Can cyclists answer me why??

Altarf

discplayer wrote: »

In areas with street lights bicycle lights make little difference for this sort of thing - the front one's more about being seen than seeing. Much like the car's headlights, the bike's front lights work wonders in a country lane but make little difference to what I see in town.

And that is the point that many cyclists don't get - Cycle lights are not to see, but to be seen.

Unless it is pitch black with no street lights, a cyclist doing 6mph, is going to have no problem seeing where they are going, as they are only looking 10-20 feet ahead.

A motorist doing 30mph is looking much further ahead, and the ninja on the bike does not stand out at 200 feet, and certainly not from all the light "noise" that is competing for attention.

"But I can see" will be the cyclist's epitaph.

consumers_revenge

Perfectly put....

WiggyDiggyPoo

Altarf wrote: »

And that is the point that many cyclists don't get - Cycle lights are not to see, but to be seen.

Unless it is pitch black with no street lights, a cyclist doing 6mph, is going to have no problem seeing where they are going, as they are only looking 10-20 feet ahead.

A motorist doing 30mph is looking much further ahead, and the ninja on the bike does not stand out at 200 feet, and certainly not from all the light "noise" that is competing for attention.

"But I can see" will be the cyclist's epitaph.

When cycling I look a lot further ahead than 10-20ft, its not just looking where I am going but taking in everything ahead. 6 mph is also a little slow for someone on a bike and actually its a little less than a jogging speed, something more like 12-15 mph for most folks but a lot a cyclists do average faster.

When driving 200ft will pass at 30-35 mph (average speed built up areas) in around 4-5 seconds, although stopping distance is less than 200 at around 75-100. So as long as I am visible, I can avoided.

Point it, ideally yes you're right I should be visible on my bike at at least 200 ft, more if you're outside of built up area.

custardy

Altarf wrote: »

And that is the point that many cyclists don't get - Cycle lights are not to see, but to be seen.

Unless it is pitch black with no street lights, a cyclist doing 6mph, is going to have no problem seeing where they are going, as they are only looking 10-20 feet ahead.

A motorist doing 30mph is looking much further ahead, and the ninja on the bike does not stand out at 200 feet, and certainly not from all the light "noise" that is competing for attention.

"But I can see" will be the cyclist's epitaph.

So to be clear
cyclists are doing just over a brisk walking pace?

Altarf

custardy wrote: »

So to be clear
cyclists are doing just over a brisk walking pace?

Actually that is bit quick for most of the cyclists I pass on the way to the station in the morning.

Altarf

WiggyDiggyPoo wrote: »

I should be visible on my bike at at least 200 ft, more if you're outside of built up area.

Absolutely.

silverwhistle

I've got a car licence, motorbike licence, own a pushbike, have some RYA qualifications, ski, ride horses blah, blah, blah, but it's only cyclists who regularly get this question posed on such public forums. It really is most tiresome, and smacks of victim blaming.

If I'm out and about and see somebody behaving like an idiot on the roads I'll mutter under my breath, but I never start threads such as "Why do so many motorists text when driving" on the pretext I'm somehow being helpful.

brat

giraffe69 wrote: »

When they don't use lights and there is an accident with a car or lorry there tends to be a presumption that it is the driver's fault even when the cyclist has no lights thus it isn't just their risk.

The criminal law has no presumption favouring the cyclist. Unfortunately in most significant car v cyclist prosecutions, the cyclist is unable to answer to his mistakes, so if there was any negligence by the motorist, even if only contributory, he will be investigated for causing death by careless/dangerous driving.

But if you currently drive with the mindset that you will be held responsible for any accident you have with a cyclist, please don't let me change that view.

mynameisclare

armyknife wrote: »

Did you have the same difficulty seeing hazards in the road, like speedhumps, potholes etc ?

Are you saying cyclists without lights aren't difficult to see? You certainly can't see them from very far away.

consumers_revenge

silverwhistle wrote: »

I've got a car licence, motorbike licence, own a pushbike, have some RYA qualifications, ski, ride horses blah, blah, blah, but it's only cyclists who regularly get this question posed on such public forums. It really is most tiresome, and smacks of victim blaming.

If I'm out and about and see somebody behaving like an idiot on the roads I'll mutter under my breath, but I never start threads such as "Why do so many motorists text when driving" on the pretext I'm somehow being helpful.

Im trying to stress cyclists need to be seen! If a car didnt have lights on and you clobbered it as a car driver you prob wouldnt kill the person, but if you clobber a cyclist, they are usually paste.

Thats the bit Im trying to be helpful with.

And before you ask, yes, Im lit up light a fligging christmas tree to TRY and save the incident happening in the first place. Did I also massively b*llock the driver who ran through a red in his car .....YES! Are car drivers perfect, no, am I, no.

Victims? They make themselves victims by not following the law and being mindless!! Why do you think the are REGULARLY asked about it? Does the cap fit?

A CYCLIST was caught riding without lights in Oxford city centre every one-and-a-half minutes at a police checkpoint.
Police launched the Lights on Bikes campaign on Monday to coincide with the clocks changing and dark nights drawing in.
During the three-hour operation in High Street, 106 cyclists were issued with £30 fines for riding without lights. http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/headlines/8490236.Police_catch_cyclists_without_lights_every_90_seconds/

1. Use lights and reflectors

By law in the UK:

“At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen.

Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.”

Highway Code rule no.60.
Remember that in street lit areas, you may see the way clearly ahead of you BUT you might not be seen so easily.
For this reason, you must have lights on when riding in street lit areas.