Rider with no front light

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I've never ridden a bike where you can't turn off the lights every bike I've had (granted none have been less then 10 years old) have had a separate switch to turn them off. Not sure I'd want to ride a bike where you can't switch them off, I never used to ride with headlight on unless I was filtering.

My first motorbike in 2004 was headlight always on, even riding older stuff later in my career I flicked headlight on.

IIRC 2003/4 is when auto headlight became a thing

 

[mjr]

Yes, it's in the UK regulations (Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations).

Actually, I can't find it in there. Is it there or is it being snuck in through type approvals?

 

[Twizit]

I've never ridden a bike where you can't turn off the lights every bike I've had (granted none have been less then 10 years old) have had a separate switch to turn them off. Not sure I'd want to ride a bike where you can't switch them off, I never used to ride with headlight on unless I was filtering.

Afraid it's the way of the world (well the UK at least) now. The bikes I've had have all been 2005 on, and I've never had the option of turning off my lights - unless I resort to a bit of modified wiring. I guess it's whatever you get used to.

 

[Twizit]

Actually, I can't find it in there. Is it there or is it being snuck in through type approvals?

Dunno, but thanks for having a look anyway, and noting the UK / EU bit!

 

[rossw46]

Oh man, do I have experience now with this ! Cycling home yesterday eve on the canal towpath, pitch black, no bother as I have a pretty good front light. Suddenly, I just about make out a very dark figure approaching, and slam on the brakes so much so that my back wheel locked up. Into my light appears an older chap, on a bicycle, dressed in dark clothing, with 2 dark coloured dogs, one almost certainly being a Doberman, he starts shouting that he can't see anything etc. followed by a FFS !!!!!!!! I initially said sorry, then the brief shock went away, and I asked him where his F'ing lights were, to which he proceeded to call me a F'ing w***er, to which I responded with a few choice words of my own. He got very irate, and with 2 large dogs I thought better of it, TBH I avoid confrontation at all costs anyway, but I was gobsmacked at his response. If he'd had any form of light, I'd have turned my down like I do with all other oncoming cyclists, but cycling on the towpath in pitch black with no lights or reflective clothing and 2 large dark dogs running all over the path is the action of an absolute idiot !

Had a chuckle at it this morning, all captured on my helmet-cam, oh the language !

 

[mythste]

Oh man, do I have experience now with this ! Cycling home yesterday eve on the canal towpath, pitch black, no bother as I have a pretty good front light. Suddenly, I just about make out a very dark figure approaching, and slam on the brakes so much so that my back wheel locked up. Into my light appears an older chap, on a bicycle, dressed in dark clothing, with 2 dark coloured dogs, one almost certainly being a Doberman, he starts shouting that he can't see anything etc. followed by a FFS !!!!!!!! I initially said sorry, then the brief shock went away, and I asked him where his F'ing lights were, to which he proceeded to call me a F'ing w***er, to which I responded with a few choice words of my own. He got very irate, and with 2 large dogs I thought better of it, TBH I avoid confrontation at all costs anyway, but I was gobsmacked at his response. If he'd had any form of light, I'd have turned my down like I do with all other oncoming cyclists, but cycling on the towpath in pitch black with no lights or reflective clothing and 2 large dark dogs running all over the path is the action of an absolute idiot !

Had a chuckle at it this morning, all captured on my helmet-cam, oh the language !

Normally I'm pretty on the fence when it comes to being blinded by lights vs not having any lights, but in this instance I'd like to withhold judgement until I see that footage!

 

[rossw46]

I'd have to cut the footage down, will see what I can do. I have 2 questions for you though, being on the fence : 1) Is cycling on a pitch black narrow canal towpath with no lights, 2 black dogs, and dark clothing a good idea ? 2) My light may be bright, is it any different to driving in your car on a dark country lane on high-beams, and then dipping them on seeing another car approaching ?

 

[mjr]

At a cost of £860,000 IIRC. I've a FoIA WTF awaiting response from TFL at the moment.

They've replied with most of the report and said they'd checked with DfT but not whether they asked a lawyer so I suspect not. I've not read it yet, so would welcome any comments pointing out things to look out for: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/test_results_of_blaze_laser_ligh#incoming-898056

 

[Dan B]

Allegedly both BMW and Audi are instigating a massive recall after a few of their vehicles were spotted with working indicators

False alarm. It was actually a wiring fault causing one of the hazard lights not to come on

 

[Mugshot]

1) Is cycling on a pitch black narrow canal towpath with no lights, 2 black dogs, and dark clothing a good idea ?

Well, I always have my lights on when it's dark enough to need them to see. But as for others and I suppose specifically your gentleman I would say it may well depend on how fast he was going, if he's pootling along how much different is he really than somebody that's out walking two black dogs and wearing dark clothing? I caught up to a cyclist last winter on a local pitch black path that had no lights, I asked if they were ok as you couldn't see your hand in front of your face it was that dark, they replied that they had lights but prefered riding by the starlight when they could.

2) My light may be bright, is it any different to driving in your car on a dark country lane on high-beams, and then dipping them on seeing another car approaching ?

The problem is when people don't dip them or cover them up, I've got blooming bright lights which I use on the darkest sections but I always cover them or switch to a lower setting when I see someone approaching, the amount of people that don't drives me nuts as you can't see a thing, me shouting at others to cover their lights up is a regular occurance through the winter. Although in your situation I could understand why this may not have been possible. However, it's worth considering that if you had to do an emergency stop which resulted in locking your wheels up you were going faster than you could effectively see despite the brightness of your light.