Rucksack lights-very poor.

[BlackPanther]

During the Winter months I ride with my lights on even in daylight and even if it is sunny.

I never ride without front and rear lights on. Rechargeable batteries keep the costs down.

 

[winjim]

Saw a cyclist tonight with only a front light at head height, and noticed that it took that little bit longer to recognise him as a cyclist, as there weren't any lights lower down. It probably didn't help that we were going uphill and he was going down so exaggerating the height of the light.

Whilst driving I saw an oncoming car pull out into my lane which I thought was a bit odd. It was only on a second look that I noticed the cyclist they were overtaking. The cyclist had a helmet light only but because I was scanning the road at the height I would normally expect to see a front light I had totally failed to see them.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Headlight only makes the object appear further away IMO

 

[I like Skol]

Not rucksack light related but now we are in the darker half of the year I can't help noticing the general poor or non-existent level of lighting employed by some riders. Just on my last commute I encountered a rider who had a matching pair of lights mounted on his handlebars, this is good, except they were so dim that even when quite close up they looked like little more than a distant light reflecting off some chrome!

In total contrast, several times I have encountered a rider/commuter in the wee small hours that has a bit of a light fetish going on. He has a front and rear helmet light, two good bright lights mounted on his handle bars, a rear light on the seat post, a rear light on his rucksack, green flashing LEDs around his elbows and red flashing LRDs around his knees! It makes me feel quite Christmassy every time I see him (And you definitely see him!) I can't help but think that this is slight overkill and I for one couldn't be bothered with the faff of setting up all those lights everytime I headed out on the bike.....

 

[coffeejo]

I have a rear light on my rucksack .... but it's for when I walk to the village in gloomy conditions.

 

[mjr]

I think it is more dangerous when it is sunny because the sun is so low, drivers often have difficulty seeing cyclists.

More so if the cyclist is foolish enough to wear yellow or orange instead of black

 

[mjr]

I'm (pretty) sure that from a legal standpoint, you must have lights fixed to the bike anyway?

Yes. Table III of http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/1/made applies to the vehicle not the rider. Note also that it needs to be fitted central or off-side, not on the kerb side - the same applies to the headlight, which sometimes surprises people with single chainrings who often seem to put the light on the opposite side to the gear lever.

 

[I like Skol]

 

[steveindenmark]

I never ride without front and rear lights on. Rechargeable batteries keep the costs down.

I have just changed to a dynamo hub. It it is even better.

 

[classic33]

View attachment 61907

Did they see them though!

 

[I like Skol]

Did they see them though!

Who?

 

[sheffgirl]

You should ride with panniers not a rucksack. Whats the point of wearing a reflective hi viz jacket then sticking a dark coloured rucksack on your back covering all this?

Lights should be on your bike.

I got a cheap rucksack with a big reflective patch on. I wanted a new bag and one of those Hump covers,but ended up with this, and saved money . It glows well, has been commented on on night rides

 

[The Jogger]

Guilty I have a light on my ruck .........................

This one

https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/1256954/pid1256954-731

 

[steveindenmark]

If you put a light on your rucksack you need someone behind you to tell you it is visible from a distance. Most often it is easier to put a light up near the top handle of a rucksack. But it would really be better placed lower down. Unless you are trying to attract the attention of low flying jets.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Well, I use a rucksack light and a plane has NEVER landed on me.

So you can't tell me they don't work...