Cyclists what's with the strobes?

wealdroam

Strider590 wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5077860

OP didn't get the response they wanted.

We may never know.

Usignuolo starts many threads each week but rarely returns. Eight threads started so far this month, but only three have been revisited.

dotdash79

Indie_Kid wrote: »

They give me a headache.

I rather you have a headache than me end up with another 2 week stay in LGI.

Indie_Kid

dotdash79 wrote: »

I rather you have a headache than me end up with another 2 week stay in LGI.

Actually, it's more like migraine, which I'd rather not have. The lights also blind me, which makes getting around safely really difficult.

The lights that don't flash are nowhere near as bad.

dotdash79

I've rather not give you a migraine, but as a cyclist I'm the most vulnerable person on the road normally.

Remember whilst some roads are well lit a lot are also badly lit or have dark patches.

PDC

I'm always grateful to see a cyclist with a light on, what ever the kind.

Given the cheapness and easy of availability of good, strong lights now its surprising how many I (just about) see cycling with no lights locally.

I would say personally both on the bike and in a car I find the flashing kind of lights less easily visible, often it can be easy to take them as a reflection to begin with.


Next up... drivers with one headlight out or driving at night on side lights/drls?...

esuhl

jack_pott wrote: »

I once did an experiment: I counted what proportion of overtaking cars crossed all the way over to the other side of the road as they passed. More drivers were leaving more room when my light was flashing than when it was steady.

Whaaaaaaat?! You mean there was at least ONE car that overtook you by crossing to the other side of the road...? Wow.

If that happens to me, it makes my week! I almost want to catch up the driver and shake his/her hand!

dandelionclock30

As a cyclist myself I cant believe the amount of bikes with no lights in the dark. Also it can be people on really expensive bikes as well!. I think if they are knocked off then its their own fault. Who would buy a bike for £2 grand and then not get lights for £20-£30, only an idiot.

j0nathon2

Motorcyclists have much more powerful lights to begin with.

I think cyclists need to make best use of what they have, and a flashing light, even though much less powerful than on a car, gets more attention.

I have two rear red lights, one static and one flashing.

The legal lights should only flash up to 4hz (4 times a second) which is hardly a strobe!

What did annoy me this morning though was all the idiots with fog lights on, just because there was fog (note, visibility was not reduced enough to need them, or even normal lights).

usignuolo

OK first of all this is London we are talking about, so very brightly lit, street lamps, lots of other vehicles, lot of cyclists in high vis tops. Often with high vis strips on their back packs and even LEDs on their shoes too. So we are not talkingcyclists on dark unlit country lanes.

From my point of view I can pick up cyclists in town very well from their red flashing lights, which many have on their back or back pack as well as various places on their bikes. I do not find I get any additional information from the strobes, and indeed find them disconcerting and sometimes dazzling.

Why should they be legal on cyclists and not motorcyclists? And it would certainly help if they could be dipped.

(Sometimes my thread gets no response at all, so there is no purpose in replying plus I have been away on holiday in a remote park of the UK for the last 8 days without easy email access. But I was not aware I started 8 threads and in the last month and only replied to 3, I dispute that, want to pm which they are?)

peachyprice

I'd rather the stupid man I saw the other day had had a flashing light, in fact any light would have done.

What sort of !!!!!! cycles on winding country roads, on a rainy day, wearing all black from head to toe, with no lights?