Reflector
05-14-21, 05:56 AM
#26
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05-14-21, 09:33 AM
#27
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As we use to remind the wise-acre 15-16 year old bike rider who would say: "I can see fine with the street lights!" But can DRIVERS see you???
05-14-21, 02:10 PM
#28
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I see it a lot in the winter, when the sun sets earlier. People start driving when it’s still light out, but then it gets dark quickly. With all the street lights in the big city they probably don’t realize their lights are not on.
05-14-21, 02:14 PM
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My Forester has what I would call a minor design flaw. If you flip your hand down the right way to activate the left turn signal you can inadvertently turn off the headlights. Ask me how I know.
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05-14-21, 04:15 PM
#30
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Aside from the safety considerations, there are legal issues that vary from state to state. Where I live, cyclists riding at dusk or in the dark are required to have a white light on the front and a red reflector on the back.
We’re also one of a handful of US states that still apply contributory negligence, which means that if an accident victim is at all careless they get nothing. For example, if a motorist is 99% at fault in a crash the injures a cyclist who is 1% at fault, the cyclist recovers nothing from the motorist (or their insurance).
I have reflectors on my bike mostly to keep from being hit, but also so that if I am hit the driver (and their insurance company) can’t easily avoid paying for my injuries by arguing that I was partially at fault for not having a reflector.
We’re also one of a handful of US states that still apply contributory negligence, which means that if an accident victim is at all careless they get nothing. For example, if a motorist is 99% at fault in a crash the injures a cyclist who is 1% at fault, the cyclist recovers nothing from the motorist (or their insurance).
I have reflectors on my bike mostly to keep from being hit, but also so that if I am hit the driver (and their insurance company) can’t easily avoid paying for my injuries by arguing that I was partially at fault for not having a reflector.
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05-15-21, 03:24 PM
#31
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I have the AUTO headlights that react to ambient light. They are mostly on some level of light and I don't think about them. The problem I occasionally have is after the car is brought in for service, they turn the headlights OFF. So that the lights are off till someone flashes me to turn them back on.
As we use to remind the wise-acre 15-16 year old bike rider who would say: "I can see fine with the street lights!" But can DRIVERS see you???
As we use to remind the wise-acre 15-16 year old bike rider who would say: "I can see fine with the street lights!" But can DRIVERS see you???
I have them also, BUT, they turn on way after I would normally turn them on in the evening. For a garage they work, but not for dusk. As a result I never use the auto feature. Now my wife's old Mercedes coupe lights were perfect, along with the auto wipers, they came on early at dusk and the wipers came on when the rain started sprinkling, but not just for a few drops or the if the car ahead's window washers were used.
From the quote, THIS!!! is my trigger, and I prefer to err on the side of caution... "But can DRIVERS see you???"
Why? Because, between a car and cyclist encounter, the car always wins.
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05-15-21, 03:30 PM
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I have not seen them turn a HEADLIGHT off at night. I have seen them turn off the DRL or Daytime Running LIght, especially if the DRL is LED powered and shines a yellow blinking LED for turns and reverts back to solid white for DRL after the turn completes..
05-15-21, 03:50 PM
#33
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I remember the days when we did not have reflective tape or LEDs; yet we still tried very hard to make sure we were seen. Come to think of it, in those days few of us even wore a helmet. In Austin Texas it is common to see flashing lights, reflectors and reflective vest used in a broad daylight ride.
As to the OP: Yes reflectors will help in addition to a rear light. Considering the broad range of reflective tape you have many, many, options.
Personally, I don't ride when its dark or even when the shadows are long. I do not see divers getting any more skilled at driving or having less distractions. To be sure, the few times I have ridden in traffic lately it has been dam scary. But that's just me...
As to the OP: Yes reflectors will help in addition to a rear light. Considering the broad range of reflective tape you have many, many, options.
Personally, I don't ride when its dark or even when the shadows are long. I do not see divers getting any more skilled at driving or having less distractions. To be sure, the few times I have ridden in traffic lately it has been dam scary. But that's just me...
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