How would you tell a cyclist that you think his lighting is insufficient?

[jrenaut]

@baiskeli 35902 wrote:

Wasn’t trying to be snarky. Just saying that the direct approach is the best. He probably doesn’t know and would appreciate the direct input.

I think this perfectly highlights the fear most of us have when doing something like this. You’re not likely to be able to convey much beyond your actual words (like on the internet), as your facial expression is probably obscured in part by your helmet, maybe glasses, the dark, you may be moving, etc… And there’s no greater conversational context (like on the internet). And even your tone of voice may be hard to read because you may be breathing a little harder than usual, or moving, or whatever.

So the chances of something being misinterpreted are high. Since you’re delivering criticism, however constructive, this is an easy situation for the receiver to get mad at you.

[baiskeli]

@jrenaut 35903 wrote:

I think this perfectly highlights the fear most of us have when doing something like this. You’re not likely to be able to convey much beyond your actual words (like on the internet), as your facial expression is probably obscured in part by your helmet, maybe glasses, the dark, you may be moving, etc… And there’s no greater conversational context (like on the internet). And even your tone of voice may be hard to read because you may be breathing a little harder than usual, or moving, or whatever.

So the chances of something being misinterpreted are high. Since you’re delivering criticism, however constructive, this is an easy situation for the receiver to get mad at you.

True.

[Megabeth]

I’ve never had a problem asking someone if they wanted one of my extra blinky lights or a reflective strap, etc. Perhaps it’s because I’m a female or, I don’t know. But, I try not to turn it into a lecture more of a “hey, you want a blinky light for your bike? I happen to have an extra one.” And, then as I’m putting it on their bike I’ll mention more casually something that is more of a bonding comment such as “…biking at night can be scary because cars don’t often see us…can’t have too many lights or reflecties, right? Hope this helps!”

I also keep them attached on my bike already so I don’t have to dig through any bags as they are standing there.

(Which reminds me that I need to load up on some more extras, I gave my last red blinky out last night.)

[sjclaeys]

I usually yell out “get a light!”, but that is mostly to satisfy my inner curmudgeon so I might add “and stay off of my lawn!”

[ShawnoftheDread]

I tried to give a man and his son some blinkies tonight on the MVT. He declined b/c he had a light (which I couldn’t see) and his son had a reflector.

[Certifried]

I think, ultimately, it comes down to who is delivering the message. Tim, with his pretty hair and winning smile, is going to be received more favorably than a hairy, scary, bearded old curmudegeon. I don’t really try, unless I’m stopped next to the person and have a minute to have a real (short) conversation. So I rely on my passive influence as much as possible, setting a good example.

[KelOnWheels]

@Certifried 35943 wrote:

Tim, with his pretty hair and winning smile, is going to be received more favorably than a hairy, scary, bearded old curmudegeon.

I keep telling you, it’s the clown suit, bro.

[culimerc]

I usually try to hit people at the crosswalks while waiting for the light to change, or in the neighborhoods, where they’re walking or riding slower and may feel that its more of their territory and may feel less assaulted by some J@ck@$$ trying them how to be more visible.

[creadinger]

So last night my wife and in-laws piled into our Civic to drive up to the Wisconsin Ave/Calvert area for a nice dinner. Traffic was a nightmare as is usually the case in Georgetown on a Friday night but I was amazed and dismayed at how many cyclists we saw doing crazy things with NO lights at all. I stopped counting at about a dozen. I did not realize how big the problem ninja cyclists are in DC. Some of those people really are just suicidal.

Are cops ever known to ticket cyclists without lights?

[Terpfan]

@creadinger 36029 wrote:

So last night my wife and in-laws piled into our Civic to drive up to the Wisconsin Ave/Calvert area for a nice dinner. Traffic was a nightmare as is usually the case in Georgetown on a Friday night but I was amazed and dismayed at how many cyclists we saw doing crazy things with NO lights at all. I stopped counting at about a dozen. I did not realize how big the problem ninja cyclists are in DC. Some of those people really are just suicidal.

Are cops ever known to ticket cyclists without lights?

If you mean DC cops then yes, they issue citations….after a car hits you :p. Otherwise, no. In fairness, it’s rare that they ticket drivers either.

I noticed a lot of folks on the MVT in mid-fall with no lights and wearing all black. You guys are nice, I say, “Lucky I saw you!”

[KelOnWheels]

@culimerc 35963 wrote:

I usually try to hit people at the crosswalks while waiting for the light to change…

Wait, do we get points for that now?

[JorgeGortex]

As I was driving home from work up Washington Blvd near W-L in Arlington the other night I came upon a ninja cyclist, one tiny blinky, dressed all in black, pedaling along blissfully unaware of how invisible he was at rush hour as he wove in between cars in this congested section of roadway. Annoyed at how bad he made conscientious cyclists look while endangering himself and the drivers around him I day dreamed:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2113[/ATTACH]

Please note the heart. That’s for Dirt. How I miss being on my bike instead of in my car…

Gortex

[Dirt]

@JorgeGortex 36784 wrote:

Annoyed at how bad he made conscientious cyclists look while endangering himself and the drivers around him …

One of the things that plays against ALL modes of transportation is that very few people ever get noticed for being safe and legal. Everyone seems to notice when we do something stupid or illegal. Pretty sure not many people say, “Wow! Did you see that perfectly executed right on red?”

That said, there are a lot of people who are less than brilliant about their visibility and riding style.

[JorgeGortex]

Truth.

[Steve O]

I bike the Capital Crescent a couple times a week after dark–from Bethesda to Chain Bridge in the reverse direction (most cyclists coming at me; few if any traveling my direction). Since early November pretty much all the cyclists who use the trail have decent (or amazing!) lights. However, I recently passed two cyclists coming the other way without any lights at all. How they could even see the trail (it’s pretty much pitch black) is beyond me. I also have some extra blinkies, but by the time I even saw them we were long past each other. I almost turned to chase one down, but I wasn’t sure about what kind of reaction I would get…and I’m on my way home to dinner with some nice momentum.

I’d love to give out the lights, but in the dark of the CCT I can’t see the lightless cyclists until it’s too late. Thankfully they are on the other side of the trail.

[Author]

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