Cycling at night

[Markymark]

I'm new to cycling and enjoying my commute to work. As a driver in central London for many years I do often struggle to see cyclists at night, particularly the suicidal ones who only have rear lights so I cannot see them in my mirrors when turning.

This has left me VERY hesitant about cycling at night which I've not done yet but will become an issue in the coming weeks due to the earlier sunset.

What advice/words of re-assurance can I get?

Thanks in advance.

 

[marinyork]

Cycling at night is nowhere near as dangerous as is made out. It has its advantages too.

As for cycling in the autumn/winter that's another set of skills and preparing and a similar thing applies to that.

 

[BSRU]

It appears that most drivers give you more room in the darkness, probably because it is difficult to judge where we begin and end.

 

[ianrauk]

Never seem to have any problems cycling at night in London. Street lamps a plenty so it's well lit up...

I go for a steady and a flashing light on both the front and rear. No excuses for car drivers not to see

 

[calibanzwei]

Can't comment on commuting in London, but I go for a flashing headlamp (the main light flashes in addition to having a red flashing rear) in addition to the regular hi-viz/bike lamps - the odd height and flashing nature lets drivers know someone is looking at them...

 

[BentMikey]

Get proper lights, and you won't have a problem. It seems that's all you were worried about in your OP, anyway.

 

[tyred]

I actually feel safer at night. I ride mostly unlit roads and have never had a problem with being seen, I think drivers see me better at night than in the day time and I'm not using anything fancy in the lighting department, just dynamo powered halogen. A hi-vis vest with reflectives is a help as well imo (Many others will disagree ).

 

[BentMikey]

The perception that you feel safer is not matched by the reality, I think.

 

[tyred]

But are the stats for the amount of cyclists injured at night skewed by the type who ride in dark clothing on a black bike with all reflectors removed and no lights? Genuinely curious, not wanting to start an argument!

 

[clarion]

Never seem to have any problems cycling at night in London. Street lamps a plenty so it's well lit up...

I go for a steady and a flashing light on both the front and rear. No excuses for car drivers not to see

This is the key to it. In much of London, the streetlamps are so bright that car drivers sometimes forget to put their headlights on. That wouldn't have happened where I used to live!

But you need to see and be seen. With the emphasis on the latter. I have an IQ Cyo running off a hub dynamo up front, supplemented by a Hope Vision One in flashing mode. You would have to be compltely blind not to see that. Occasionally, I use a Knog Frog for a different flash as well.

At the rear, I have a Smart 1/2 watt and a Fibreflare. In low light, I use the former in flashing mode. When it's dark, that goes to constant, and the Fibreflare is used flashing. It has a lot of WTF-factor, and is visible from a lot of directions. I also have a rear Knog under my saddle. Black reflective stickers on my bike, and the reflective sidewalls on my Marathon Plus tyres help too. Sadly the Durano Plus tyres I normally commute on don't have reflective.

 

[fossyant]

Get some really bright lights, bit of strategic reflectives and you are off. Go for the "OMFG what's that" approach !

 

[dellzeqq]

'at night' covers a multitude of sins. 11.30 is not so good. 03.00 is wonderful.

 

[calibanzwei]

03.00 is wonderful.

+1

 

[Wobblers]

I do rather a lot of night time cycling.

I've experienced far far fewer incidents at night. Far fewer close passes. Almost no one pulling out in front of me. Only one dope pulling out ahead of me on a roundabout (as opposed to the FOUR muppets who've done the same in the last 4 weeks in daylight!). The difference is, at night, motorists are looking for lights: provided you have good lights, you'll be seen. In day time, they're looking for other vehicles, meaning that you may not be noticed because they're just not registering your presence.

So the key is to have good lights, particularly at the front. At a pinch, the Smart Polaris 7 set to flash is good. I tend to use that and have a bright constant light to see by (currently either an XP-G torch or a Moon XPG300). At the back, I'll have too lights, again one on steady and a Smart Superflash on .... errr, flash.

The other thing is that the roads tend to be much quieter: when I go for a spin round Clent in the late evening, usually I'm the only thing on the roads, and even the A456 Halesowen bypass is pretty deserted.

 

[clarion]

If I'm outside the centre of the city, I might just use my Cyo. It's bright enough that some motorists will pause. I guess they think I might be a motorbike, and that suits me.