4 ms·

German StVZO rules are not helping when the users are not directing the beam towards the road but horizontally. The current bicycles lights are very strong and

by Loic 2y ago

German StVZO rules are not helping when the users are not directing the beam towards the road but horizontally. The current bicycles lights are very strong and I am sometimes nearly blinded from them in day light!

tpm 2y ago
and enforce them
- LargoLasskhyfv 2y ago
  In real life any street cop in .de is happy with you having any light at all, when riding a bicycle in the dark. At least that was my experience there. The exception may be when they are doing a special action check for a day, or so, across the whole city. Then you may be fined, cited, or even get some negative points in 'Flensburg'/your drivers license. But that applies more to running red lights, or using bicycle lanes in the wrong direction.
IshKebab 2y ago
I have yet to see a single bike light that actually lets you direct the light just to the road (like you can with dipped car headlights). Maybe there are some super expensive ones, but I don't think we can entirely blame cyclists. The design of affordable lights is just not very good.
- looofooo0 2y ago
  The main problem is the lack of rigor fixing, i.e. lamps rotate up or down. https://www.gazelle.de/fahrraeder/esprit https://www.gazelle.de/fahrraeder/esprit this is a solution
- tpm 2y ago
  For example this one (Color: QD-1301T): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001313812415.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001313812415.html It's not exactly cheap (and probably can be found cheaper elsewhere), but then it's superbright 2400 lumen with 2 sets of leds (headlights and meeting/dipped lights) and a powerbank. You can switch with the buttons. I own a slightly different version (2200 lumen, same casing) and it's great. edit: cheaper here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006446894517.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006446894517.html
- fractallyte 2y ago
  My cheap lights, which are rubber-strapped onto my handlebars, can be directed anywhere I want...
  - IshKebab 2y ago
    And do they have a shaped beam pattern like a dipped car headlight? I doubt it.
    - fractallyte 2y ago
      They're far too basic for that - but with the advantage that I have full control over where they're pointed. Sometimes basic is better!
- Cumpiler69 2y ago
  >I have yet to see a single bike light that actually lets you direct the light just to the road What the hell, are your lights welded/glued in place to the bike frame or what? Most bike lights are screwed in, and with those screws you can adjust the angle of the light both up/down and left/right like this: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AKoH1V25L._AC_SL1500_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AKoH1V25L._AC_SL1500_....
  - probably_wrong 2y ago
    The comment mentions "affordable lights" so I think they're talking about lights like [1] that are mounted on the handlebar and where you can only adjust the vertical angle. Speaking for my German bubble, there are roughly two types of bike riders: those who invest 1k+ on their gear and those that buy a flea market bike for 100€ and then fit the cheapest light they can find (that is, the ones I mention). Most students I know fall in the second category, making those lights quite popular. [1] https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nSkKcBIdL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_FMwebp_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nSkKcBIdL._AC_UF894,10...
    - Cumpiler69 2y ago
      >I think they're talking about lights like [1] that are mounted on the handlebar and where you can only adjust the vertical angle It can't be that what he meant, since if you can adjust the vertical angle, you can stop blinding people. >Most students I know fall in the second category, making those lights quite popular. I know. I nearly ran over one who had no good lights, dark hoodie with no reflective gear, when I was reversing on a dark street, at night. Nearly shat myself after the close call. I know students are poor, but God damn man, your life is worth more than a couple of Euros you're saving by running a crappy light who's battery died 2 years ago. Skip on a pizza/few beers in town one time and get a proper light. You don't need to spend thousands of euros on gear to have a safe and visible cycling experience. People are just stupid and lazy about their own safety, that's all. You only realize it when you switch from a cyclist to a driver, how dangerous these cyclists with no good lights are at night. > the cheapest light they can find (that is, the ones I mention Dude, that light you shared is a luxury compared to what most students I see have. Most have these god awful things with low battery: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Bicycle-Accessories-Silicone-light-Silicone-Bicycle_60769186331.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Bicycle-Accessories-S...
- lqet 2y ago
  > I have yet to see a single bike light that actually lets you direct the light just to the road My 1975 vintage Peugeot bike already has a front light with a lens that directs the beam downwards, can be adjusted to point even further downwards with a screw, and even has a small shield on top of the lens to stop the beam from travelling upwards. It works perfectly with the original dynamo and a cheap LED light bulb from Amazon. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/640x480/ue8_lugs1_6edb0f98dba2ce923e3af6bc5da3b9e4faaa5fe5.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/640x48...

by Loic 2y ago

tpm 2y ago

and enforce them

LargoLasskhyfv 2y ago
In real life any street cop in .de is happy with you having any light at all, when riding a bicycle in the dark. At least that was my experience there. The exception may be when they are doing a special action check for a day, or so, across the whole city. Then you may be fined, cited, or even get some negative points in 'Flensburg'/your drivers license. But that applies more to running red lights, or using bicycle lanes in the wrong direction.

IshKebab 2y ago

I have yet to see a single bike light that actually lets you direct the light just to the road (like you can with dipped car headlights). Maybe there are some super expensive ones, but I don't think we can entirely blame cyclists. The design of affordable lights is just not very good.

looofooo0 2y ago
The main problem is the lack of rigor fixing, i.e. lamps rotate up or down. https://www.gazelle.de/fahrraeder/esprit https://www.gazelle.de/fahrraeder/esprit this is a solution
tpm 2y ago
For example this one (Color: QD-1301T): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001313812415.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001313812415.html It's not exactly cheap (and probably can be found cheaper elsewhere), but then it's superbright 2400 lumen with 2 sets of leds (headlights and meeting/dipped lights) and a powerbank. You can switch with the buttons. I own a slightly different version (2200 lumen, same casing) and it's great. edit: cheaper here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006446894517.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006446894517.html
fractallyte 2y ago
My cheap lights, which are rubber-strapped onto my handlebars, can be directed anywhere I want...
- IshKebab 2y ago
  And do they have a shaped beam pattern like a dipped car headlight? I doubt it.
  - fractallyte 2y ago
    They're far too basic for that - but with the advantage that I have full control over where they're pointed. Sometimes basic is better!
Cumpiler69 2y ago
>I have yet to see a single bike light that actually lets you direct the light just to the road What the hell, are your lights welded/glued in place to the bike frame or what? Most bike lights are screwed in, and with those screws you can adjust the angle of the light both up/down and left/right like this: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AKoH1V25L._AC_SL1500_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AKoH1V25L._AC_SL1500_....
- probably_wrong 2y ago
  The comment mentions "affordable lights" so I think they're talking about lights like [1] that are mounted on the handlebar and where you can only adjust the vertical angle. Speaking for my German bubble, there are roughly two types of bike riders: those who invest 1k+ on their gear and those that buy a flea market bike for 100€ and then fit the cheapest light they can find (that is, the ones I mention). Most students I know fall in the second category, making those lights quite popular. [1] https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nSkKcBIdL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_FMwebp_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nSkKcBIdL._AC_UF894,10...
  - Cumpiler69 2y ago
    >I think they're talking about lights like [1] that are mounted on the handlebar and where you can only adjust the vertical angle It can't be that what he meant, since if you can adjust the vertical angle, you can stop blinding people. >Most students I know fall in the second category, making those lights quite popular. I know. I nearly ran over one who had no good lights, dark hoodie with no reflective gear, when I was reversing on a dark street, at night. Nearly shat myself after the close call. I know students are poor, but God damn man, your life is worth more than a couple of Euros you're saving by running a crappy light who's battery died 2 years ago. Skip on a pizza/few beers in town one time and get a proper light. You don't need to spend thousands of euros on gear to have a safe and visible cycling experience. People are just stupid and lazy about their own safety, that's all. You only realize it when you switch from a cyclist to a driver, how dangerous these cyclists with no good lights are at night. > the cheapest light they can find (that is, the ones I mention Dude, that light you shared is a luxury compared to what most students I see have. Most have these god awful things with low battery: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Bicycle-Accessories-Silicone-light-Silicone-Bicycle_60769186331.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Bicycle-Accessories-S...
lqet 2y ago
> I have yet to see a single bike light that actually lets you direct the light just to the road My 1975 vintage Peugeot bike already has a front light with a lens that directs the beam downwards, can be adjusted to point even further downwards with a screw, and even has a small shield on top of the lens to stop the beam from travelling upwards. It works perfectly with the original dynamo and a cheap LED light bulb from Amazon. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/640x480/ue8_lugs1_6edb0f98dba2ce923e3af6bc5da3b9e4faaa5fe5.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/640x48...