Joseph Schlau, August 12, 2022 at 8:34 pm
What was?

A little more?

Beats me…my front light is a blinker as well.

Have to agree with t53h4christ on taking a non-flashing front bike light approach.
I have driven towards cyclists with flashing white headlights and its a pain in the rear. It actually blinded me temporarily when I looked directly at it.
If you are insistent on a flashing front light during the day….make it a red flashing light as your front bike light.

Doesnt hurt to wear bright yellow helmet and bright color jersey as well.

My two cents….

Ben, most if not all states have bicycle laws on the books calling for white lights facing forward and red lights to the rear.  Some of the older laws may even specify a distance from which they must be visible.  Personally, I’d just as soon leave it that way, as when I am a motorist and see a red light (steady or flashing), I don’t have to try to guess whether I’m looking at the front or the back of whatever’s ahead of me.

-“BB”-

While the flashing of the lights is debatable, the colors are fairly standard across the state laws I could find and are as follows: red are rear facing, white are front facing, and yellow are for rear, front, and side facing. This applies to reflectors also.
I use a red light on my seat pack and a white light on the front handlebar that angles down – both lights flashing during the day and both non-flashing on rare night rides.

I have driven towards cyclists with flashing white headlights and its a pain in the rear. It actually blinded me temporarily when I looked directly at it.

It did get your attention which is what they are intended to do. That’s why I, and a large number of cyclists use them and will continue to do so.

If you are insistent on a flashing front light during the day….make it a red flashing light as your front bike light.

Red flashing light facing forward are for police/fire/EMT bikes only.

It is interesting that the guy who started this thread, while RAGBRAI was in progress runs some kind of livery service. Another car driver complaining because he can see bikes too well.

Text 6414645397
Tim “Herbie” Hovick’s Rides and Roadside Assistance

There was a cyclist killed here over the weekend in a hit and run on a route pretty popular with cyclists. I rode it sometimes. I don’t know if this cyclists had lights or not. I am going to make myself as visible as possible using blinking lights if they get driver’s attention.

@Joseph Schlau…..it got my attention, but I see you conveniently didnt address the fact that I was temporarily blinded by it. But its all good.

Secondly….I dont think EMT or police are going to mind a cyclist using a red light on the front of their bike. And I also dont think cops are going to pull you over for a red light on the front of your bike. If they have time for that, then we have bigger issues.

Lastly….I dont use a front light on my bike, only a red flashing light facing the rear. If you are riding with the flow of traffic (as you should be)….chances of you getting hit from a car that is on the opposite lane is pretty low (assuming you are riding right, stopping at red lights and slowing at stop signs, being ever vigilant of the traffic coming towards you).
I worry about traffic coming up my rear more so than in front of me.

This reply was modified 9 months ago by Ben Okiyama.

This reply was modified 9 months ago by Ben Okiyama.

Two of the crashes I was in were with cars that had been facing me, then turned left to cross my path. Both were in broad daylight, and both drivers said they didn’t see me. That is what inspired me to use flashing lights in the daytime. I haven’t had a crash with a car since. Oh, I saw the car opposite waiting to turn so I was watching intently as I approached the intersection. I had the right of way and was doing about 25 mph. I thought surely the driver sees me, surely she does . . . Then slammed on the brakes when she started rolling. But it was too late. I t-boned her car. I was being careful, but it doesn’t always prevent accidents.

Were I driving and saw a red flashing light, I would assume it was a bike facing away from me. It would take a second or three to realize it was a front mounted red light. It would take more time were the bike in the shadows. That would be my excuse if we were to crash. My lawyer would love it because red flashing lights are supposed to be on the rear of a bike.

This reply was modified 9 months ago by LawnchairMan.

it got my attention, but I see you conveniently didnt address the fact that I was temporarily blinded by it.

And I see you conveniently failed to reprint the part “ It actually blinded me temporarily when I looked directly at it.”

You want all sorts of sympathy for being momentarily dazzled by the light but don’t want to acknowledge your contribution by looking right into the beam like a mosquito drawn to a bug light.

Secondly….I dont think EMT or police are going to mind a cyclist using a red light on the front of their bike. And I also dont think cops are going to pull you over for a red light on the front of your bike. If they have time for that, then we have bigger issues.

Traffic laws are usually written with precise specificity as to what is and not allowed. What you must or must not do.

There is however, no wiggle room written in to those laws that that allows you to exempt yourself or others from the rules of the road if you merely “think” they should not apply to you or them. No matter what your attitude is toward law enforcement.

What equipment you choose to hang on your bike is your business just as it is ours.

Even if you personally think “ chances of you getting hit from a car that is on the opposite lane is pretty low” there is still a risk. The chance of winning the lottery are low, but someone gets the lucky number,

If you ride long enough playing the odds you won’t be hit because of your superior riding style, don’t worry your lucky lotto numbers are coming up.

Those of us with years of riding and contacts with cars or near misses understand it takes more than bravado to avoid trouble and choose to equip our bikes with the best lighting technology we can. Your personal assessment of risk is of no relevance to us. Got it?

We have grown weary of hearing yet another motorist say “I never saw him”.

@Joseph Schlau – I see from all your replies to me and others that you are very passionate about this topic, and not necessarily very friendly in your responses either.
But nonetheless let me politely respond:
– Never said I was looking for sympathy. I, as well as a couple of others, were just stating what has and can happen with flashing white lights. You apparently dont care, and that is all good and fine.
– I am all for law enforcement and for following the law. I dont think riding my bike during daytime hours without a front light alludes to anything close to me being anti-law or anti- law enforcement….thats a pretty far stretch Joseph.
– I’ve been cycling for over 30 years for leisure and in competitions. I have had my share of close calls, and thankfully I was able to avoid a terrible outcome in all of them. Not sure where you get that I ride with some bravado attitude…which is grossly inaccurate. Your post almost reveals a secret desire that I get into a bad accident.
Lastly…I’ll continue to use my trusty rear flashing red light on my bike and no front light, and you Joseph use whatever makes you feel safe. And lets leave it at that….Got it…?

To Ben O,
Your last post (previous post. we must have been writing at the same time) made me wonder if we are still talking about daytime riding. You do ride at night with white headlights don’t you? Night riding without headlights is a whole different issue.

To all,
To be fair to Ben and t53h4christ, there are some obscenely bright bicycle lights out there. I assume these are for doing RAAM or other rides where you can’t let your speed outrun your lights. I was once blinded by a bright light before dawn. It was on a trail so we had to come really close. I thought it was dangerous overkill. Bicycle light technology keeps making brighter and longer lasting lights. Until that technology gives us dimmer switches, we need to use some common sense in choosing the intensity appropriate for the situation. I use a Niterider 1100 Boost. It lights the road at night quite well, yet I don’t think it would be blinding in the daylight even in flash mode.

This reply was modified 9 months ago by LawnchairMan.

Joseph use whatever makes you feel safe.

Yes! You finally did get it!

@LawnChairman….yes…I was referring to riding during the day. If I do ride at night, which I dont do very often, I definitely ride with a headlight. But in line with what another person posted……I tilt it down a couple of degrees to get the most light directly in front of me and to avoid blinding a driver at night.

@Joseph….I knew would we come to some common ground… ;)

I just got back from the beach, where my RAGBRAI teammate and I enjoyed a lot of late night cycling on the side roads & parking lots — instead of on the 40 mph main road. It’s very pleasant, comfy, and pretty safe then; with city lighting, but little traffic.

We both have very bright front bike lights, and I find one of best ways is for the leader to have hers on steady, while the follower uses flashing. That way, the path is well lit, but the flashes — which are usually blocked by the leader’s body from direct view by oncoming pedestrians or drivers — make the cars and walls and signs near us announce our presence. So far, so safe!