The best rear light position

[Jody]

It might be a good idea to check that it does actually point in the right direction.

No need as I look forward the vast majority of time when cycling.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Oh well - it's still better than nothing!


The driver should be able to see you. If they're so close that they can't see a light on your seatpost, or if they can't see a light at all, they farking well shouldn't be driving, let alone holding a lorry licence.

Im hardly going to stop every lorry driver behind me and ask if they saw me or to check their license though. Its not my job to and id rather they see me then not see me regardless of how close they are. Should they be that close? of course not. But there are many drivers that pass cyclists close enough to tickle them every day and not a lot seems to get done about them.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Surprised no one has quoted the CTC:

"Rear Lamp

One is required, to show a red light, positioned centrally or offside, between 350mm and 1500mm from the ground, at or near the rear, aligned towards and visible from behind. If capable of emitting a steady light it must be marked as conforming to BS3648, or BS6102/3, or an equivalent EC standard.


If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candela."

 

[ianrauk]

No need as I look forward the vast majority of time when cycling.

I think you would be surprised at how much you actually don't.

 

[Jody]

I think you would be surprised at how much you actually don't.

But when the light emitted is 35 degrees from centre then a fair amount of tilt can still be acceptable and the light be seen. Plus its only a secondry light

 

[ianrauk]

Plus its only a secondry light

That's fair enough.

Being in London I do see a fair few cycle commuters with just the one light on the back of their plastic hat and more often then not, the light is either obscured by a back pack or it's tilted/facing at a wrong angle.

 

[Archeress]

Because I'm commuting in and out of University, I have racks on both bikes to carry my laptop pannier and an ortlieb. I find a Smart Lunar on the reflector mount of the rack is a really good place as it's right at the back of the bike and hard to miss. I also have a Cateye Volt 50 mounted on the saddle rails so it's a little higher. Mind you, I didn't appreciate quite how bright the Cateye was when I bought it, I don't think I'll use it if I go out with the Fridays in May, just the Smart Lunar. For the Cateye, think about rear fog lights, but a bit brighter again, but not quite as bright as a laser pointer.

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[ufkacbln]

Surprised no one has quoted the CTC:

"Rear Lamp

One is required, to show a red light, positioned centrally or offside, between 350mm and 1500mm from the ground, at or near the rear, aligned towards and visible from behind. If capable of emitting a steady light it must be marked as conforming to BS3648, or BS6102/3, or an equivalent EC standard.


If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candela."

Lighting is complex, there was a Cateye light some time ago with BS 6102/3 validation

Unfortunately it was for the reflector part, not the full light


The other problem is that there are lights that satisfy the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations that are not BS6102/3 compatible, and vice-versa

The practical solution for most lighting and the approach that I tend to use is a "legal" light for insurance reasons and. "Backup light" that actually works

 

[MontyVeda]

All of you who advocate helmet or rucksack mounting, have you had someone else ride behind you and give feedback on how effective the placement is? I see people with a helmet mounted light obscured by a rucksack, or a rucksack mounted light pointing skywards.

Same goes for saddle bag lights... I've seen a handful of folk who's overcoat completely obscures it. I've also seen the rucksack issue too.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Lighting is complex, there was a Cateye light some time ago with BS 6102/3 validation

Unfortunately it was for the reflector part, not the full light


The other problem is that there are lights that satisfy the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations that are not BS6102/3 compatible, and vice-versa

The practical solution for most lighting and the approach that I tend to use is a "legal" light for insurance reasons and. "Backup light" that actually works

Agreed, but It was the height quoted that interested me - between 350 and 1500mm - about 14" and 5 feet (!). Have to be a rather large bike to have a light at 5 feet, assuming that this refers to lights fixed to the bike itself, perhaps this is to cover 'ordinary' riders?

 

[ufkacbln]

Agreed, but It was the height quoted that interested me - between 350 and 1500mm - about 14" and 5 feet (!). Have to be a rather large bike to have a light at 5 feet, assuming that this refers to lights fixed to the bike itself, perhaps this is to cover 'ordinary' riders?

You think YOU have problems!

Try riding a recumbent trike!

 

[classic33]

All of you who advocate helmet or rucksack mounting, have you had someone else ride behind you and give feedback on how effective the placement is? I see people with a helmet mounted light obscured by a rucksack, or a rucksack mounted light pointing skywards.

On the nights I've used one carried in the mesh pocket of the rucksack, I've been told they didn't know what the light was, or that it wasn't legal as it was flashing.

Response was that they'd seen it and me. Also it was a "be seen light" attached to the person, not the bike and entirely legal.

 

[mjr]

Its not my job to and id rather they see me then not see me regardless of how close they are. Should they be that close? of course not.

If they're that close, should your first thought be "I'm glad my light is visible to them"? Of course not. Probably something like "get me the fark out of here" would be more useful.