See the Lights
The other day I was biking home after work when out of nowhere…
It gets dark early these days. That means lights are something to plan on having. But even some folks that technically have lights don’t make it easy to see them.
So make sure to remember your lights, but also make sure they are visible.
These are my favorite lights http://www.alexglow.com/anti-love-bike-lights/
They are cheap, hard to steal and make your bike easy to see.
“Beware of people with no lights and not wearing a helmet.”
And be even warier of people with no lights and dressed in black from head to foot – but wearing a helmet. You do really have to wonder what reasoning processes are at work there.
Also be aware that a three or four weedy little Christmas-tree lights are just as difficult to see from a distance as one weedy little Christmas-tree light. Far better to invest in a real heavy-duty rear light like my own Busch and Muller 4-LED job. It’s as visible as the rear light of a motorbike, yet it still consumes only two AA batteries each winter: simply amazing light output for so little power consumption.
Please don’t diss my xmas lights before you see them. I wear a 10′ string and it’s only PART of my lighting and visibility wardrobe. I have very bright lights on my helmet (can’t wear 600 lumens because I would blind people, I’m in NYC) and wear hi-vis clothing as well. The xmas lights can be seen from all angles,including the side, are on my torso, so can be seen above parked cars,and I have received numerous compliments from cyclists, drivers, especially cab drivers, thanking me for wearing them because they stand out from the ordinary and make me highly visible! Here, being seen from all angles and high up is important – so many sight obstacles at bike level, and so much competition for attention.
Here in Maryland, I ride for fun and exercise predawn, whenever it’s warm enough. I have many lights. Front, rear, side – all are powerful. I have blinking Knogs on on my front fork, and also Spokelit colored lights in both wheels. Looking like a Christmas Tree . . . and that’s the point! Cars coming from a side street are the greatest danger. They need to see you not just front and rear, but from the side.
I’m in London, England. Walking through the city after dark I get seriously worried about the quality of lights some cyclists use. If a car passes me with it’s headlights on, then your lights have to be maybe 50% as bright, otherwise you disappear. Never worry that your lights are too bright – just adjust the angle (liked dipped headlights) and stay safe.
I couldn’t agree more about the need for lights, my bike currently has 7 lights, it is possible my bike may be visible from space. By the way great comic, keep up the awesome work!