Why Do Cyclists Insist on Flashing Lights?

esuhl

anotheruser wrote: »

Also, just so you know, I haven't run away; I just fail to see the education rather than the "I AM RIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG. THAT'S IT" posts...

How ironic.

Norman_Castle

anotheruser wrote: »

Ha ha, but you're using flashing lights as an argument suggesting those that use them are better seen?

Indicators flash a different colour, aren't so bright and don't look like some sort of mini rave. Idiot question.

Also, just so you know, I haven't run away; I just fail to see the education rather than the "I AM RIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG. THAT'S IT" posts, thus the thread is useless.

I've stated cyclists are identified as cyclists by their flashing lights. Cyclists flashing lights are more likely to be noticed regardless of your annoyance.

Idiot question?. You started it. As you admit to being annoyed by many things road users do it seems an appropriate question.

As you said, you fail to see. So, for you, this thread is pointless. Remain ignorant.

Have you considered driving is a miserable experience for you which is why you find so many things annoying?.

brat

anotheruser wrote: »

I get annoyed by larger vehicles that have their headlight beams higher, thus shining behind me.
I get annoyed by people beeping at their friends to wave.
I get annoyed at the DRLs that change to be indicators.
... plus a fair bit more that I can't work out why it's like that and how it benefits safety what so ever.

Many things about roads annoy me, disco lights is just one.

Like I say, it's not the mark of a careful compliant considerate driver to get annoyed by these things. Understanding and tolerance will help improve your attitude to other road users, and therefore the quality of your driving will improve too. It's never too late to learn.

subsequent posts haven't exactly been an educating experience and none have been able to convince me how they are "better" than steady-on lights.

It is difficult to educate an intransigent, blinkered mind to change. The numerous benefits (in terms of longevity and safety) of flashing lights have been well explained, and fortunately the vast majority of motorists understand this.

AliceBanned

As a driver and a cyclist I have only experienced annoyance at bright headlights shining in my rearview mirror. This is excruciating and I have had to resort to holding my hand over the mirror on occasions, which is probably illegal but my eyes just can't take it. Why are some people so ridiculously selfish on the road? Cyclists are clearly just trying to stay safe, or if they aren't they need educating so that they can, as too many drivers don't give a damn about them.


The stupid cyclist-bashing attitude perpetrated by the likes of JC and others is immature, and far more annoying than any flashing lights they use.

Norman_Castle

^ There's probably an anti dazzle adjuster on the bottom of your mirror.

barmonkey

I would just like to say that I have never seen a cyclist with a flashing light

Richard53

Richard53 wrote: »

given the bright sunlight, a steady light might have been mistaken for a patch of sunlight.

anotheruser wrote: »

A patch of sunlight that was moving?

On a straight stretch of road, with the bicycle and car approaching almost head-on, any apparent movement would be minimal. The flashing, however, was unmistakeable.

brat

Richard53 wrote: »

On a straight stretch of road, with the bicycle and car approaching almost head-on, any apparent movement would be minimal. The flashing, however, was unmistakeable.

I always use a flasher in bright daylight for this very reason. A repeating flash catches the eye of a motorist much more readily than a steady light which can be misinterpreted. I feel much safer approaching and passing T junctions with my front flash on.

At night time I use a Cateye Nano which emits a steady 300 lumen beam with an intermittent flash pulsing through that beam at 150 ppm. For me it's the perfect nighttime combination, although the newer Cateye Volt is more versatile with more options including a 'flash only' option which gives 100 hours of use between charges.

Richard53

brat wrote: »

I always use a flasher in bright daylight for this very reason. A repeating flash catches the eye of a motorist much more readily than a steady light which can be misinterpreted. I feel much safer approaching and passing T junctions with my front flash on.

At night time I use a Cateye Nano which emits a steady 300 lumen beam with an intermittent flash pulsing through that beam at 150 ppm. For me it's the perfect nighttime combination, although the newer Cateye Volt is more versatile with more options including a 'flash only' option which gives 100 hours of use between charges.

We're on the same page here. I think the benefit of a flashing light (compared to a steady light or a strobe effect) is that it is impossible to mistake for anything else. The steady pulse sets it apart from anything else you are likely to see.


My main light is a Moon Meteor (http://www.moon-sport.com/product-detail.php?id=70) which puts out 200 lumens at full power. It's incredibly bright, and has steady, flash and SOS modes. Even in broad daylight it is dazzlingly bright from 10m away, hence the need to angle it downwards in normal circumstances. Best of all, it charges off the USB when I get to work. £50 to buy, zero cost to run. I love it.

Kernel_Sanders

barmonkey wrote: »

I would just like to say that I have never seen a cyclist with a flashing light

Then you need to get out more.