[SDCBC] Bike mantra: If it's night [or there's traffic then anytime], use a light

[William McHargue]

On Dec 30, 2007, at 3:07, sdcbc-request at bikesandiego.org wrote:

> Bike mantra: If it's night, use a light

I use, and strongly recommend others to use, a bright headlight even  
during the daytime if you ride in traffic. Ever notice how motorcycles  
(and even many cars) ride with lights on during the day? There is a  
good reason for that: without a light you don't standout against a  
background.

Although there are others, the best example I can give is riding along  
a street with parked cars. If a vehicle enters the street with one or  
more cars between you and them, even bright bike clothes will scarcely  
standout when seen through several panes of auto glass. But a (very)  
bright headlight will produce enough of a twinkle to catch the  
driver's attention. A similar case can be made for those semi-fisheye  
right side rearview mirrors.

I also believe that there is a subconscious effect in that a light  
represents something potentially dangerous and may make the driver  
pause (if only for a fraction of a second) or take a second look,  
which may make enough of a difference to avoid an accident.

People tell me as I pass them "Hey, your light's on...". There is  
never time for a comeback, but if there were I'd say "I know, why  
isn't yours!?".


Ride safely,

Bill.