Ernie feels much safer with good lights and reflectors! (Photo by Mark Scott)
Oregon law states that in low-visibility conditions, cyclists must have a front white light visible from 500 feet and a rear red light or reflector visible from 600 feet (ORS 815.2880). In our Bike Commute Workshops and other education efforts, the BTA emphasizes how crucial it is both for safety and good relations on our roadways that cyclists have good lights at night.
While we strive to consistently get that basic message out, we also hear from a lot of cyclists and other road users who feel very strongly about specific bike light issues beyond the fact that people should use them at night.
Recently I’ve heard from folks advocating that cyclists should be required to use lights at all times of day for greater visibility.
I’ve heard from other folks about the need for more education on how cyclists should point their lights as to not blind other road users, and that “strobe” or blinking lights should be altogether outlawed.
Many would agree that different conditions require different levels of lights and other visibility measures. What kinds of conditions (i.e. road, weather, time of day) do you ride in, and what do you do to make yourself visible?
Foggy sunrise near Corvallis (Photo by Don Boucher)
I’ve got a headlight and at least one taillight on most of the time, day and night, bright with shadows or flat gray. In blazing sunlight, I think someone driving into the sun has a reasonable chance of seeing my light. When there’s any visibility at all, the headlight flashes. When it’s dark, the main headlight is on solidly, and an auxiliary small light flashes. I could not care less if someone doesn’t like blinking lights, because they will see those lights. The only reason that blinkers would be dangerous would be for a seizure-prone driver, and I’m sorry, they shouldn’t be driving.
For me, there are two purposes for he lights on my bike are to see and be seen. The bright steady light is so I can see the road. The blinky light is so I get noticed. I also carry a backup light in the event that batteries die or bulbs burn out.
At night, nearby dim lights can look like they are farther away. Blinky lights get noticed, and, as a driver, I appreciate being able to quickyly identify bicyclists on the road. 500 feet may seem like a lot but it’s only about 10 seconds at 35 mph.
I wil turn on my lights if it is overcast because any little bit helps but not on bright sunny days because I have to cover them with my hand to even see that they are on. Daytime running lights are a great idea for cars but most bike lights are simply not bright enough to be seen on bright sunny days.
I use a pair of Blaze 1-watt lights which I set to blink. I run them day and night; anything to increase my visibility.
I also recharge the batteries fairly often. If I can’t see them reflecting off the stop signs two or three blocks away it’s time to recharge.
They must be fairly noticeable because other riders often ask me about them.
I also installed two Planet Bike’s Blaze 1-watt headlights on the front as well. This is the best headlight among all others powered by either AA or AAA batteries. I bought the black color one that comes with a taillight. The taillight is also very bright. Therefore, I have two headlights on the front and two taillights on the rear. Both the headlight and taillight flash in a special pattern. It’s almost impossible to be ignored. They are quite expensive but I got them when they were on sale. Before I switched to Planet Bike’s lights, I used two ViewPoint Flare 5 LED headlights. The ViewPoint headlight is cheaper but it’s a good headlight too.
Red and white (and blue) strobes are already illegal on bicycles in Oregon just as they are on any other civilian vehicle. ORS reserves those for emergency vehicles. So there is no rationale for new laws against that, even if you oppose them. BTA sponsored a bicycle commute workshop in downtown Salem some time back at which an Oregon State Trooper reiterated that law. It is interesting to me that the BCC has been giving away to participants red lights that have only have a strobe setting. Technically, we can’t use these for commuting or any kind of road riding. However, he did say that it is highly unlikely that any officer would site a cyclist for using either red or white strobes. I suspect that statement is very true, particularly given that I see cyclists committing all sorts of more serious violations, sometimes right in front of police cars, and I have yet to see one get stopped for anything. I guess they have bigger fish to fry than a cyclist running a stop sign or someone peddaling the wrong direction on a one way street.
Personally, I run only steady lights both front and rear, but I do use multiples. I have three red LED lights to the rear along with one white LED and two halogen lights to the front. I have one each direction on my helmet and the others on the bike itself. In the past, I used to run orange strobes, which are legal both front and rear, as well as to the sides. But they got old and quit working, and I have not been able to find any orange replacements. That has puzzled me since they are the only ones that we can legally use, but I have inquired at most shops in town, and they say that can no longer get them.
That said, I want to comment on use of strobes in general. Both my experience and studies that I have known about consistently say that a flashing light does not make a bicycle more visible. Now, before you blow a cork and disregard my comments, hear me out. I know that statement goes against the popular perception and many heartfelt opinions. But if the intensity of the light is the same, it is just as visible in steady mode as flashing. Flashing does do two things that may be helpful. The flashing light does definitely draw attention more effectively than a steady light. It also tends to prolong battery life. But with LED lights, battery life is not much of an issue. And I don’t really care to draw attention. I just want to be seen. So I use lots of bright lights, all on steady.
I ride with a flashing red/yellow taillight and a MiNewt light on the front which I run in strobe mode the majority of the time. I aim it down toward the road far enough ahead that I can see obstacles in time to react but low enough so it shouldn’t be in a drivers face. This light is bright and I’ve had a number of people (drivers included) say how great it is for visibility.
I can see the logic for using a strobe and a solid beam but if you have 1 front light I think strobe is the only way to go. With my light it flashes quickly enough that I have no trouble getting a good view of the road in most conditions and it is WAY more visible. As a driver I have observed that even if you can’t see the actual light the reflection of the flashing on the road, street signs, etc… is enough to alert people that there is something to pay attention to in the area.
In addition to the visibility aspect, strobe mode significantly increases the battery life on the light which is an issue in the winter given my commute is an hour each way…
For daylight and mid light condtions I think bright clothing is more effective than any light blinking or not.
I tried some of the AA powered LED lights and was not impressed. Then I bought the off brand HA-III SSC P7-C LED Bike Light Set from Deal Extreme for both my bike and my wifes bike. Brighter than others I tried, rechargeable battery and charger included, and only slightly more expensive than the Bike Planet Blaze. It has a strange o-ring mount, that seemed cheap at first, but so far it has worked fine and it is very low profile. This light uses the Soeul P7 LED for those familier with it. Extremely bright!
I agree with Brian that a blinking headlight is much more likely to be seen amidst a sea of car headlights and is therefore preferable to a static white light.
I worry that a static white light is just not *different* or large enough to be seen – or to identify to traffic that I’m on a bike and to exercise greater caution.
Curious why people think they should be outlawed altogether…?
I use a headlight and a red tail light on my bike…I do not use them in flashing mode because they make me nauseous while I’m riding. I only use them when it’s not bright out….so in the morning in the fall and winter and then of course on the way home too. I have reflectors too! I also wear a white head lamp and a rear red light on my helmet. Then I wear a blinking safety vest when it is necessary…pretty much all winter long whenever I’m on my bike. And I have Bike Glow Lights…they are a 10ft long LED rope light which runs on 2 AA batteries…these are the best thing! You just wrap your bike with it. These help with side visibility. I haven’t permanently installed mine on my bike, so I can use them on either of my two bikes and also on me when I walk at night. You can get them here: http://www.bikeglow.com/ or at REI. I think you can never be too brightly lit…it is best to BE SEEN! even if you look ridiculous!
And to Brian – you say “[t]he flashing light does definitely draw attention more effectively than a steady light” but that you “don’t really care to draw attention. I just want to be seen.”
Isn’t drawing attention and being seen the same thing? And if the flashing light does a better job of it, why shouldn’t bikes have the most effective means at our disposal?
We ride precariously at best in the dark in the hopes that other drivers can see us and act appropriately. I certainly don’t want to give up any advantages to being seen.
There are studies that support the use of daytime running lights for cars (required in 12 European countries) and motorcycles (required in 22 U.S. states), but only one I know of addresses bicycles, and it was done by a Danish light manufacturer, “Reelight”, which makes a magnetic-drive light that’s not very impressive in their videos, certainly no Superflash. Check it out at http://www.bikerumor.com/2008/12/18/bikerumor-review-reel-light-commuter-bike-lights/.
My personal experience commuting for 30 years from different parts of Portland without incident suggests that daytime running lights are a good idea. I ride with two Planet Bike half watt white flashers on the handlebar, two red PB Superflash on the seatpost and a TriNewt headlamp (brilliant!) for when I want to see in the woods or look off a driver at an intersection.
There are daytime conditions in which bike lights don’t do much, mostly in full sun. However, we ride in lots of conditions where they do:
-On sunny days, when you ride from bright sun under a freeway overpass or into the shadow of a tall building, or in dappled shade in the park or the neighborhoods;
-On cloudy or misty days, or at dawn and dusk;
-Anytime against confusing urban backgrounds;
-In a driver’s rearview mirror, especially passing a line of stopped cars on the right (the right hook problem) or when a driver opens a door into a bike lane.
Flashers work better than continuous lights because they’re more noticeable, and we want to be noticed, not just seen. The legal issue about prohibiting flashing lights other than on emergency vehicles (ORS 816.050 and 816.350(12)) while bikes have their own lighting rules (ORS 815.280(2)(C)) leads to a statutory construction exercise only a lawyer could love. This lawyer thinks it’s inconclusive, but the important fact is that no one has ever heard of any rider getting pulled over for flashing, other than on the World Naked Bike Ride.
When someone calls me about a wreck with a car, my second question (after “Were you wearing a helmet?”) is “Did you have lights on?”, and the answer is usually “No, it was daylight.” Whether I take the case or not, I always give the caller my 60 second speech on daytime running lights.
Why not?
Hey all. Sean from Bend here.
I leave the house at 5:30, so I’m in pitch black from the moment I leave until the moment I get to work 1/2 an hour later. I run a NiteRider (1st gen) Storm HID, which is basically a car headlight. It’s to see, mostly (I’m also a trail rider), but it has the added benefit of making me look light a motorcycle coming down the road. I also run a blinky red planet bike LED light mounted in my helmet, facing rearward. I used to mount it on my seatpost, but, in adverse conditions, if I switch bikes from geared to fixie, the light comes with me on my helmet.
Even though it’s illegal.
Two words: DINOTTE LIGHTS (no I am not a paid advertiser, but should be for my constant promotion of these lights)
For both the front and rear. The pro series runs on rechargables. If you can wait till around christmas they always run a special for about $100 for each 200 lumen white front and 140 lumen rear red.
All lights have multiple settings for intensity and steady versus blinky.
After years of researching (read that as wasting money) on different makers, I am convinced there is no better way to go.
Follow the motorcyclists mantra: If you ride, you must burn the lights.
Interesting evaluation by Dave – thanks. The illegal use of strobing lights adds to the other laws that I break every day to safely commute to work (At stoplights I place my front tire on the edge of the marked walking crosswalk so that I’m a nudge ahead of the car so they see me. Illegal. Second, I ride the sidewalk at regular speed near convention center, as opposed to the heavy traffic on MLK. Illegal. Supposed to ride at “walking speed”.
I would argue that strobes are much more effective for visibility. I know when I drive a car, there’s no confusion when I see strobes on a bike. There have been times approaching a steady light and realizing at the last moment that it’s a bike and not a car. Which is dangerous for a bicycle riding in the middle of a driving lane and lower speed than a car.
Have a look at my ride:
http://davidfilmer.com/bike.jpg
The two PlanetBike Blaze headlights are not mounted (but you can see the brackets). On my homemade rack I have six lights, four rear-facing and two side-facing.
And REFLECTORS! Let’s maximize that passive visibility. I don’t know why spoke reflectors are so hard to find (I had to mail-order mine). Even Bike Gallery doesn’t carry them. But side-impact accidents are the most common.
I’ve tried spoke lights and a valve-stem light, but none of them were reliable (suggestions appreciated).
I’ve got reflective tape all over my frame (and I’ve trimmed my helmet with it). That stuff is expensive, but it WORKS!
I would rather someone say “he looks like a dork” than say “I swear, I never saw him”
I have commuted for years in LA and in Salem. I don’t know which is more dangerous but I’ve yet to be hit. Cyclists definitely need to do everything they can to be seen and give drivers enough reaction time to avoid us. Cyclists should have bright blinking lights front and rear, run them day and night, and ride predictably in traffic. Drivers recognize blinking lights as bikes much more readily than a steady light. Get a bright helmet mount headlight to make eye contact with drivers at intersections so they don’t T-bone you.
And please wear a helmet.
I use two front and back lights (just bought a second white light for the front) and I like to wear bright colors – jacket, knee-hi socks, legwarmers… I have received many compliments on the acid-green legwarmers I knitted a few years ago. It’s all about being seen in the dark AND light. I also got a new white helmet with acid green decals on it, and have reflective stickers for it as well.
I must agree that a helmet is a must – there’s no excuse, no matter how cool you think you are. That hoodie/stocking cap is not going to do much for you. I had a college friend who died from a very low-MPH crash with a car because he was not wearing a helmet.
Thank you Yetibill for saying the most important thing about blinking lights – they have become a recognized sign saying “vulnerable road user here.” They are not more visible than a steady beam although they are probably a bit more noticeable, but drivers recognize the fragility of whatever is wearing them.
Do not underestimate the value of a good, red, rear reflector. Car headlights are much brighter than anything you’re likely to have on your bike, and a good reflector – properly mounted and aimed – can be very effective.
That said, I also run two blinking taillights pretty much all the time: One Planet Bike Blinky 5 w/ rack mount (“Rack Blinky”), which is also a built-in parabolic reflector, and one Planet Bike Superflash clipped to my messenger bag. This arrangement is extremely effective, and offers fixed and variable aiming between the rack and messenger bag.
The PB Superflash is an awesome little taillight.
The PB Blaze 1-watt is an excellent 2xAA battery powered headlight, but for best headlight action you really want a hub generator. (In order to save battery life) I turn off my headlight unless it’s doing significant good illuminating stuff in front of me, and run it in flashing mode in the more trafficky areas, descending really fast where traffic might become an issue, etc. It might be helpful, but plenty of jerks still act like they didn’t see me.
Reflective tire sidewalls are very helpful.
Requiring everybody to run lights at all times is absurd. (What next: Licenses and registration?
Yes, blinkies are illegal – and annoying – but they are effective, and *really* extend battery life.
Before I was a bike commuter, I drove my car everywhere I needed to go. I remember the first time I saw a cyclist with a blinking red light on a dark road with no shoulder. It was immediately noticeable and distinctive. I didn’t confuse it with anything else, such as one of those red reflectors some people place on their mailboxes or near their driveways. I remember feeling grateful to the cyclist for using that blinking red light because it was easier for me, as a driver, to safely recognize and pass him.
Now that I ride my bike all the time, I would never be without various blinking lights, along with solid ones. Illegal or not, I’ll continue to use them because I’ve appreciated their visibility as a driver. I always recommend them to other cyclists because I think they’re superior to any solid light. The human brain is good at detecting motion, and flashing lights naturally will attract attention faster than static lights.
First of all, blinkies Illegal?? I read the Oregon bike manual and I do not remember reading this. Everybody uses them, well, not everybody I guess. I get really annoyed at the bikers that use no lights at all, and break a lot of other rules too. I am mister safety when it comes to riding. I ride a lot at night to get to work. I use 2 nashbar brand Brilliant II lights on the front, and they are great. On the back, I use various red blinkers, one on my helmet, and 2 on my bike. I use the green wheel blinkers too, which you can find at Fred Meyer. I wear a safety vest, and jacket when it is cold, thanks to my wife. The vest used to blink too, but it broke. I have glow in the dark stickers on my helmet, and reflective tape on my bike. I also use a mirror. With traffic the way it is, you cannot be too visible. My motto is, “Be as visible as possible, but pretend that you are invisible to traffic.” I witnessed someone on an electric bike get hit the other day. he was riding along the side of traffic. 2 cars had there right turn signals on, and I knew that at least on of them would not see the biker. Sure enough, the biker tried to go straight, and the truck made a right turn. He hit into the side of the small truck. Luckily, he was not injured. Anyway, getting back on track, Put lights on your bike!!! blinkies, or no blinkies. We must be seen.
I, for one, do not like getting front strobbed on the Springwater trail, day or night. At night it can be dangerous. More than once, I’ve been partially blinded by the opposing biker’s lights and almost run into walkers. Please be courteous and reserve front strobs for the street. No objection to blinkies.
What’s the difference between a blinkie and a strobe in above discussions?
My two cents: 1) redundancy is a necessity and 2) helmet lights (fore and aft) a must.
Redundancy (more than one headlight and tail light) provides higher visibility and gives backup if one light fails. Helmet lights have two important features that bike-mounted lights don’t have. First, you can aim your front helmet light at a car to increase the odds of your being seen. This has saved me from numerous potential incidents of being t-boned or cut off. Second, cars can block the visibility of handlebar and seat lights. Your helmet lights are higher up and often above the roofline of cars, so other cars further back or beyond know you’re there.
As for handlebar lights, I look for wide-angle lights. Many lights drastically lose their illumination when you move just a couple feet off to the side.
I love spoke lights! Cars can see you from the side and they will think you are from the future if they are neon green! Yes, I’m a fan of Tron.
I have an LED red flashing/reflective vest – front and back – which I wear in addition to a Dualcross Cygolite head light and the Planetbike tail light. If I am carrying a load, I will often hang flashers on that as well as my helmet. My philosophy is to create a distinctive light pattern, so when motorists see you, they notice and make a conscious determination about what you are.
The LED vests can be had at LEDtronics.com
After reading through the ORS pretty closely, I am doubtful that strobes/blinkies are illegal, although it appears to be a gray area.
Looking at the relevant parts of ORS mentioned by Jim C. (ORS 816.050 and 816.350(12)), I see that ORS 816.310 specifically exempts bikes from the lighting equipment requirements in 816.040 to 816.300 (including the laws on headlights in 816.050). As he says, bikes have their own lighting rules (ORS 815.280), which is specifically referenced in 816.310 and 816.340 (another exemption). Nothing in 815.280 mentions strobes, blinkies, steady, flashing, or other variations on the temporal nature of the light, just a white front light and a rear red reflector or light.
As for 816.350(12), which does appear to prohibit all flashing lights, it refers to “motor vehicles”, which are defined this way in 801.360: “a vehicle that is self-propelled or designed for self-propulsion.” This definition is distinct from the definition for “vehicles” in 801.590 (“propelled or powered by any means”), which does seem to include bicycles.
Interestingly, though, there is an exemption section for 816.350 in 816.370, and unlike the other exemption sections in 816, bicycles are *not* listed. But it still seems like the “motor vehicles” language of the prohibition is fairly clear in excluding bicycles.
This all may be why Ray Thomas, bike lawyer, says that he thinks strobes are in legal compliance with the law.
http://www.stc-law.com/lighting.htm
Safe riding, everyone.
just wanted to add that there are a lot of LED vests available on ebay too. I just bought another one, since mine broke. They start at like $13.00 plus postage.
I use bright clothing in sunlight days, and one strobe light on front and red strobe in rear in lower visibility conditions. 2 strobes on front and 2 red strobes in back in dark conditions, with a third helmet mounted backup in case one of the two front ones go out. I also have an extra powerful non strobe helmet mounted light for foggy conditions.
I have a $7 no-name strobe wrapped in a sandwich bag on the front that has lasted longer than the multiple $35 ones that seemed to disintigrate at the slightest bump. The sandwich bag solves a water proofing issue. Not pretty, but it works. Still use a name brand on the helmet, though. Also have a $15 no name light that I click into a holder on my front panier rack. I can remove it when riding the bus, where it conflicts with the bike rack. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on these things, and the strobe mode actually doubles the battery light.
I have an unusually cost-effective system: lots of light for little money. In near pitch darkness (I bike in parks and on unlit highways), I see the road for about 250 feet ahead.
Two of these Romisen LED flashlights, mounted with velcro (helmet) and velcro+duct-tape-wrapped-foam (handlebars):
http://www.ledshoppe.com/Product/ledp/LP1068.htm
Output: 150 lumens each, which competes with systems that cost hundreds of dollars.
These run off rechargeable AAs; total charging time — 2-3 hours, runtime 2-3 hours, system cost (including charger, batteries, and velcro: $60).
They are also far more durable than a regular plastic headlight, and have O-rings for pretty good water resistance.
Having a light on the helmet lets me look sideways, and signal to motorists on cross-streets. The handlebar light keeps the road illuminated, and makes sure I’m very visible in the direction the bike is going.
Another $15 buys a couple of red blinkies in the back, and the corresponding rechargeable batteries.
Here are the details of the mount:
http://picasaweb.google.com/pictureslug/MountingAFlashlightOnABike
Takes less than 10 minutes to make, lasts many months of constant riding.
Also, SOLAS tape on the bike’s frame and rack will help your visibility enormously. It’s very durable and waterproof, and far brighter than standard reflectors. You should ask your local bike store to carry it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroreflector#Retroreflectors_and_ships.2C_boats.2C_emergency_gear
Andy,
I believe that there is a significant difference between “drawing attention” and “being seen”. I want people to know that I am there (be seen) but I don’t want them drawn to looking at me to the detriment of paying attention to their driving.
In clothing, it might equate to these examples. A traffic flagger wears an ANSI approved high-visibility vest (reflectorized if used at night) in order to be seen. The woman that I saw at Wal-Mart the other day might serve as example of drawing attention. She was a wearing a short, black leather skirt with pink and white striped stockings held up by chartreuse garters that extended well below the hem of the skirt. She was walking on orange six-inch-high platform shoes and was accompanied by a man with purple and green spiked hair, a big black dog collar, and chains dangling all over his body.
It does not bother me that someone would dress that way. I would fight and die for their right to dress however they choose. But it was fun to watch the other people as this couple walked by. Just about everybody paid attention to them. I would say most people actually stared, but I don’t think this woman was particularity visible like the person in the ANSI vest would be.
The flashing bicycle light and the unusual attire both could be interpreted to be saying “Hey, look at me, look at me, look at me!” I am not interested in drawing attention in that way. I just want other vehicles to be aware of my presence, much like a flagger would. I believe that a good light will do that without flashing.