Bicycle Network Victoria: Ride On magazine

Friendly tail

June 2010

Most of us have a tail light, most of us use them when it gets a little dark, but how many of us actually use them during the day? I have a Luxeon tail light, and I always use it on flash mode. During the MAD Ride, I decided to turn it on. Further along the ride, I had a car slow down next to me. The driver opened his passenger window and called out "I just wanted to congratulate you on using a light." I replied with a puffed "Thanks!" and a thumbs up.

Out of all the people he passed on this ride, possibly a hundred or so, he noticed just one with a light on and it made a difference.

This is a reminder to everyone that it's good to turn your light on during the day, especially if you're in a country area where drivers may not be as alert to riders on the road.

Paul Freeman, Dandenong, VIC

Lighten up

June 2010

As the days get shorter and the dawn gets later, I think it’s timely to mention the need for more lights.

As a two-wheeled commuter, I travel 15km to work, mostly in the dark and mainly on shared paths. Most riders I see have at least one front and rear light and are clearly visible if coming towards you or if you are approaching from their back. Kudos to them. However, the number of winter walkers dressed in dark tracksuits, out for their pre-work exercise and not carrying lights is inversely proportional to the number of riders who do.

Most of the time paths are poorly lit or have no lighting at all and many bike lights are designed to be seen, not to light up the path ahead. They are ‘shared’ paths and therefore everyone’s duty to share the responsibility of being seen in the dark.

If you pass an unlit pedestrian, politely say “Lights please” and keep riding (and of course, ring your bell when approaching). If we all do it, the message will start to sink in.

PS. Don’t start me on dogs off leashes!

Rohan Harper, Blackburn, VIC

Support for helmet-mounted lights

April 2010

In response to Alan Tonkin’s letter in the February–March Ride On, I ride a 16km commute on country roads into Ballarat and use a helmet-mounted bright LED light. It is my helmet light that makes me a “real” vehicle on the road on a dark night.

It allows me to negotiate my way on my narrow gravel lane with security that I will miss the loose gravel. With a turn of my head I can inform a driver moving at 100km/h that we are approaching the same intersection, and with a lift of my chin I can “flash” the forgetful driver who thinks “my vehicle” must have a driver with eyes that are impervious to glare.

No way should a call to ban these lights be generated.

Pauline Roche, Buninyong VIC

Alan Tonkin proposed in the Feb/March issue that helmet-mounted lights should be illegal. I disagree. A considerate tip of the head is all that's required to avoid dazzling oncoming riders. Conversely, a quick glance in their direction alerts others to your presence.

HID and LED lights have enhanced rider safety on and off road, and are a positive development akin to moving from carbide to incandescent to halogen lamps. They've helped me avoid encounters with broken glass, excrement, pedestrians, dogs, riders, wildlife and cars. I'd like oncoming riders to have one too.

Peter Barnes, Eltham, VIC

Bright lights OK

3 June 09

I am a rider who has bright lights, and make no apology to other riders.

I ride a mix of road and bike tracks to and from work daily and have my lights on all year to be VISIBLE, particularly by cars, pedestrians and other cyclists.

In winter where the bike tracks have large sections of no lighting it is necessary to be able to see other users and pedestrians in dark clothing.

The few complaints I have had are from other cyclists who seem to have inadequate or no lights.

I have had near misses that have been averted at the last moment by the offender seeing my lights.

Russell Robinson-Pope

Glen Iris VIC

Light up at night

16 April 08

Please get some media coverage re need for cyclists to have lights. Front lights as well as rear. Too many cyclists believe tail is sufficient. Last Monday, around 6:00, I saw a cyclist in Mt Eliza. It was dusk. He was in dark clothes. He did not have a front light. He did have a rear light. However, as large as it was, it was attached to his backpack and was facing out from the right hand side of the pack, not to the rear. He probably thought he could be seen from behind.

With the price of petrol soaring, there will no doubt be more bicycles, and motor bikes on the road. We all need to take care.

Sue Snowdon

Seaford VIC