Flashing lights: Getting the attention of drivers is important. But if your lights and reflectors provide enough visibility to motorists, I think it can detract from safety to have the rear or front lights flashing. I know that when I am on my bike, or driving, I have a harder time clearly seeing other bikes who have flashing lights. I can’t tell how far away they are. In some cases I can’t tell exactly what they are for a split second. So I just have two steady rear lights and two steady headlights, and extensive reflectors, and I wear a reflective vest. I think I am actually more visible at night than in the day, at least from the way that vehicles respond when they see me. I could be wrong about this, but that is my feeling.
I want to be seen, but I don’t want to alarm motorists. I want to be seen as a slow moving vehicle, part of the normal traffic, not something that provokes alarm. So immediately the motorist knows he is dealing with a bicycle, and all he needs to do is pass when it is safe to do so. It is easy to pass a bicycle, and it doesn’t slow down the overall progress of cars, because they can quickly make up the time. A bicycle causes much less disruption to traffic than a large slow moving vehicle, and I think most motorists gradually learn that. For the same reason, it helps to take the same route when you are commuting, because you will encounter the same group of drivers to a large extent, and they will get used to your presence. The last thing I want is for the driver to be alarmed, for example if he slams on the brakes or is taken out of his comfort zone and reacts. I definitely don’t want them to be “blinded” or disoriented by flashing lights. That would put me in danger. Flashing lights are associated with emergency vehicles, pulling over, stopping, danger. I don’t want those associations suddenly hitting the semi-consciousness of drivers pulling up behind me. Most of them can handle it, but there are enough poor drivers that the odd one will do something stupid. I try to make life easier for the cars, only because that makes my life easier. Just my two cents on flashing lights. ( or about a quarter with inflation ) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
