Winter Cycling

[John Brooking]

I was just browsing the WSMAC blog listing, and remembered that I had written a post for it last March about winter cycling.

If another panelist is needed for the PBPAC Winter Cycling discussion, I could participate as well.

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

http://cyclingsavvy.org

[Denise Brautigam]

John,

I read your article on winter cycling. Some good tips in there, thanks. I have a question however about rear lights.  You say they are suppose to be red or orange [on a bicycle].  Is that a law?  Could you tell me where you found that?

I use 2 white rear lights instead of red. I had red, but changed to white because the red just didn't seem very visible, at least not what I am using. My white lights are much better and are not so bright as to blind anyone behind me. I am limited as to where I can put lights on my bike so this was the best solution for me. Yes, maybe I can spend more on a better red light but I have, and so not impressed with how long they last.  Fact is, they don't last any longer than the cheap ones so I don't want to do it. 

So is there a law about using a white light in the rear?  Or is there any other reason you can think of not to do it?  Thanks.

Denise B

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[John Brooking]

Yes, the law about bicycle lights is paragraph 1 of this statute, and states:

A bicycle, scooter or motorized bicycle or tricycle, when in use in the nighttime, must have:  

A. Lighted a front light that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 200 feet to the front;
B. A red or amber light or reflector to the rear that is visible at least 200 feet to the rear; and
C. Reflector material on the pedals, unless the bicyclist is wearing reflective material on the feet or ankles.

A bicyclist may also use optional supplementary reflectors, lights or reflective or lighted safety equipment.

I'm sure the reason for the color requirement is to be consistent with motor vehicles. White light means the vehicle is coming towards you, red means you're behind it. And that makes sense to me, so I stick to it. I imagine a motorist coming up behind you but seeing your white light (or any other color) could be momentarily confused about which direction you're going, or even what you are, until more of you comes into view. People are used to red marking the back of something up ahead.

Maybe surprisingly, the law allows either a red light or reflector in the back. So you could get away legally with just a reflector. Personally, I'm not comfortable with just a reflector, but both options have their positives and negatives. Reflectors depend on a light shining on them, degrade more in fog (the reflector's "light" is making a round trip from the car's headlights back to the motorist's eyes, compared to a bike light's one-way trip), and can get dirty or misaligned. Lights, of course, can have their batteries die. So I prefer to use both.

Actually, I just last week got a front generator hub lighting system installed, so I'll alway have lights with me. But it's about the most expensive option, though hopefully it will last a good long time. I'd been using USB-rechargable lights the last few years, which are nice and bright, but the batteries only last a few hours between charges, and I've had bad luck with the switches lasting more than 2-3 years on most of them. Cheaper alkaline battery lights have longer life, but not as bright. If you're only riding in town under streetlights, dimmer front lights might be okay. They'll still allow people to see you coming, even if they don't light your way as well.

I suppose the last sentence in statute, about optional supplementary equipment, could mean that it's not disallowed to have other colored lights anywhere, including front or back. But I think that should be in addition to the legal requirement, and I personally choose to stick to just white in front and red/orange in back, especially both a rear light and reflector(s). I feel like anything beyond that is diminishing returns.

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

http://cyclingsavvy.org

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/408699751.1365882.1668884563685%40mail.yahoo.com.

[John Brooking]

I should have mentioned that my CyclingSavvy colleague in Massachusetts, John Allen, also just wrote an article about bicycle lights. It's less of a general article, more about beam patterns (a pet peeve of his), but it has two nice videos about tips for aiming your lights properly. And it also references an earlier, more general article about lights that I had written for CyclingSavvy, which in turn references an original article I wrote for a personal blog I started during the pandemic, when I noticed the sharp uptick in people biking. :-)

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

http://cyclingsavvy.org

[John Brooking]

Also, this should be used in all the marketing. Best winter cycling cartoon ever, IMO. :-D

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

http://cyclingsavvy.org

[Winston Lumpkins]

I wouldn't ride with a bright white light in the back.  No matter the legal requirements, I would be worried about it blinding oncoming traffic- red lights are much kinder in the eyes, and sometimes someone might be stuck behind me for a few blocks.

I've too have been using a generator hub & lights for about 3-4 years now.  I absolutely think they're worth every penny.  I've even moved them from bike to bike.  Cheaper in the long run than rechargeable lights which break, wear out, or just run out of juice at bad times 

I find the relatively inexpensive (under $40) rear generator lights to be very bright, though they're solid & don't blink.

I have pretty expensive German front light with a shaped beam, which I've grown very fond of.  It seems to allow my night vision to work better than a shapeless beam, though, the angle of the light has to be exact.  Less bright ones can be had for a little less. 

 Sometimes I add a rear blinking light in addition to the generator system's solid light, as a backup & for more visiblity.  It's wonderful to just have lights that always work & never need to be re-charged.  

I think, perhaps in addition to e-bike & cargo bike rebates (which some municipalities offer) rebates should be considered for generator light systems.  They transform a bicycle into a true vehicle, with built in lights that always work!  

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[Denise Brautigam]

Well, I don't think the small white lights I'm using are bright enough to bother anyone behind me. They're pretty small. But anyway, for the sake of causing less confusion to drivers [& to keep it legal :)], I will resort back to the red ones.

I just put them on and I may have found a better way to position them so the beam is at a better angle and more visible. I didn't think I could do that.  That was the problem I was having with them.

So, thanks!   

Denise

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[Winston Lumpkins]

One thing you can do with small blinky lights, of any color, is point them sideways- this will help with side visibility, which can be very helpful in chaotic places like the Old Port.  The more the better downtown, I think.

Sometimes, if I remember to charge it, I use a light that goes in my spokes in my rear wheel- I set it to the red setting, but it also does disco lighting.  I think it probably helps people see me from the side quite allot!  I found it made me ill in the front wheel... 

~Winston

Winston Lumpkins IV (he/him/his)

Chair, Portland Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
https://www.portlandbikeped.org/

winston....@gmail.com
207-408-1508

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[Denise Brautigam]

Lol. Yes, they're a lot of fun.....Denise

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[John Brooking]

I don't tend to put a lot of stock in the need for side visibility. My thinking is if it's important for someone to see you from the side, in time to respond, they first need to have seen you coming, and that's what the headlight is for. Once you're in front of them, they're going to see you in their headlights anyway, and either they have time to react or they don't. (Another good argument for riding further away from the edge!)

But of course fun is good, so no downside (unless it makes you think you don't need a headlight). I used to deck out my bike with a string of holiday lights around this time of year, just for fun. I got an effusive compliment from a 12-year-old kid at the grocery store once, so that was rewarding. :-)

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

http://cyclingsavvy.org

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/310586909.1400705.1668898804575%40mail.yahoo.com.