Is riding on unlight country roads at night suicide?

[Alex321]

Are you sure it's law to have amber side reflectors after 86?

It's a new one on me.

I was going by these
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/1/made
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/17/made

But re-reading Schedule 1 I'm not so sure. I think an ordinary domestic car may be classed as a "passenger vehicle", as the definition of that (refers to Construction and Use Regulations) is :

passenger vehicle

a vehicle constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects.

And Passenger vehicles are excepted from that requirement. When I first read it, I thought passenger vehicles meant buses & minibuses.

 

[tinywheels]

Wheel reflectors are great at junctions - the bike might be side onto a cars headlights - bike lights are often very directional - so very visible from the front or behind - but less so to the side.
I love my reflective trim on the tyres at night - and run some lights on the valve caps that flash - they're great for extra visibility.

I've got those flashing valve lights, they are very good.

 

[Neilka]

It's safe to ride at night, the message is clear. BE SEEN!
Light yourself up. Lights, reflectors, reflective clothing, anything goes. As long as you can be seen.
Most of us drive cars as well as riding bikes and we all see the difference between some donkey riding at night with no lights on a dual carriageway and someone lit up like a Christmas tree!
Who was it that said "Be safe, be seen!"?
Merry Christmas to all 🥳

 

[Oldhippy]

A front light and a back light, 50 odd years of cycling in all road situations, no day glo, no helmet, normal clothes, law abiding and never been killed or knocked off. Confidence is everything!

 

[Andy in Germany]

No, side reflectors are required by law. Indicator repeaters are optional.

As is using them, apparently.

 

[MontyVeda]

A front light and a back light, 50 odd years of cycling in all road situations, no day glo, no helmet, normal clothes, law abiding and never been killed or knocked off. Confidence is everything!

Same here... although i did recently buy one of those 360 reflective rain jackets from Mountain Warehouse; charcoal grey in normal light but quite bright silver when a light hits it. I didn't buy it because it's reflective. I bought it because it was a good 'cycling' fit, on sale and needed a new water resistant overcoat

 

[Andy in Germany]

The problem with "Be safe Be Seen" is that it's used to put pressure on cyclists to wear all kinds of hi viz, and thus absolve motorists of blame for poor driving "He only had two lights and a hi viz vest; how was I supposed to see him?" but also because the connection between the two isn't as strong as people like to claim. Stuttgart's trams are massive, canary yellow and brightly lit at night, yet drivers manage to constantly not see them and cause accidents.

 

[Neilka]

The problem with "Be safe Be Seen" is that it's used to put pressure on cyclists to wear all kinds of hi viz, and thus absolve motorists of blame for poor driving "He only had two lights and a hi viz vest; how was I supposed to see him?" but also because the connection between the two isn't as strong as people like to claim. Stuttgart's trams are massive, canary yellow and brightly lit at night, yet drivers manage to constantly not see them and cause accidents.

There's my advantage of living in "little" Warendorf. No trams 😉

 

[MontyVeda]

Absolutely @Andy in Germany ...excuses like "I didn't see them" or "They came out of nowhere" cannot be viable defences and if used should warrant an additional charge of driving without due care and attention.

 

[Andy in Germany]

There's my advantage of living in "little" Warendorf. No trams 😉

The trams aren't the problem...

 

[biggs682]

Anything that helps you get seen is good.
The reflective band on tyre side walls is great

 

[roley poley]

ankle bands...their movement is an eye catching feature which indicates a cyclist ..and they keep my pant legs out the chain

 

[presta]

ankle bands...keep my pant legs out the chain

Back in the days before I switched to using Ron Hill Bikesters I used to ride in polycotton walking trousers, and I sewed some velcro staps on the bottoms similar to the ones on waterproof overtrousers. Very convenient as you get on & off the bike, you can tighten & release them in seconds.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Wheel reflectors are great at junctions

If they are already swinging round the junction (you are waiting at) wrong side of road you’ll be lucky if they notice.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Those valve lights seem like a good idea

Ones I just looked at have a lot of reviews saying the batteries only last an hour or so - which is hopeless

Seem like a contended for having a self generated power supply - are there any like that?