My back light is too bright

Jawgap · 09-12-2014 04:42PM

alcyst wrote: »

A bus driver let me know she thought my back light was too bright this morning. We were stopped at lights and she opened the door to talk. The light is an Exposure Blaze.

Irony is, the previous day a driver (possibly on the same route) had squeezed me out of road space. This happened about 300m further on, where Dame Street narrows by the Georges St junction.

You're ok OP, it was only a bus driver - if it was a taxi driver then you'd have to change your lights, because they're always right

I use shockingly powerful lights on my bike - so if I do get clipped the person who does it will not be able to say they didn't see me. Saying that they are angled downwards, including the rear light to create a 'splash' which I think helps, especially on unlit roads.

I think if you are 'wearing' lights higher up the body (I've one on the lid and if I have a rucksack one goes on that) then lower power flashing units are better and more courteous to other road users.

there seems, imo, to have started a recent trend with some very bright helmet-mounted forward facing lights which can be quite dazzling.

And just as an aside, my lights got me stopped by the Guards once - a motorbike Garda turned and came after me because of their brightness. He was more interested in seeing what they were than giving me a ticking off, but he did suggest angling them down more than I had.

......and final story, stopped once at a blocked road where a Guard was re-directing traffic from a fire. Asked what was the best detour and despite being lit up like Aviva Stadium, the Guard questioned me as to why I wasn't wearing any hi-viz!!!

Chips Lovell · 09-12-2014 04:43PM

Beasty wrote: »

Think there is something essentially saying they must be either central or to the right of centre

AFAIK those rules only apply to the statutory minimum lighting required and you can mount additional lighting on your body/helmet/rucksack etc. I certainly find my helmet light invaluable as a "pothole/puddle spotter" on unlit country roads.

Yes, that's my reading of it too. That you can have auxillary lights provided you have the statutory ones.

Rubberchikken · 09-12-2014 04:45PM

i wish all cyclists had a light, never mind how bright it was.
very hard to see black bikes ridden by people in black clothes in the dark.

shine a light please;)

07Lapierre · 09-12-2014 04:53PM

irishrover99 wrote: »

I use flashing lights on both front and back as i believe they make me more noticeable. I don't see how anyone could be annoyed with with a bright bicycle light. I'm sure the driver would have something to say if they crashed into you with lights that were very dim.

Anyway if they get me home to my family each day safely, that's all that really matters to me, and i do drive too.

To be fair, you may have a point if your commute is in urban well lit areas. A flashing LED has its uses in that environment.

Tombo2001 · 09-12-2014 04:57PM

I have the same type of light, I use the flashing version during the day but the fixed setting at night.

I think its the flash as much as the strength that gets at people.

Chips Lovell · 09-12-2014 05:00PM

I do think the vehicle lighting regulations may need to be revisited since they were drawn up long before the era of high powered bike lights. You've got a situation now where some cyclists have high powered lights pointed directly into the eyes of oncoming traffic.

tomasrojo · 09-12-2014 05:05PM

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

I do think the vehicle lighting regulations may need to be revisited since they were drawn up long before the era of high powered bike lights. You've got a situation now where some cyclists have high powered lights pointed directly into the eyes of oncoming traffic.

Yes, I think the regulations are from the late sixties? Very weak lights at that stage. Something like this?

Nice big circle of light from onlookers' point of view. About 8cm?

07Lapierre · 09-12-2014 05:09PM

tomasrojo wrote: »

Only two purposes I can think of:
1. Make a weaker light more conspicuous.
2. Make batteries last longer.

I had these two problems a few years ago. Since then I bought better lights and I always carry a spare battery. I also carry a backup rear light. My commute consists of about 15k on unlit rural roads and 10k in urban well lit roads, so the thoughts of been stranded without any light on a dark country road are my biggest fear. Maybe my setup is OTT though.

07Lapierre · 09-12-2014 05:23PM

Beasty wrote: »

Think there is something essentially saying they must be either central or to the right of centre

AFAIK those rules only apply to the statutory minimum lighting required and you can mount additional lighting on your body/helmet/rucksack etc. I certainly find my helmet light invaluable as a "pothole/puddle spotter" on unlit country roads.

Beasty do you have a front light mounted on your bike? What's the advantage of being able to see potholes to your left/right? My light is powerful enough to illuminate the full width of a minor road. Maybe you just need a brighter front light on your bike instead of a spotlight on your head?

irisheddie85 · 09-12-2014 05:26PM

The issue with a light that's too bright front or rear is it makes unlit objects around you less visible.
so if your rear light is very bright and you are behind a cyclist with no light he becomes even harder to see.
or if you are coming up to a pothole or something you will need to move out to go around someone behind you will have a harder time seeing the obstacle and anticipating your move around it.

irishrover99 · 09-12-2014 05:29PM

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

I do think the vehicle lighting regulations may need to be revisited since they were drawn up long before the era of high powered bike lights. You've got a situation now where some cyclists have high powered lights pointed directly into the eyes of oncoming traffic.

Maybe they should also look at the regulations on car lights too. Especially them Audi's with the LED lights. Although i'm sure a few politicians drive them

Pinch Flat · 09-12-2014 05:32PM

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

I do think the vehicle lighting regulations may need to be revisited since they were drawn up long before the era of high powered bike lights. You've got a situation now where some cyclists have high powered lights pointed directly into the eyes of oncoming traffic.

My lezynes (micro and macro) I note are illegal in Germany. They are bright when on strobe. Had a fella behind me on the quays the other night - his strobes were extremely bright and distracting

Chips Lovell · 09-12-2014 05:32PM

Yeah, that's a good point. I've noticed some of them too. Pretty dazzling.

Pinch Flat · 09-12-2014 05:52PM

irishrover99 wrote: »

Maybe they should also look at the regulations on car lights too. Especially them Audi's with the LED lights. Although i'm sure a few politicians drive them

Some of the HID kits on headlights are very badly fitted - diy jobs a lot of the time and retro-fitted into halogen reflectors. An much bigger problem than flashing bike lights imo

morana · 09-12-2014 06:01PM

is there any evidence of any accident caused by a bright bicycle light?

Chips Lovell · 09-12-2014 06:04PM

I narrowly avoided one last year in the Phoenix Park. Was blinded by a guy's light and almost missed a stag running out in front of me.

NeedMoreGears · 09-12-2014 06:15PM

It's not the lights that are too bright that bug me (not all of them anyway). It's the really crappy dim and/or badly directed lights. I think they are quite dangerous as it seems to me that people who have such lights get a false sense of security from them. They think they can be seen when in fact there are almost as invisible as some of the idiots ninjas you can(not) see around.

nak · 09-12-2014 06:22PM

morana wrote: »

is there any evidence of any accident caused by a bright bicycle light?

Not in my case, but I do think it is inconsiderate to be riding around blinding everyone. Have had to slow down/stop on my commute along the canal on numerous occasions due to mobile lighthouses pointed up at my eyes. Some now have more than one of the bloody things. It's a lit path so not exactly hard to see people.

Jawgap · 09-12-2014 06:54PM

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

I narrowly avoided one last year in the Phoenix Park. Was blinded by a guy's light and almost missed a stag running out in front of me.

You get a lot of that this time of year with that 12 Pubs of Christmas lark

Kalman · 09-12-2014 07:02PM

alcyst wrote: »

A bus driver let me know she thought my back light was too bright this morning. We were stopped at lights and she opened the door to talk. The light is an Exposure Blaze.

Irony is, the previous day a driver (possibly on the same route) had squeezed me out of road space. This happened about 300m further on, where Dame Street narrows by the Georges St junction.

Nonsense! it's better to be seen than not! I have flashing L.E.D's and high visibility jacket>>>I'm concerned about me!>>not a bus driver.

salmocab · 09-12-2014 07:15PM

Kalman wrote: »

Nonsense! it's better to be seen than not! I have flashing L.E.D's and high visibility jacket>>>I'm concerned about me!>>not a bus driver.

The OP didn't say the bus driver said they would be better without a light just that their rear light was too bright.

Beasty · 09-12-2014 07:32PM

07Lapierre wrote: »

Beasty do you have a front light mounted on your bike? What's the advantage of being able to see potholes to your left/right? My light is powerful enough to illuminate the full width of a minor road. Maybe you just need a brighter front light on your bike instead of a spotlight on your head?

Front light is pointed down to light up forwards and to the left without risking dazzling oncoming traffic. Helmet light is pointed in a similar direction but a slight look up allows me to see further ahead as and when required (or if I need to move to the right - basically I can control where it points regardless of which way the bars are pointing)

Beasty · 09-12-2014 07:34PM

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

almost missed a stag running out in front of me.

You almost missed it? I have a fair idea which one of you came off better in that particular collision:pac:

Wishbone Ash · 09-12-2014 07:34PM

I was glad of a very bright flashing rear light when cycling through a series of long twisty Alpine tunnels a few months back. There's nothing to make one feel more vulnerable on a bike than being in a long dark tunnel and hearing the approaching roar of a Ferrari V12 engine.

irisheddie85 wrote: »

... if your rear light is very bright and you are behind a cyclist with no light he becomes even harder to see....

If I was cycling in the dark with no rear light, I think I would be delighted to have a cyclist behind me with a bright rear light.

Del2005 · 09-12-2014 07:39PM

Kalman wrote: »

Nonsense! it's better to be seen than not! I have flashing L.E.D's and high visibility jacket>>>I'm concerned about me!>>not a bus driver.

It's better to respect other road users. Having lights that blinds other road users isn't respectful and can lead to road rage. All that's needed is a white light to the front and red to the rear if other road users can't see them sticking more lights, having them flashing etc doesn't stop the SMIDSY brigade crashing into you but just annoys other road users.

Wishbone Ash · 09-12-2014 07:55PM

Del2005 wrote: »

and can lead to road rage...

If someone engages in 'road rage' because of a cyclist's lights then they have a much more serious underlying problem to deal with which isn't going to be solved by cyclists having more appropriate lighting.

Jawgap · 09-12-2014 08:03PM

Del2005 wrote: »

It's better to respect other road users. Having lights that blinds other road users isn't respectful and can lead to road rage. All that's needed is a white light to the front and red to the rear if other road users can't see them sticking more lights, having them flashing etc doesn't stop the SMIDSY brigade crashing into you but just annoys other road users.

Good, bright lights are essential if you are to be seen against the 'clutter' of lights on any busy urban street.

Respect is fine, but in would've thought your safety is your first priority - it's certainly mine.

DubVelo · 09-12-2014 08:10PM

Exposure Blaze eh?
...added to Xmas shopping list.

Edit: for €115 feckin' euro I'd want bus drivers to cry when they saw it.
...removed from Xmas shopping list.

ROK ON · 09-12-2014 08:44PM

I have a set of moon beam lights - front and rear. They are my primary lights.
I was stopped at the lights outside Hueston Station a few weeks back in early morning. Chap on a motorbike next time me said that he had seen my on the Chapelizod bypass from a good distance back. He asked me what the light was and said that it was the most effective rear light he had ever seen in a bike - pedal or motor. The light was on the lowest of its four settings.

I was pleased. Lights work.

ford2600 · 09-12-2014 08:44PM

Ok quick test with a light meter to get lux level of
*Moon Shield 60
* Rear car lights(skoda octavia)
* Rear brake lights(skoda octavia)

All measurements at 3m from light source any level given is highest recording.

Moon Shield low setting 16 lux
Moon Shield high setting 42 lux

Rear car lights 3 lux
Brake lights 8 lux

Photographs included which can't represent accurately what the eye sees but useful for comparative purposes. 1/60 shutter speed, 5.6 aperture.

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My back light is too bright

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