Idiots on bikes

[oldstrath]

So if I have no lights I'm a bellend , if my lights are 'too bright' I'm a bellend, if i have the wrong sort of lights, or hivis, or not hivis .... Maybe everyone who believes in collective responsibility for cyclists could get together and agree a definitive list of what we must, and must not, wear, carry or otherwise display?

 

[Shed_head]

I think its a matter of choice, personally I would rather be seen then not, but you do wonder what some people are doing riding with no lights in the dark... Death wish??..

 

[Milkfloat]

Well technically it is a matter of choice, however it is also the matter of the law.

 

[oldstrath]

Well technically it is a matter of choice, however it is also the matter of the law.

I'm aware of that, but I'm really not sure why anyone worries about the behaviour of some cyclists they'll probably never see again. Drivers behaving stupidly are a damn sight more dangerous, but as pointed out earlier, complaints about every one of those we see could crash the internet.

 

[Justinslow]

So if I have no lights I'm a bellend , if my lights are 'too bright' I'm a bellend, if i have the wrong sort of lights, or hivis, or not hivis .... Maybe everyone who believes in collective responsibility for cyclists could get together and agree a definitive list of what we must, and must not, wear, carry or otherwise display?

That's a good point, according to @mjray my lights are illegal (on my bike) and my van is too white (?).
Surely most of us use common sense and fit/switch on lights this time of year or in the dark and wear reasonably colourful clothes? It's not rocket science is it?

 

[mjr]

That's a good point, according to @mjray my lights are illegal (on my bike) and my van is too white (?).
Surely most of us use common sense and fit/switch on lights this time of year or in the dark and wear reasonably colourful clothes? It's not rocket science is it?

No no no, according to THE LAW, your bike lights aren't sufficient (which is subtly different from being illegal). I didn't write the law, else I would probably have come up with something less contrived

I wish most of us used common sense and were lit after dark or when visibility was seriously reduced and realised that dressing like a space lemon isn't necessary and pushed for motorists to be held accountable when they fail to drive so they can stop within what they can see to be clear.

You said that before. I asked you which threads and you couldn't answer. If you take issue with my posts then cite the post, stop making stuff up.

No no no, according to @Justinslow, he'd be a "weird internet stalker, digging up [your] old posts". Much better not to check the truth before defaming another person.

Well technically it is a matter of choice, however it is also the matter of the law.

Not "just now" at 8am yesterday in Suffolk, requiring lights wasn't a matter of the law. Sunrise was before ten to 8.

Now can you all stop posting incorrect things and get back to the funny comments, please?

 

[Shed_head]

How do you know if your bike lights are sufficient?.. Also reading the highway code you must have a red rear reflector and Amber pedal reflectors! Neither of which I run or would choose to run on my road bikes.

 

[mjr]

How do you know if your bike lights are sufficient?

They will be stamped BS6102/3 on the body, or an equivalent marking from another EU country (most often K~ for Germany). If you bought them from any UK shop except Clas Ohlson in the last few years, they're almost certainly not sufficient to meet the law.

And yes, you should have reflectors too. I have pedal and rear reflectors on all my bikes, including the vintage road bike which I think isn't legally required to do so. You can get reflectors for SPDs for sure and probably others, and small white/red reflectors which clip above the brakes.

There's almost no chance of being caught for bad lighting/reflectors these days as long as you have some lights, but if you're not legally lit - especially if you've admitted it on a website - then I think it's wrong to criticise the bad/no lights of others.

 

[Shed_head]

Errr OK, I always run lights even during the day in summer I run a rear light, I haven't criticised anyone for bad lights just said it was a matter of choice but I prefer to be seen. I am a believer in not trusting motorist or any other road user and would rather do whatever I can to be seen and not squashed. I don't know anyone in my cycling groups that run reflectors, its good to know though.

 

[Justinslow]

Errr OK, I always run lights even during the day in summer I run a rear light, I haven't criticised anyone for bad lights just said it was a matter of choice but I prefer to be seen. I am a believer in not trusting motorist or any other road user and would rather do whatever I can to be seen and not squashed. I don't know anyone in my cycling groups that run reflectors, its good to know though.

It's ok, @mjray is criticising me for running "insufficient" lights even though I have two USB bright lights pointed not too high so I can see where I'm going and a strobing LED to make me more visible and two strobing LEDs on the rear!
Apparently I'm not allowed to comment on other cyclists for dumb attire and lighting (lack of) because I have these "insufficient" lights, go figure.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I wouldn't wear high viz unless I am commuting, I always run lights though as my bike is Black as is a lot of my gear. Better to be seen then dead!
Some seriously funny replies on this thread though

Better to be seen than dead indeed. If only lights and hi-viz, or the absence thereof, could be demonstrated to make a difference one way or the other.

I've never yet been in unwanted contact with a car or other motor vehicle whilst wearing black and riding a black bike with no lights.
I have been in unwanted contact with a car or other motor vehicle whilst wearing space-lemon and riding a green/white/purple bike with very VERY bright lights.

What conclusions can be drawn from the collected anecdata of CC versus, say, the conclusions published in books like The Invisible Gorilla?

 

[glenn forger]

You're the victim here justin, people should remember that I reckon.

 

[mjr]

Strobe lights

Isn't it reasonable to expect people to get themselves up to the legal minimum before criticising others?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You sir clearly have a death wish.

Begging for it. Stuff the two huge mahoosively powerful headlights on the average car, just drive on through the cyclist playing the "came out of nowhere dressed in black, no lights" card.

It is a wonder car drivers manage to stay on the black unlit carriageways hereabouts rather than hooning into and across the fields....

 

[Justinslow]

Strobe lights

Isn't it reasonable to expect people to get themselves up to the legal minimum before criticising others?

Well they flash? A couple of quid from Halfords I don't know what the correct terminology is.