Idiots at work

[Shut Up Legs]

I've seen a lot of cyclists recently on non-BSOs (i.e. bikes with more advanced specs), who have the same problem: no lights, even when it's completely dark. I hope they don't have kids.

 

[tadpole]

Three quid for lights, £12 for a charger and set of AA Eneloops that will then cost them about a penny per charge. I don't buy that it's about not being able to afford lights.

I know a few people who cannot find £10 for heating their homes for a week let alone £15, for something they can get away not having, hell I know people who have to get food from the food bank and often have to rely on the 'soup runs' for the homeless so their kids can eat. To some £15 is half an hours pay, a trip to Costa or Starbucks, to other people £15 is their food shopping for a week. Ok sometimes people are just to lazy or too stupid to buy/use lights, but not always.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I know people who have to get food from the food bank and often have to rely on the 'soup runs' for the homeless so their kids can eat

While fully accepting that these cases exist, I would be amazed if they account for even 0.1% of cyclists without lights.

 

[tadpole]

While fully accepting that these cases exist, I would be amazed if they account for even 0.1% of cyclists without lights.

I often deal with 80+ homeless people when out on a "soup run"*, maybe 8 or 10 are cyclist
(*Bristol Soup run Charity)

 

[gaz]

most pavement cyclists round here jump onto the road if they need to to, they just use a bike as a way to increase their walking speed.

That's essentially what the dutch class a bicycle as.

 

[jarlrmai]

I see a lot of "guys on bikes" when i'm commuting around Kirkby, guys in building site wear, riding really cheap mountain bikes with flat tyres and rusty chains very slowly on the pavement or off it moving wherever they want, ignoring all traffic signs, salmoning etc. No lights, no hat (not a problem for me), but basically no gear at all.

They don't look like they want to be on a bike at all, I guess either finances, practicality or the law means they have no choice, I bet they'd rather be in a car, is enjoying commuting by bike a well to do or a class thing?

 

[sazzaa]

I see a lot of "guys on bikes" when i'm commuting around Kirkby, guys in building site wear, riding really cheap mountain bikes with flat tyres and rusty chains very slowly on the pavement or off it moving wherever they want, ignoring all traffic signs, salmoning etc. No lights, no hat (not a problem for me), but basically no gear at all.

They don't look like they want to be on a bike at all, I guess either finances, practicality or the law means they have no choice, I bet they'd rather be in a car, is enjoying commuting by bike a well to do or a class thing?

We have junkies on bikes as well as "guys on bikes", it always amazes me when they do hills without getting out of breath.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I often deal with 80+ homeless people when out on a "soup run"*, maybe 8 or 10 are cyclist (*Bristol Soup run Charity)

Right, and I see that many cyclists without lights in two sets of traffic lights. As I say, these will be an infinitesimally small percentage of those riding without lights.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Do you ever ask any of them why they are without lights?

I used to; I don't bother any more.

 

[theclaud]

This topic is becoming almost as predictable as helmets. I suppose we should be glad it's more of a seasonal obsession than an all-year round one. I'm just going to link to an earlier post I made, on account of it being quite a good one, if I say it myself...

 

[glenn forger]

I know a few people who cannot find £10 for heating their homes for a week let alone £15, for something they can get away not having, hell I know people who have to get food from the food bank and often have to rely on the 'soup runs' for the homeless so their kids can eat. To some £15 is half an hours pay, a trip to Costa or Starbucks, to other people £15 is their food shopping for a week. Ok sometimes people are just to lazy or too stupid to buy/use lights, but not always.

I've seen a bloke on a £1200 Bianchi with no lights. Couldn't believe it.

(unlit cyclists only feature in 2% of accidents)

 

[cd365]

. Just slow down and look where you are going.

Only problem with this is expecting someone to slow down in case there is an unlit cyclist. It isn't going to happen. On a dark unlit road, weather is fine, they know the road, it is a national speed limit most car drivers will be doing the speed limit, they expect all other road users to take care in ensuring that they are seen, so will not expect the unlit cyclist to suddenly appear from the gloom.

 

[theclaud]

Only problem with this is expecting someone to slow down in case there is an unlit cyclist. It isn't going to happen. On a dark unlit road, weather is fine, they know the road, it is a national speed limit most car drivers will be doing the speed limit, they expect all other road users to take care in ensuring that they are seen, so will not expect the unlit cyclist to suddenly appear from the gloom.

It's on how unlit cyclists are on people's minds enough for them to bang on about them in the pub or the office or start endless threads about them on the interweb, but not enough for them to expect to encounter one on the road...

 

[cd365]

Whatever happened to the bit about being able to stop within the distance you can see?

In the real world that doesn't and won't happen!

 

[cd365]

It's on how unlit cyclists are on people's minds enough for them to bang on about them in the pub or the office or start endless threads about them on the interweb, but not enough for them to expect to encounter one on the road...

Agreed, but they still won't expect when it does happen even though they moan like mad about it!