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New white public lighting

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  • 18-12-2014 8:20am
    #1
    jkforde
    Registered Users Posts: 1,991 ✭✭✭


    Noticed that the council has changed all the public lighting on the WDR just up from the Deane roundabout to white lighting... anyone know why, is it a test for a broader rollout across the city... there's a really different feel to the road at night now as the light is much brighter and more intense

    🌦️ 6.7kwp, 45°, SSW, mid-Galway 🌦️



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    #2
    youngrun
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭youngrun


    I don't know but any improvement to lighting most welcome . All we need then is all bikes to get lights and will be a lot easier for motorists


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    #3
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Yeah, white light is better for contrasts and helps visibility.


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    #4
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,117 ✭✭✭✭snubbleste


    biko wrote: »
    Yeah, white light is better for contrasts and helps visibility.
    It shows up all the potholes, cracks and dirt on the road.


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    #5
    Iwannahurl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,156 ✭✭✭Iwannahurl


    jkforde wrote: »
    Noticed that the council has changed all the public lighting on the WDR just up from the Deane roundabout to white lighting... anyone know why, is it a test for a broader rollout across the city... there's a really different feel to the road at night now as the light is much brighter and more intense


    I asked the guy who's doing the work (all on his own) and he said it's only for the WDR and a couple of adjacent areas. I think I forgot to ask him who initiated the change.

    I think it's an excellent move, and long overdue. Perhaps Councillors are listening at last?
    Iwannahurl wrote: »
    New street lights (which I presume are LEDs) are being installed along the Western Distributor Road. Not elsewhere in the city, afaik.

    I think this is a major improvement. Apart from the energy saving aspect, the light quality of LEDs is far superior to the standard sodium lamps. There may even be a safety benefit. I have long been of the opinion that those orange lights greatly reduce visibility, which affects both road safety and personal security.

    332000.jpg

    332001.jpg


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    #6
    Iwannahurl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,156 ✭✭✭Iwannahurl


    biko wrote: »
    Yeah, white light is better for contrasts and helps visibility.


    Spot on. Contrast seems to be an important factor, imho. If you study the second photo above you will notice that there are three pedestrians in view. The two in the LED zone are more visible, it seems, despite being further away.

    Sodium vapor lamps emit light only in a narrow spectrum, which does not suit the human eye. I have a theory that law-abiding cyclists and pedestrians are being blamed for not wearing hi-vis in urban areas, when in fact the main problem is poor street lighting.
    Iwannahurl wrote: »
    A large part of the problem, in my view, is those hideous sodium-vapour street lights.

    They are somewhat energy-efficient but produce light only in a very narrow spectrum.

    SOX.png

    This inhibits vision effectiveness in low light conditions. In my experience pedestrians in particular are not very visible on streets lit by sodium-vapour lamps, and this is made worse by the ubiquitous black tarmac.

    The solution is to get rid of the sodium lamps and switch to LED street lighting. In my opinion that would be a win-win situation: better street lighting and lower energy consumption.

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2013/01/25/los-angeles-saves-millions-with-led-street-light-deployment/
    http://www.newscenter.philips.com/main/standard/news/press/2012/201217-led-street-lighting.wpd#.UymDgKiKV8E

    Another advantage would be a renaissance in night-time photography. :)

    LED_6thStBridgeHPS_40.jpg

    LED_6thStBridgeLED2_40.jpg


    youngrun wrote: »
    All we need then is all bikes to get lights and will be a lot easier for motorists

    What will be easier?


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    #7
    D Trent
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,341 ✭✭✭D Trent


    iwannahurl'' wrote:




    What will be easier?

    Aim for them and successfully hit them obviously


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    #8
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    I love the white street-lights.

    Whatever about visibility, they're just nicer looking.


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    #9
    galwaycyclist
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,913 ✭✭✭galwaycyclist


    D Trent wrote: »
    Aim for them and successfully hit them obviously

    You do of course realise that some of us are wearing suicide vests* - several kilos of semtex - with impact triggers? :D

    * occasionally in dayglo yellow


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    #10
    youngrun
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭youngrun


    Easier to see cyclists on road who have lights on their bikes than those who don't.




    What will be easier?[/QUOTE]


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    #11
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    youngrun wrote: »
    Easier to see cyclists on road who have lights on their bikes than those who don't.

    Actually, I find there's no substitute for a high-vis vest. There are so many small lights around the roads these days that it can be difficult to differentiate between a cyclist's light (on an otherwise dark bike) with them. High vis vest and I can see you a mile off.

    Anyway, this is offtopic.

    I'd love if the lights all went white again. It suits my noir aesthetic sensibilities.


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    #12
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,868 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    Iwannahurl wrote: »
    I think it's an excellent move, and long overdue. Perhaps Councillors are listening at last?

    It's running costs. I doubt our wise Cllr's had any say in this. Who has the contract for providing public lighting in the City at the minute?


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    #13
    jkforde
    Registered Users Posts: 1,991 ✭✭✭jkforde


    what_traffic wrote: »
    It's running costs. I doubt our wise Cllr's had any say in this. Who has the contract for providing public lighting in the City at the minute?

    Airtricity, that's the truck doing the work anyhow... Electric Skyline have the contract for the county according to their homepage spiel

    🌦️ 6.7kwp, 45°, SSW, mid-Galway 🌦️



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    #14
    beardybrewer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,917 ✭✭✭beardybrewer


    Noticed Airtricity along Ballymoneen Rd yesterday replacing a bulb. Thought it odd to see them just down the road again today until I looked up. Looks like new LED street lamps have been installed.

    Has this been happening all over the city? Fair deuce, simple way to save a few quid.


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    #15
    Julabo
    Registered Users Posts: 157 ✭✭Julabo


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057346517

    Thread above on about it.

    Personally find it a huge improvement.


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    #16
    jimbobaloobob
    Registered Users Posts: 5,153 ✭✭✭jimbobaloobob


    personally i find it harder to drive with them, im on the road early in the morning and have to drive with the visor down for the glare.

    It would be a help if they could adjust the angle of the beam a little i think, good visibility with them though.


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    #17
    stampydmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 2,359 ✭✭✭stampydmonkey


    Julabo wrote: »
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057346517

    Thread above on about it.

    Personally find it a huge improvement.

    Wtf...serious case if deja vu on that link. Can't wait to see these lights rolled out everywhere over time. Far far better for city commuting and personal safety


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    #18
    happysunnydays
    Closed Accounts Posts: 247 ✭✭happysunnydays


    Interesting....never understood orange lights, why that colour anyway? Why not red green or something?
    What about light pollution, do the new lights help or hinder this? Will there be a future the familiar orange glows on the horizons lighting up the night skies could be at an end?


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    #19
    jkforde
    Registered Users Posts: 1,991 ✭✭✭jkforde


    happysunnydays wrote: »
    Interesting....never understood orange lights, why that colour anyway? Why not red green or something?

    that'd be the sodium in the lights, sodium's emission wavelength is orange-yellow and it's a very efficient light once the sodium starts to vapourise (needing little current to keep it going)

    🌦️ 6.7kwp, 45°, SSW, mid-Galway 🌦️



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    #20
    Iwannahurl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,156 ✭✭✭Iwannahurl


    <Let's keep it on topic. If you want to bring up other towns then do so in their forum or rather Infrastructure forum>


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    #21
    Sniipe
    Registered Users Posts: 2,932 ✭✭✭Sniipe


    Iwannahurl wrote: »
    <Let's keep it on topic. If you want to bring up other towns then do so in their forum or rather Infrastructure forum>
    I really wonder what was said now... I'm all for comparing if it can benefit Galway


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    #22
    Iwannahurl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,156 ✭✭✭Iwannahurl


    PM sent.


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