Trying to promote the use of lights (at UNI)

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Think Sainsbury’s are doing front and rear LEDs for bikes at 49p each at the moment?? I’ll check next time I’m in. 98p not to become an organ donor – bargain if you ask me!!

 

[hackbike 666]

Is it really all about money the reason why people don't bother to have lights?

 

[thomas]

Is it really all about money the reason why people don't bother to have lights?

I think it's more a case of not realising and not being bothered....or never getting around to it.

As I shop in Sainsburys I'm going to look for these cheap lights a few people have said about...£1, you really can't say fairer than that. I wouldn't mind a red light for my rucksack.

 

[Arch]

Sorry Thomas, I'm being deliberately obtuse. My point is that you can see them even without lights. It put me in mind of the guy who spoke to me from his car one day when I was riding a recumbent; 'I can't see you riding that thing'! he said. To which I replied, 'Who are you fecking talking to then?'

We get your point, but as D-rider says, the trouble is not that they are not visible at all, it's that they become visible later than they would be if lit.

 

[hackbike 666]

The latest one I spotted recently which takes the biscuit was red on the front and yellow on the back.

 

[thomas]

The latest one I spotted recently which takes the biscuit was red on the front and yellow on the back.

hah. I've left this a bit now, the evenings are getting brighter again so it now seems to be less of an issue....still see tonnes of piss poor cycling, which puts me on edge whenever I see it, but as long as I'm safe that's the main thing.

 

[hackbike 666]

Nah I still have to use lights as I do shifts,but that one must be the dumbest I have ever seen.

 

[thomas]

Nah I still have to use lights as I do shifts,but that one must be the dumbest I have ever seen.

Yeah, I put lights on back from work the other day, but it wasn't dark, just going a little overcast. The ATK2000 picked everything up just fine so it couldn't of been that dark .

A few people here have crappy yellow front lights and they always seem to have half dead batteries in them....they are put on the front though

 

[hackbike 666]

Wtf are yellow and green lights about?

I bet they sell them on ebay.

 

[Cubist]

Wtf are yellow and green lights about?

I bet they sell them on ebay.

Before front LED lights were white, there were masses of front "be seen" LED on the market, nearly all of which were greeny-yellow. I found a set of Smarts and an "RAC Approved" set in a rummage box the other day. They were both green.

 

[marinyork]

At least one police force has given out green LEDs to students.

 

[thomas]

Wtf are yellow and green lights about?

I bet they sell them on ebay.

If you think yellow and green lights are bad, you should check out what I selotaped on the back of my helmet (found it on the floor at new years in London).

I've got a blue, red, green and yellow rear light . Up to now I've never actually used it, it's just one of those dire emergency kinda lights - if it's very dark and I just fancy having another light on.

Though it's not really road legal, it would make people wonder what it is so hopefully think twice!!

 

[marinyork]

It is on your body and not on your bike, legality wise...

Having seen Christmas lights on bicycles and persons I think proper green lights work very well in an urban environment. It's the underpowered bogey green lights that are the problem.

 

[Freewheeler]

The green LEDs were sold in Tescos. I used one as a standlight on my dynamo setup (I have a white LED for that now).

 

[downfader]

Just got a reply on the lights I bought from sainsbury's last week. My concern was that they were not road legal even if used with legal lights as they are green leds. I had understood green and blue lighting to be reserved for emergency vehicles.

Here is my reply:

Thank you for your email. I understand that you purchased two front cycle lights from our Hedge End store. You are concerned that they do not meet the requirements of the Road Traffic Act as they are green.
We are committed to clear and accurate labelling of everything we sell. We want to provide all the information our customers need to make an informed choice. I am sorry that we have let you down on this occasion.

I have checked the packaging which states that the light is to be used with a lamp that conforms to the BS6102 regulation. This indicates that it is to be used as a secondary light and is legal, used correctly. The labelling also stated that they are not to be used to replace reflectors. However it does not state that the light is green.

I have passed your comments on to our marketing team. Your feed back is very much appreciated. We will continue to monitor this product and take any necessary action. In the meantime, my colleagues in store will be happy to offer an exchange or refund. Please take the lights and receipt to the customer service desk next time you visit our store.

Thank you again for you email. I hope you will be able to take advantage of some of our other great offers.

Kind regards

Customer Manager (name deleted as she's just doing her job)

So what do you guys think on this? Have the done everything they could or should they be using white LEDs?