving and 2) it is moving in a way that nothing else out there does, Nothing. Bright flashing lights? There are harmless stationary sawhorses and the like with those lights. All construction sites. Emergency vehicles. Joggers Make them so bright drivers cannot avoid seeing them and they turn their head to preserve their vision until they are past you. (I've done that as a driver and I hate those lights when I an approaching from behind on my bike or just got passed.)

Ben

AlmostTrick

Fixed gear with reflective ankle strap/light for the safety win!

Carbonfiberboy 

These visibility threads remind me of google results 10 years ago, when the first page of hits for global warming would be climate science denier websites.

FYI, unlit riders, wearing whatever clothing, are almost completely invisible when shaded by trees, etc. in bright sunlight, especially considering that drivers will be wearing sunglasses. Your defense is stupid simple: bright flashing lights front and back. In front, I run a 250 lumen flasher pointed straight ahead. In back, I run a 400 lumen Dinotte, pointed slightly down so that it casts a bright red oval on the road surface about 10' behind me. I've met drivers who've passed me at restaurants or gas stations and had them thank me for my lighting arrangement. Of course I also wear hi-viz tops and socks. I have a couple of those Slaplit LED ankle bracelets ordered. They sound like a very good idea.

The common ill-pointed cheap flashers with low batteries don't do crap to save you. They're worthless. I strongly recommend USB lights for the usual day rides because you'll always start out with them charged and they stay the same brightness all day. Dinotte has the best mounting systems I've seen so far.

At night, I run a steady lamp and a flasher in back and similar in front. On night group rides, I turn the flashers off when riding with others.

Bob Ross

I think I get what you're saying, because it's something that just popped into my head the other day while riding along in broad daylight: We can argue about whether flashing lights are better than solid (non-flashing) lights, about whether red is better than orange, whether biomotion is better than non-moving, yadda-yadda-yadda...but the bottom line is BEING NOTICED is better than NOT BEING NOTICED.

So the first line of defense should inarguably be, get noticed. Then you can worry about hair-splitting.

63rickert

If I attend the theatre and there will be a scene which uses strong lighting effects there will be a sign on the door warning me. The ticket taker inside the door will alert me to this fact. There will be an alert in the printed program. And before the curtain goes up the house manager will come out to the footlights and give a further and very explicit warning. If the production uses actual strobe lights all these warnings will be more emphatic.

Anyone who wants to hang a strobe on their bike and blind me is completely free to do so. No warnings. In daytime I will often have to pull over because of the oncoming strobes. At night I can no longer ride bike routes, the program is look for side streets with no bike traffic at all. When there's a sea of flashing lights ahead do you really think there is any road user who processes all the information? If modest flashing lights were something that happened one instance at a time there might be some positive effect. What is happening instead is mere chaos. The level and type of lighting cyclists want to use is not making anyone safe.

It is midday. The sun is shining. It is bright and clear outside. I am about to go for a ride. And am fairly certain I will make at least one sudden stop and close my eyes to protect them from the onslaught of strobe. Sixty years of cycling for me so far and you guys want to end it.

79pmooney

My leg lights I used for 30 years would never have troubled your eyes. Your post might get me back to wearing one. (I stopped because my body is aging and becoming more sensitive, especially in areas with old crash injuries, to the banging of the light; a real issue riding downhill on fix gears - but also a place where visibility-wise, they are without peer. This will take research - for the light, the strap around my leg and the padding I need but it can be done. Thanks!

I used to ride down hills at night that I now take different routes to avoid in real part because I no longer use a leg light. The best flasher in the world just marks me as another PITA Portland cyclist to be passed at first opportunity. Fix gears with leg lights going 35 mph downhill don't get passed. Ever. (Saying that means it will happen. Sorry, But not often.)

Ben

63rickert

Thank you 79pmooney. Leg lights are great. Pedal reflectors are great. Strong lights not aimed into road users eyes are great. Now off to ride.

boswellbear

As I recall, Germany (with probably the most studied bicycle lighting regulations in the universe) outlaws flashing bicycle lights. Perhaps a few of you, who are so certain flashing lights are just absolutely the safest, might want to find out why the Germans have such a law.

Athens80

Why is right turn on red outlawed in Germany?

Marci

As a driver I see more people out riding their bikes or walking and they have no lights (even though it is illegal to ride a bike without) and they are dressed in black. Makes them nearly invisible. Many times I only see them if another car comes up behind them.
I got the battery operated christmas lights and wrapped my frame for night riding along with the front and aft lights. Then to make myself even more visible I got party lights made for your bike. Not only do I light myself up but the ground around me dances with light. I am sure when cars see me (I see a few slow down about 1/4 mile from me) they are thinking what is that? I got them on Amazon and they are called Crusin brightz. They also make other kinds of lights for your bike. I also have reflective things on the bike and person. In the winter our bike rides start at 5:30 so its all in the dark, I try to wear bright colors to catch the eye.

Miele Man

With me it was an 18-wheeler coming down a hill behind me as we were both approaching a very narrow bridge with no where for a bicycle to go if the truck didn't slow down. I saw in my rear view mirror that the truck was NOT slowing down at all and was now quite close. I pulled onto the soft shoulder and had a heck of a time keeping the bicycle under control when the tires bit into the soft shoulder. I was doing almost 60 kph (40 mph) when that incident occurred. Now it'd be even worse because the shoulders are gone and there's now curb there.

I REALLY like using either a helmet mounted mirror or an eyeglass mounted mirror because I can see both the road ahead and behind at the same time.

I don't yet use daytime lights because I don't see a need for them where I live. Most lights I've seen are NOT bright enough to be seen in bright light. The ones that you can see in bright light at a distance greater than what bright coloured clothing would be visible in daylight cost a LOT here.

Cheers