3 ms·

I very much agree with your last statement; if you are undertaking a bus or other large vehicle you probably shouldn't be cycling at all. Of course there are ex

by jawr 14y ago

I very much agree with your last statement; if you are undertaking a bus or other large vehicle you probably shouldn't be cycling at all. Of course there are exceptions to this. Although lighting is a very important factor of being safe when cycling on the road, being aware of traffic and the law of the road is far more beneficial. I have cycled around London for years, usually with no lights at all and perhaps it is luck, but I have never had an accident. You need a strong position in the road and decisive action that allows other road users to see your intentions - just act as if you were a car.

thomseddon 14y ago
"just act as if you were a car" This.
- ygra 14y ago
  Sometimes complicated by laws that require you to cycle on cycleways that are almost always more dangerous than cycling on the street (since drivers rarely look for cyclists if they are a few meters away from the road). At least in Germany.
dabeeeenster 14y ago
If you are cycling without lights, I would say you shouldn't be cycling at all.
- jawr 14y ago
  This is true especially in the autumn/winter. Unfortunately my self confidence on the road usually get's the best of me. As much as I hate to say it, maybe there should be some sort of guidelines/laws to cycling on the road; I know there are plenty of drivers that would want this and I have seen some awful cyclists on the road who are not only a danger to themselves, but also to others.
  - mootothemax 14y ago
    maybe there should be some sort of guidelines/laws to cycling on the road Such as the highway code? https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/overview-59-to-71 https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/overview-59-t...
  - endersshadow 14y ago
    ...there are written laws about cycling on the road. They're mostly ignored. In most states in the US, cyclists are required to follow all rules that an auto is required to follow.
mootothemax 14y ago
Although lighting is a very important factor of being safe when cycling on the road, being aware of traffic and the law of the road is far more beneficial. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of going around without lights on, if you do get involved in an accident, you won't have a leg to stand on. So no bike replacement, and no payout for missing teeth. When you think about the impact hand injuries can have on your career - let alone anything more serious - frankly I'd recommend lighting up for that reason alone. But please, do wear lights - you'll only be making life easier for everyone else around you.

by jawr 14y ago

thomseddon 14y ago

"just act as if you were a car" This.

ygra 14y ago
Sometimes complicated by laws that require you to cycle on cycleways that are almost always more dangerous than cycling on the street (since drivers rarely look for cyclists if they are a few meters away from the road). At least in Germany.

dabeeeenster 14y ago

If you are cycling without lights, I would say you shouldn't be cycling at all.

jawr 14y ago
This is true especially in the autumn/winter. Unfortunately my self confidence on the road usually get's the best of me. As much as I hate to say it, maybe there should be some sort of guidelines/laws to cycling on the road; I know there are plenty of drivers that would want this and I have seen some awful cyclists on the road who are not only a danger to themselves, but also to others.
- mootothemax 14y ago
  maybe there should be some sort of guidelines/laws to cycling on the road Such as the highway code? https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/overview-59-to-71 https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/overview-59-t...
- endersshadow 14y ago
  ...there are written laws about cycling on the road. They're mostly ignored. In most states in the US, cyclists are required to follow all rules that an auto is required to follow.

mootothemax 14y ago

Although lighting is a very important factor of being safe when cycling on the road, being aware of traffic and the law of the road is far more beneficial. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of going around without lights on, if you do get involved in an accident, you won't have a leg to stand on. So no bike replacement, and no payout for missing teeth. When you think about the impact hand injuries can have on your career - let alone anything more serious - frankly I'd recommend lighting up for that reason alone. But please, do wear lights - you'll only be making life easier for everyone else around you.