Safe Speed Forums

Can somebody tell me when it became optional to use lights at night whilst riding a bike?

Of the 20 or so bike users I saw the other night while working only 2 had any form of lighting and one of those only had a rear LED type light. None had Hi-Viz clothing and most wore dark or black coloured tops.

Not having any lights on bicycle - one of our pet hates here. We do prosecute and and issue the fixed fine of £30. We have given this power to some of the PCSOs too.


In bright sunny weather - sometimes the dark colour stands out more than the yellow hi-viz. (I think the bright orange one or the rather lurid green one stands out quite well in the sunshine )

However, I heard something interesting about dark colours and hot weather. Ever wondered why we feel "hotter" in a black cotton T shirt and cooler in a white or pale coloured one?


It seems the light colours reflect and deflect the hot sun whereas the dark colours will absorb it. I think this might be why summer clothing has always been traditionally ligher and brigher colours and our winter choices dark and "drabber".


I suppose when th cyclists get wind of this ... white will become the "new black"



No .. I never understood how a new colour becoming "the fashion for the dedicated follower" can become the "new black" either. I blame "New Lay-bah!"

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

[quote="In Gear

No .. I never understood how a new colour becoming "the fashion for the dedicated follower" can become the "new black" either. I blame "New Lay-bah!" [/quote]

IG- if you're refering to to the change from HI VIS YELLOW to HI VIS ORANGE - that was the EU to blame -aparently they decided that all HI VIS should be Orange . (never asked the UK-just decided that this should be case .)

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Already paid too much tax, no money left for lights?

_________________
Andrew.

Lights - apart from the few dedicated ones left -I find most pedallists are blind to the traffic light colours and ignorant to the fact that being seen (day or night )is a prerogaritive to staying safe -most seem to think that the footpath is a conveniant place to jump on to to avoid having to wait at lights.
At night - few seem to think that being seen is necessary - most seem to think like the majority of car drivers when around a van - "I can see him -so ERGO - he MUST be able to see me " - perhaps we might get a few truckers on here and investigate (and debunk) this theory ?? Perhaps in doing so we might advance the course of road safety .(perhaps we should make all road users spend time in /with all sorts of vehicle )---seems to be some sort of imbalance between road users.

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

It seems to me that cyclists and pedestrians feel that the only people who have to obey the laws and watch what is going on around them on the roads, are those of us in or on motor vehicles!

I can see where this comes from, as motorists are so persecuted and seem to get the blame whatever the situation, and especially if they happen to hit or injure, or worse, anyone more vulnerable. What about the motorists being vulnerable to stupidly low speed limits in some areas, totally irresponsible idiots on bikes or on foot and parents who are obviously not safe to be out on their own, never mind with a child to take care of!

At the end of the day, if a motorist hits a cyclists at night because the cyclist had no lights and was in dark clothing, it will still be the motorist who will be done for driving without due care and attention, or something.

Many years ago, when I live in Oxford there was a drive on vehicle lighting and people were being stopped for not using lights when appropriate and given on the spot fines. Funnily enough, the most offenders were cyclists - Oxford being a University town. Huge numbers of cyclists were fined, but some complained to their MP or whatever and the police ended up having to repay every single cyclist their fine as it was decided the exercise was only supposed to be aimed at drivers!