Lights on push bikes

[Amadeus]

Whats the position of lights on a push bike?

I was in traffic (in car) coming up to junction and a push bike was trying to come up the inside of the cars behind me. It had a front light that was I think led but very bright and flashing - probably about 3 times a second. Saw later that it was the same on the back (in terms of flashing - wasn't as bright).
It was really annoying and I found it distracting as well.
Are these lights legal?

[maviczap]

From what I remember, and things might have changed, both front & rear lights should be fixed ie not flashing.

But there's nothing to say you can't supplement the fixed lights with the flashing LED's

However, as a cyclist it maybe a bit annoying to you, but you've noticed him. Better than a rider with no lights, which is infrequently the case these days and better than when I was young and the pathetic lights we used to have.

[Spank86]

I believe it did change a few years ago so that just having a flashing light was acceptable.

On a personal level I think it's dangerous, I've had a bike with a flashing light near me that I couldn't see for a bit because the lamp was obscured during the first few flashes and I wound up having to brake harder than I'd have liked when I finally did spot it.

[fizzwheel]

I think the law has changed and you can have a flashing light now but I'm not 100% sure.

It might be annoying, but flashing light is better than none and you did see him...

On the rear I run two lights, one set to flash and one set to constant on the front. I have one set to constant, but only because I broke the mounting bracket on the flashing one...

Edit - Flashing light is legal according to this...

http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4071

[missyburd]

YC and me were discussing bike lights just last night after being blinded while out in the van by a cyclist with a light that would rival my SV's. On a pitch black road I actually thought it was a motorbike to close to the side of the road. Better to be seen of course but a bit over the top. Apparently push bikes are not legally required to adjust their lights to suit other road users...and it shows!

[Runako]

Its less dangerous than no lights, as has been pointed out. But glad it meant the question was asked cause it means hopefully we're more considerate/aware of all road users. Cyclists get a bad rap sometimes and some are annoying. But, as with motorcyclists, its the few who tend to give the majority a bad name.

...and it shows!

Didn't adjust my headlights in France. Some bikes don't have a reflector on the tail light (MOT fail). I'm betting we all commit little indiscretions. But there's a difference between being outright dangerous and inconvenient. If its a temporary annoyance then I would put it in the first category (although whether this is truly dangerous is debatable). But then we all moan about modern cars using dazzling HID's, some of which are just legal.

[Amadeus]

TBH, he just made me want to knock him off - I thought it was very inconsiderate. But then I also think very loud exhausts are inconsiderate.

That aside, I thought it might be illegal for the same reason two (or more) notes in a horn is - confusion with emergency services.

[fizzwheel]

TBH, he just made me want to knock him off - I thought it was very inconsiderate.

I'm curious as to why you felt like that.

[Amadeus]

Well, it was *very* bright and because it was flashing it was very visible in the wing mirror and the rear mirror and I found it very distracting. Whilst I'm generally tolerant of most things, I'm very intolerant of people being inconsiderate and I felt this to be inconsiderate.
Interestingly enough, when I overtook him (after he'd undertook me and got on to the main road - I had no problem with the filtering), there didn't actually seem to be very much light directed at the road ahead of him.

I'm all for cyclists making themselves visible (as per bikers) and as some have previously said, it's a shame when a few give the rest of any collective a bad name. This was one of them.

[fizzwheel]

Sounds like it was badly aimed / adjusted. No point in having it if it isnt lighting up the road.

I have mine set so it points down and to the left so that I keep it out of car drivers eyes.

[Amadeus]

Yes, I think you were right.
Sorry if you thought I was having a go at you as a cyclist (assuming you it wasn't you in Wokingham this evening...)

[EssexDave]

Lights are useless if you don't see them. I don't like flashing lights and prefer a steady beam as it's nice to be able to see the road.

I will normally (and provided it's safe) move my lights down when a car comes the other way/around town.

However, I've had the problem when leaving them angled down that car drivers on country roads will leave their full beams on.

[fizzwheel]

Yes, I think you were right.
Sorry if you thought I was having a go at you as a cyclist (assuming you it wasn't you in Wokingham this evening...)

No problem. Its just good sometimes to get a non cyclists perspective on things.

[Spank86]

However, I've had the problem when leaving them angled down that car drivers on country roads will leave their full beams on.
I've had that even driving a car.

I've had some leave them on for ages then when I turn mine back on they dip them and seconds later quickly flash as if to tell me to dip mine.

:confused:

[yorkie_chris]

Sounds like it was badly aimed / adjusted. No point in having it if it isnt lighting up the road.

I have mine set so it points down and to the left so that I keep it out of car drivers eyes.

Good stuff.

Can you please explain that bit of common sense and human courtesy to the rest of the lycra clad c***s on the roads please! :-P


The modern LED torches are very very bright, a lot of them are using XM-L LED's and such which can put out near enough 1000 lumens. Probably comparable to an average motorbike headlight. The reflectors give a pronounced hot-spot which is ace for "throwing" the light far down a trail or something. However the similar aim also points it directly into drivers eyes and it's quite blinding.

Causing excessive dazzle is an offence I believe, but they don't enforce cyclists going through reds and stuff so there's no chance of it for sorting out irritating lamps.

I'm putting 4 or 6 of those XM-Ls on the XJ900 as driving lights to come on with the full beams. Should also be rather effective for re-educating (this is not an exhaustive list...) annoying cyclists, idiots with full beams on, chavs with sidelights and foglights instead of headlights etc.!

[fizzwheel]

Good stuff.

Can you please explain that bit of common sense and human courtesy to the rest of the lycra clad c***s on the roads please! :-P

I can try... I fear I wont get anywhere though.

I have an older version of this as my front light

http://www.magicshineuk.co.uk/products/MJ-816E-1800-lumens-Magicshine

Mines only 1400 lumens, its great for the unlit country roads I commute along.

[hardhat_harry]

I have a CREE 1200 Lumins light and yes its very bright (we do offroading at night, yep its daft) when the battery gets low it switches to flashing every three seconds to conserve power

[yorkie_chris]

This guy makes some really cool stuff
http://troutie.com/