Cyclist going over board with lighting

L-M

Fair enough, I understand the whole "Be safe be seen" concept but this was beyond the joke.

Driving from where I live to town I can go down a kinda bad road, but used ALOT by people. At two points the road narrows a small bit due to trees being there.

Anywho, along I drive and come up to one of the narrow bits and this incredibly bright light (As blinding as a full beam of a truck) appears, I genuinely could not see a thing and then I noticed a smaller light lower down, and then I spotted the high vis jacket. I nearly crashed into the bloody tree because of it.

As I say being seen on a badly lit road is essential (I met someone walkin on the same road without any hi vis on them last week and they were impossible to see) but the light of this cyclist was beyond a joke.

/Rant

colm_mcm

Bleeding cyclists


The rear of the new saab 95 is really distracting at night

Bigus

Well he proved a point you nearly crashed into the tree rather than him .... fair play to him a cyclist can never have enough lights:;)

skyhighflyer

As a car enthusiast and a cyclist, you can never be too lit up on a bike. Assuming that whatever lighting he had on his bike was powered by Duracell batteries, I find it hard to believe that it was more blinding than the full beam of a truck, no offence intended.

L-M

skyhighflyer wrote: »

As a car enthusiast and a cyclist, you can never be too lit up on a bike. Assuming that whatever lighting he had on his bike was powered by Duracell batteries, I find it hard to believe that it was more blinding that the full beam of a truck, no offence intended.

It was on his head , what ever it was. I'm not a man to lie just for a forum post, I genuinely could not see a thing, it was a very, very blinding light. Maybe he/she was looking at me as I drove close and it followed his head and beamed straight at me, but it was lethal. I wouldn't want to crash into a poxy tree :mad:

Voodoomelon

I came across a neighbour out on a bike wearing one of them headband yokes, it was fairly blinding and he was a good 50 metres away.

skyhighflyer

Limerick man wrote: »

It was on his head , what ever it was. I'm not a man to lie just for a forum post, I genuinely could not see a thing, it was a very, very blinding light. Maybe he/she was looking at me as I drove close and it followed his head and beamed straight at me, but it was lethal. I wouldn't want to crash into a poxy tree :mad:

Fair enough, I suppose it could be like a lad shining a maglite into your eyes then you wouldn't see a lot else. Was out for a spin on the bike today, was lit up and with a hi viz and I was still bricking it when it got dark, dangerous enough weather to be out on a bike.

maddness

The cyclist was too visible.....heard it all now.;)

L-M

maddness wrote: »

The cyclist was too visible.....heard it all now.;)

That's such a stupid post.

cml387

Also speaking as a cyclist/motorist, you would be surprised how bright is the light from a high intensity led.

These are 1200 lumen and you can get brighter.

Hey OP. Sounds lile the guy may have had something like this on his helmet. I have one as well. It has a very tightly focused beam and is blinding when pointed straight at you. For this reason I try to avoid aiming it straight into motorists eyes (unless I think they haven't seen me, e.g. when they're exiting a side road in front of me).

Anyhoo I guess all you can do in this situation is what you would do if blinded by an oncoming motorist who didn't dip their lights. Keep your gaze down and to the left, and flash your fulls briefly to let them know they are blinding you. Beyond that I don't think there's much you can do. I don't think there's much legislation re bike lights being too bright, normally the oppossite is the problem!

challengemaster

skyhighflyer wrote: »

As a car enthusiast and a cyclist, you can never be too lit up on a bike. Assuming that whatever lighting he had on his bike was powered by Duracell batteries, I find it hard to believe that it was more blinding than the full beam of a truck, no offence intended.

I suggest you do a bit of research into high intensity LED's then, you'll find it much easier to believe.

galwaytt

skyhighflyer wrote: »

As a car enthusiast and a cyclist, you can never be too lit up on a bike. Assuming that whatever lighting he had on his bike was powered by Duracell batteries, I find it hard to believe that it was more blinding than the full beam of a truck, no offence intended.

You need to catch up.

I cycle, and a friend of mine does - his 800 lumen light is as bright as the headlight on my Harley.......and he's changing up to a 1200 one. Poorly aimed, they are, frankly, dangerous. Someone is going to get hit, yet, for want of a bit of care in using them

Voodoomelon

Indeed, I sell Klarus XT10 tactical flashlights in my shop, see here: http://taclight.co.uk/klarus-torches/xt10-xml.html

470 lumens and they'd burn your eyes out of your head within 20 metres, genuinely impossibly bright flashlights.

But as mentioned above, there are completely unsuitable for use on a bicycle, even if you could clip one to your head or bike I would highly suggest against it, its like driving with full beams on the whole time.

kirving

Since I got a 1 Watt Strobe LED back bike light, I notice cars give me about double the room on the road. I was flashed by a Garda motorbike before for aiming the my front light too high just after I got it.

I don't mean to blind people with the rear one, but if it forces a driver to notice me I'm all for it. Poorly aimed however, yes they can be dangerous.

NIMAN

I think its silly saying that cyclists are too visible, but they should show some consideration themselves. Nothing worse if they turn into the equivalent of those idiots who drive with full beams on.

I wish some of the pedestrians would take a leaf out of the cyclists book. I nearly knocked a guy down a couple of weeks back along a country road. This road has no street lighting of course, but he was wearing very dark clothes, walking a black dog (I kid you not), and has no torch or high-vis vest on. There is no pavement, only a grass verge. I would say I was inches away from him. Got a fright.

Some people are thick as fcuk. Taking risks with their lives for the few quid it would take to buy a reflective vest.

Ardennes1944

Anyone who wants a magnificent torch for cheap just put cree torch into ebay. 6 of my dads workmates have bought various ones upon seeing ours. Amazing light from an smd

CianRyan

I use to have ( broke ) a petzl head torch for hill walking and mountaineering, I've never seen a more powerful lamp. Could very well have been wearing something like that if it was head height. Be mad to wear on a bike though. My bike lamps are bright enough for me to be well spotted but you have to be careful with the aim.

As for ninja ped's, there are some mental people out there.
If I'm walking anywhere at night I throw on my hi-vis cycling jacket (not vest) and it's amazing how much more attention I get.
Why do you only have to be safe on a bike? Mad...

CJhaughey

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Anyone who wants a magnificent torch for cheap just put cree torch into ebay. 6 of my dads workmates have bought various ones upon seeing ours. Amazing light from an smd

Lidl had them last week for 15 euro or so, 3 D cells.

seanybiker

If you seen him sure that's the point? Them people going around in cars and bikes with the hid(I think) lights should be put off the road. Ya do be blind

MugMugs

seanybiker wrote: »

If you seen him sure that's the point? Them people going around in cars and bikes with the hid(I think) lights should be put off the road. Ya do be blind

An eye for an eye then? He can be seen safely. Dazzling the operator of a tonne and a half piece of metal while moving is a pretty bad idea in my opinion as I as the cyclist won't come out of it better than him.

Cookie_Monster

Just like fog lights, cycle light can be blinding if they're aimed wrong. They should be aimed at the road and slightly off to the left so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic, not straight ahead

gbee

Over safety often has a negative effect. The blinding light could easily lead to disaster for both parties concerned.

A blinded motorist tends to panic and drive towards the light ~ it's a factor in head-on night-time collisions. One will remember how hard it was to steer to one's own side of the road when learning to drive at night.

Too much reflective gear is also not good in total darkness, full body light clothing is effective an reassuring to the driver, A few reflective strips alone can look like road signage and be ignored by drivers.

RobAMerc

as a car nut and a commuter cyclist I can honestly say that if you had a WW2 searchlight on you half of the toolbags out there would still not see you or see you and still pull out in front of you :mad:

sorry for the rant but it's sickening ( as are driving standards here generally )

MugMugs

RobAMerc wrote: »

as a car nut and a commuter cyclist I can honestly say that if you had a WW2 searchlight on you half of the toolbags out there would still not see you or see you and still pull out in front of you :mad:

sorry for the rant but it's sickening ( as are driving standards here generally )

And they're off!

henryporter

I think the statistics speak for themselves in this regard http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Our-Research/Deaths-injuries-on-Irish-roads/- more pedestrians than cyclists getting killed on the roads, better to be seen and be safe than not at all IMO

RobAMerc

MugMugs wrote: »

And they're off!

????? Am I being branded a cycling evangelist now ?

L-M

henryporter wrote: »

I think the statistics speak for themselves in this regard http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/Our-Research/Deaths-injuries-on-Irish-roads/- more pedestrians than cyclists getting killed on the roads, better to be seen and be safe than not at all IMO

It's not better safe be seen when you take into account what I have highlighted below. The bright light caused me to swerve and slam on the breaks, I think I'd have done alot more damaged if I lost control that what the cyclist would have done. His HI Vis jacket shone and that's the only way I knew it was a cyclist from a bloody truck!

MugMugs wrote: »

An eye for an eye then? He can be seen safely. Dazzling the operator of a tonne and a half piece of metal while moving is a pretty bad idea in my opinion as I as the cyclist won't come out of it better than him.

gbee

henryporter wrote: »

I think the statistics speak for themselves in this regard - more pedestrians than cyclists getting killed on the roads, better to be seen and be safe than not at all IMO

Better to take avoiding action and assume one cannot be seen. Better not walk between truck and trailer or behind a reversing truck with bleeper and lights flashing and so on.

conorcan2

I think cyclists should use a red light for the rear, it seems to be less intense.

My headstrapped light is definately too bright to shine into somebodies eyes, there's a warning on the packet against doing it, but even at a distance (especially in the dark) it's a very focussed light (they are magnified*).

*or whatever the opposite of magnified is...focused?

Chris_Heilong

Cyclists should be banned from cycling at night, if you dont have a car then use public transport, being on the road is a danger to themselves and others.

Chris_Heilong

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Cyclists should be banned from cycling at night, if you dont have a car then use public transport, being on the road is a danger to themselves and others.

MugMugs

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Cyclists should be banned from cycling at night, if you dont have a car then use public transport, being on the road is a danger to themselves and others.

That's the most idiotic statement I've ever read here. Congratulations.

MugMugs

RobAMerc wrote: »

MugMugs wrote: »

And they're off!

????? Am I being branded a cycling evangelist now ?

Probably not actually. I drive over 30k miles a year. I cycle the rest for exercise and for the adrenaline kick of which lamp will take me out. Reflectively, you're statement isn't far off the truth. Which is sad

Del2005

I was blinded by a cyclist with handlebar mounted lights. They where brighter than the lights on my motorcycle.

I think what the problem is is that the lights have no dip ability, the cyclist needs to see on dark roads but should show consideration to other road users and switch the powerful lights off or aim them lower when meeting traffic.

gk5000

Yes was blinded (and shocked/surprised) by a cyclist on the Oldcourt/Killakee road yesterday evening.

Does anyone post in the cycling forums, to alert to the fact that this is dangerous, similar to not dipping car lights - or even those ejjits who shine led's at pilots.

And I guess they could/should be done for something like ..inconsideration to other road users.

-Chris-

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Just like fog lights...

Oh no she didn't!!!

galwaycyclist

On the original topic some head torches can be very blinding and if worn at a "useful" angle by a cyclist it would be very hard to avoid pointing in an oncoming motorists eyes if you were looking around normally.

gbee wrote: »

Over safety often has a negative effect. The blinding light could easily lead to disaster for both parties concerned.

A blinded motorist tends to panic and drive towards the light ~ it's a factor in head-on night-time collisions. One will remember how hard it was to steer to one's own side of the road when learning to drive at night.

Too much reflective gear is also not good in total darkness, full body light clothing is effective an reassuring to the driver, A few reflective strips alone can look like road signage and be ignored by drivers.

The same issue applies with cyclists. A blinded cyclist will instinctively move further out from the edge of the road.

THIS is one of the most powerful arguments against a focus on telling cyclists to use hi viz/retroreflective clothing rather than just getting them to use legal lights.

The problem with hi viz/retroreflective clothing is that it can make motorists reluctant to dip their headlights - the reflective object "disappears". People who wear hi viz/retroreflective clothing rather than use lights may make themselves more vulnerable to blinding.

projectgtr

Right so the lads lights were angled wrong, like about 90% of cars on the road right now :mad:, what did you do after the incident? if it was me i would have stopped and let the cyclist know that his lights are blinding, how the hell else is he supposed to know?? this is coming from someone who loves cars but also spends alot of time on the roads on my bike

projectgtr

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Cyclists should be banned from cycling at night, if you dont have a car then use public transport, being on the road is a danger to themselves and others.

please tell me your a troll, with a stupid comment like that i hope you are.

L-M

projectgtr wrote: »

Right so the lads lights were angled wrong, like about 90% of cars on the road right now :mad:, what did you do after the incident? if it was me i would have stopped and let the cyclist know that his lights are blinding, how the hell else is he supposed to know?? this is coming from someone who loves cars but also spends alot of time on the roads on my bike

Happened so quick I didn't have time to think about stopping. Wasn't the best point in the road to be stopping either!

glic71rods46t0

There seems to be a lot of cyclists who are also motorists/motorists who are also cyclists.
We need more legislation to force cyclists to behave with due consideration to other road users. Personally I would like a new regime where cyclists who have drivers licence would have penalty points applied to their motoring licence when being selfish inconsiderate road users. Younger cyclists would have their acculated points applied when they apply for their first licence. It would result in a complete change of behaviour by cyclists.
Their rights on teh road would be matched with responsibilities!

L-M

t3kcan527jmfwy wrote: »

There seems to be a lot of cyclists who are also motorists/motorists who are also cyclists.
We need more legislation to force cyclists to behave with due consideration to other road users. Personally I would like a new regime where cyclists who have drivers licence would have penalty points applied to their motoring licence when being selfish inconsiderate road users. Younger cyclists would have their acculated points applied when they apply for their first licence. It would result in a complete change of behaviour by cyclists.
Their rights on teh road would be matched with responsibilities!

Could say the same for horse + sulky.

redzerologhlen

t3kcan527jmfwy wrote: »

There seems to be a lot of cyclists who are also motorists/motorists who are also cyclists.
We need more legislation to force cyclists to behave with due consideration to other road users. Personally I would like a new regime where cyclists who have drivers licence would have penalty points applied to their motoring licence when being selfish inconsiderate road users. Younger cyclists would have their acculated points applied when they apply for their first licence. It would result in a complete change of behaviour by cyclists.
Their rights on teh road would be matched with responsibilities!

It would never work though and is a bit unrealistic. I dont think penalty points would solve anything. Any cyclist heading out in the dark doesnt do it to endanger themselves and would like to be as careful as possible. A bit more awareness is whats needed I think, Blinding oncoming traffic is just as dangerous as having no light for the cyclist. If they knew they were doing it I am sure 99% of cyclists would adjust their lamps. I would be more in favour of a fine for pedestrians walking along unlit roads with no visibilty vest/jacket/armband at night because speaking from personal experience I have been left shaking more than once after coming along a country road to meet someone walking against me and not see them until the last second and then have to take evasive action. Realistically that will probably never happen either though. Havnt had any close calls with cyclists really but I can see where ye are coming from with it, Have a led flash light and you would be dazzled for a few seconds if you shone it on your eyes. Its of no benefit to the cyclist to dazzle oncoming motorists because in a collision the cyclist is always going to be the worse off.

Mycroft H

I'm pretty sure that cyclist may not display a light further then 5 feet above the road, its in the road traffic act somewhere.

This would rule out many of the stupidly bright helmet lights designed for trail use if it was actually enforced.

However, I believe its the lesser of two evils, I'd rather be lit up then go ninja on the roads

Hal1

He probably had his headlight misaligned.

challengemaster

t3kcan527jmfwy wrote: »

There seems to be a lot of cyclists who are also motorists/motorists who are also cyclists.
We need more legislation to force cyclists to behave with due consideration to other road users. Personally I would like a new regime where cyclists who have drivers licence would have penalty points applied to their motoring licence when being selfish inconsiderate road users. Younger cyclists would have their acculated points applied when they apply for their first licence. It would result in a complete change of behaviour by cyclists.
Their rights on teh road would be matched with responsibilities!

I'm not sure if it's funny or not that you don't know this, but a bike is classified as a vehicle and is subject to the road traffic act, so any offenses committed on a bike can be applied to a driving license. This would include driving without reasonable consideration for road users.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/injured-cyclist-gets-driving-ban-for-breaking-red-light-2228117.html

Del2005

gk5000 wrote: »

Does anyone post in the cycling forums, to alert to the fact that this is dangerous, similar to not dipping car lights - or even those ejjits who shine led's at pilots.

And I guess they could/should be done for something like ..inconsideration to other road users.

Yes

galwaytt

Del2005 wrote: »

I think what the problem is is that the lights have no dip ability

...actually, the ones I've seen, do have a dip facility.....

Del2005

galwaytt wrote: »

...actually, the ones I've seen, do have a dip facility.....

I only found this out in the Cycling fourm:o

galwaytt

galwaytt wrote: »

...actually, the ones I've seen, do have a dip facility.....

Rarely as easy to use as the dip facility in a car though. It would be nice to have a light that had one dedicated switch for changing between high and medium settings when meeting oncoming traffic, rather than having to cycle through high/blinding 1000 lumen tactical strobe/ surprise! now I'm off and you're in the ditch/low/medium/high.

I suppose you can just angle it down manually but that's a bit of a faff as well.

Anyhoo I digress. The best solution I've found is to ensure that the light is aimed slightly down and left, like the dipped beam in a car. Helmet mounted lights are great for "dipping" as all you've to do is point your head left a bit. Sounds like the cyclist in the OP wasn't aware how blinding his light was.