Brian-

Well put- and I'm excited to see people getting passionate about these issues. Do you all mind if I reference this conversation in an upcoming class we're having on winter commuting? I think the visibility debate will rage, especially up here in the frozen north, where the winters bring narrower lanes and more irritable drivers, less patience, more freakouts, and so much to pay attention too- lights and reflectors and visibility become, suddenly - and more than ever, key.

Peace-
pete

On Jan 15, 2008 9:59 AM, Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc. <urbanbikeproject@gmail.com> wrote:
Christopher,

I think there may be some confusion about the meaning of my post...

" I always behave like i'm invisible to cars no matter how much illumination I have"

I was stating that even if I had "Aircraft landing lights" on the front of my bike I would still ride and act like cars did not see me.  In other words, behave like traffic but don't expect to be treated like traffic despite having bright lights.

This means riding defensively and never, ever, assuming you have the right of way.  That's what I teach and practice as a bicycle education leader of my community.  I invested in a very expensive 12V NiteHawk system last year and I always encourage others to buy adequate lighting.

Sidewalk/Street, Helmet/No Helmet, Good Lighting/Bad Lighting/No Lighting.  Teach people the right way, lead by example and make sure they're safe-as-can-be no matter what method they choose.

Hope that shed some light..hehe

Brian




On Jan 14, 2008 11:19 PM, < BovineOaks@aol.com> wrote:
 
I always behave like i'm invisible to cars no matter how much illumination I have.

Brian
UBP
If I taped ten thousand lightning bugs to my body I still would not put out much light, Barely a dim glow if I was lucky. It is not the number of lights that make you seen or not seen it is the brightness of the lights that matters.
 
If you put on Aircraft landing lights on the front of your bike and shot a beam a half mile down the road I am sure you could not say "I always behave like i'm invisible to cars no matter how much illumination I have."
If you said "I have a bunch of low lumen flash lights on my bike and I can not be seen by cars that have lots of lumens coming out of their headlamps, then I would have to say DUH!  Car drivers are looking for traffic to have high lumen lights out on the road, if you wish to be treated like traffic, act like traffic!
 
What would you think if a car had two little battery powered flash lights or little bicycle blinkers where its head lamps were supposed to be? Would you see the car if other brightly lit cars were around it or would it be near invisible? Brian you should behave like you are invisible when you have low lumen lights on your bike, because you are. You can either whine about it or change your choice of lights.
 
I am asking you to Think, We are the .
 
Christopher Wallace
 
 



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