Cycling at night

[Wobblers]

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

Hmmm. Are you thinking about the statistics that show most cyclists hit at night actually have lights?

That's not too surprising, really. Most unlit cyclists aren't going very far. Whereas I suspect most lit cyclists have longer journeys. I'd expect the overwhelming majority of night time cycling miles will be done by lit cyclists. This will skew the statistics considerably.

 

[marinyork]

Hmmm. Are you thinking about the statistics that show most cyclists hit at night actually have lights?

That's not too surprising, really. Most unlit cyclists aren't going very far. Whereas I suspect most lit cyclists have longer journeys. I'd expect the overwhelming majority of night time cycling miles will be done by lit cyclists. This will skew the statistics considerably.

Quite a few unlit cyclists go a fair old distance vs the typical cyclist, it's just quite a few of them are on pavements.

I think one of the problems with newbies cycling at night is they've spent a whole lot of time gaining experience and getting used to the roads. For cycling at night they have to do this all over again and many of them are wanting to spend very small amounts of time cycling after dark. This then leads to all sorts of other things like is a good set of lights 'worth' buying, is it worth cycling at night at all and so on.

 

[cyberknight]

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

+1

In winter i run 3 superflashes, 1 on the seat post and 1 on each pannier + a helmet mounted rear flasher

On the front i have a magicshine p7 light for unlit country lanes and a 100 lumen bike light as backup/ light for normal roads.

The rack is plastered with reflective s

The pannier bags have reflective strips

Bright yellow windproof with reflective detailing

Reflective armbands

3m spoke reflectors

I think you get the idea

I have found that having lights on the panniers so they give you a wider shape and the reflectives on the panniers making you look wider really make the drivers give you more room.

If you prefer a backpack then get a reflective back pack cover.

 

[BentMikey]

Having a dinotte 400L on strobe on the rear is quite effective. A few times neighbours have mistaken me for a police car stopped on reds only. One neighbour is a policeman himself, and the others thought I was a speed trap and immediately slowed down.

 

[cyberknight]

Nice !

I am seriously considering the MS rear light , i think fossy has one?

 

[marinyork]

Having a dinotte 400L on strobe on the rear is quite effective. A few times neighbours have mistaken me for a police car stopped on reds only. One neighbour is a policeman himself, and the others thought I was a speed trap and immediately slowed down.

I believe the joy of the dinotte is mostly derived in slightly dark or day conditions where you may want people to know you are there.

 

[BentMikey]

I run mine all the time, although during the day that's mostly as a defense against "couldn't see him" excuses from insurance companies.

 

[gaz]

Nice !

I am seriously considering the MS rear light , i think fossy has one?

I got one as well. Very good!

 

[Wobblers]

I got one as well. Very good!

I've got one too. Ironically, I've never used it at night, just on dark, damp days. It's too soon to be sure, but I'm getting the distinct impression that motorists give me a lot more room when I've got it on.

 

[Wobblers]

Quite a few unlit cyclists go a fair old distance vs the typical cyclist, it's just quite a few of them are on pavements.

I think one of the problems with newbies cycling at night is they've spent a whole lot of time gaining experience and getting used to the roads. For cycling at night they have to do this all over again and many of them are wanting to spend very small amounts of time cycling after dark. This then leads to all sorts of other things like is a good set of lights 'worth' buying, is it worth cycling at night at all and so on.

The majority of unlit cyclists I see in Brum are students cycling the mile or so back to Selly Oak. Whereas most cyclists on the Bristol and Hagley Roads are clearly serious commuters (good lights, often panniers, decent road bike or hybrid...). The numbers aren't that different, but I bet the commuters are going rather further!

Of course, this isn't even anec-data, is it? Without decent facts and statistics, we'll never know. But I am very suspicious of the data we have - there's no means of analysing it for bias.

 

[marinyork]

The majority of unlit cyclists I see in Brum are students cycling the mile or so back to Selly Oak. Whereas most cyclists on the Bristol and Hagley Roads are clearly serious commuters (good lights, often panniers, decent road bike or hybrid...). The numbers aren't that different, but I bet the commuters are going rather further!

Of course, this isn't even anec-data, is it? Without decent facts and statistics, we'll never know. But I am very suspicious of the data we have - there's no means of analysing it for bias.

When I say a fair old distance I mean a mile or two and a half. That is the distance many 'typical' cyclists cycle, so it compares well. My full ninja master colleague is somewhat the exception. I cycle gargantuan distances in the dark compared to many 'typical' cyclists, as does the odd hard core commuter.

You are unlikely to get too many studies counting unlit pavement cyclists in the outer reaches of cities in the later hours so there is not that much to go on. I agree there is a problem with the data, especially outside big cycling centres it is difficult.

 

[gaz]

just light up nice and bright
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT3fh6BzSO0[/media]

 

[cyberknight]

When I say a fair old distance I mean a mile or two and a half. That is the distance many 'typical' cyclists cycle, so it compares well. My full ninja master colleague is somewhat the exception. I cycle gargantuan distances in the dark compared to many 'typical' cyclists, as does the odd hard core commuter.

I do a good 5 miles of unlit roads + another 5 on normal lit roads each way even in mid winter before and after sunrise and sunset.

 

[BentMikey]

I have 3 full dark commutes home a week at 23 miles each, even at this time of year.

 

[Norm]

I have far fewer incidents at night, I've never had anyone pull out in front of me at night and I seem to get much more room when cars pass me at night.

Then again, my lights cost as much as the bikes that I attach them to.

Get some good lights, I'd suggest at least two front and rear (solid and flashing) and a good helmet light and you'll soon be enjoying night-time rides much more than those during the daylight. (I've just got home )