Cycling Tips & Stories

Front and rear lights on your bicycle? After dark, they're not just a good idea, they're the law.

Here is what the Missouri Driver Guide says:

LIGHTS AND REFLECTORS — The number of bicycle-auto crashes rises dramatically between sunset and sunrise. Almost all such crashes can be prevented with proper bicycle lights and reflectors. You must have the following lights and reflectors when riding your bicycle from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise:

1. A WHITE LIGHT on the front of your bicycle or carried by you that other drivers can see from 500 feet.

2. A REAR RED REFLECTOR, at least two square inches, or a REAR RED LIGHT that drivers can see when reflected by their vehicles’ low beam headlights at 600 feet.

3. REFLECTIVE MATERIAL OR LIGHTS on the pedals, crank arms, shoes, or lower legs that drivers can see when reflected by their vehicles’ low beam headlights at 200 feet.

4. REFLECTIVE MATERIAL AND/OR LIGHTS ON EACH SIDE OF THE BICYCLE or bicyclist that drivers can see when reflected by their vehicles’ low beam headlights at 300 feet. . . .

But I can see just fine. I don't need lights, especially not a front light!

The primary purpose of a bicycle headlight is not so that you can see. It is so that OTHERS can see YOU.

If you are bicycling at night without lights, your eyes dark adapt. Then you can see quite well in dim conditions.

But the motorist is seeing with the aid of bright headlights at all times. The motorist's eyes are not dark-adapted.

The result is, you, the unlighted bicyclist, can see the motorist just fine.

But the motorist can't see you at all.

Don't ride at dusk or night without lights--front and rear. permanent link to article: "Bicycle lights, front and rear--yes, they ARE required by law"
posted by Brent Hugh at 9/02/2006 07:32:00 PM |comment on this article