How would you tell a cyclist that you think his lighting is insufficient?

[creadinger]

Question – as a ped on a random street – how would you tell a cyclist that you think his lighting is insufficient? This morning at 5:30 I was walking to the yoga studio on MacArthur Blvd near Arizona Ave and a guy rode by heading east. He had a very dim blinking light on the handlebars and one decent blinking light on the back. I had just parallel parked on the street and if the timing had been different I doubt I would have seen him in my side mirror as I checked for oncoming traffic before opening my door. MacArthur isn’t crazy busy at that hour, but it’s busy enough and with parked cars everywhere that more lights would be better.

He was also wearing a TT aero helmet, which I thought a little strange. He wasn’t going fast enough that an aero helmet would have helped.

Topic

[Mark Blacknell]

@creadinger 35857 wrote:

He was also wearing a TT aero helmet, which I thought a little strange.

Sounds like Tim just forgot to charge his light battery, again.

More seriously, if the guy was in earshot, I’d say something about almost not seeing him. I think it has – at best – a 50% chance of being well-received (figuring in that it’s coming from a driver, probably causes embarrassment, etc.). I wouldn’t chase him down to say anything.

[Tim Kelley]

@creadinger 35857 wrote:

He was also wearing a TT aero helmet, which I thought a little strange. He wasn’t going fast enough that an aero helmet would have helped.

It’s MacArthur! What kind of helmet are you suppose to wear? 12 mph is generally quoted as the speed you need to be maintaining to get an aerodynamic benefit.

[creadinger]

@Mark Blacknell 35861 wrote:

Sounds like Tim just forgot to charge his light battery, again. More seriously, if the guy was in earshot, I’d say something about almost not seeing him. I think it has – at best – a 50% chance of being well-received (figuring in that it’s coming from a driver, probably causes embarrassment, etc.). I wouldn’t chase him down to say anything.

Yeah the question is really about how it would be received because yelling out as he rides by is all you can do as a ped. But since it’s really early, really quiet and dark, someone yelling out to you would certainly be a startling experience. In the end though I’m just trying to look out for him.

It’s MacArthur! What kind of helmet are you suppose to wear? 12 mph is generally quoted as the speed you need to be maintaining to get an aerodynamic benefit.

He may have just barely been going fast enough to get the aero benefit then. BARELY.

[baiskeli]

“Your lighting is insufficient.”

[creadinger]

@baiskeli 35871 wrote:

“Your lighting is insufficient.”

Thank you for being so extremely helpful. Sorry for wasting your time with such an obviously nonsense question…

[Tim Kelley]

@creadinger 35872 wrote:

Thank you for being so extremely helpful. Sorry for wasting your time with such an obviously nonsense question…

Don’t be silly! I thought it was a great question.

Sometimes the answer can be so simple.

[pfunkallstar]

I actually did this the other day. I shouted, in a kindly, paternal manner mind you, that “I can’t see you for s#$t.” That was after almost plowing into the black coat wearing dude riding on the darkest portion of the W&OD in Falls Church. Paternal.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

I say “Hi, you are absolutely invisible out there.” It applies to those who are just “out for a ride” at dusk in their favorite black on black kits.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@pfunkallstar 35878 wrote:

I actually did this the other day. I shouted, in a kindly, paternal manner mind you, that “I can’t see you for s#$t.” That was after almost plowing into the black coat wearing dude riding on the darkest portion of the W&OD in Falls Church. Paternal.

My dad actually talks this way, interspersed with early ’70s idioms like bitchin’.

[rcannon100]

@Tim Kelley 35873 wrote:

Don’t be silly! I thought it was a great question.

Sometimes the answer can be so simple.

I agree w Tim – on both accounts. It’s a good question. And…. I would not sweat it… I would just tell him.

I have a low level chatter I do on the trail. Its not aggressive, mean or whatever. It’s just a matter of fact reminding people of safety and etiquette. I dont ride too much in the dark so the example is usually like a jogger jogging on the left, passing and simply saying as I go by “Please jog on the right.”

You gotta make it short, sweet, clear, and effective. Dont worry about being cute. By that time you are already gone by.

Editing – and agreeing w Dirt below – I have to say, my assumption is not that I am going to be effective. I seriously doubt my chatter will result in changed behavior. Instead, my assumption is that if the person hears the message enough times from enough people, that might change behavior. I think there is an advertising adage that you have to hear a message 9 times before it sinks in – envision yourself as one of many messengers, delivering the message. Keep it short. Keep it sweet and effective. Assume that you are building on a bigger dialog.

[Dirt]

I have a TON of experience with communicating with Ninjas.

Problems:
1) No-one wants to hear anything like criticism…. especially not someone who is kitted up. We’re not all asshats, but to be honest, many of us are.
b) You don’t have much time to tell them.

Solutions:
q) Tone is everything. Sound critical, negative or aggressive and you’re going to get blown-off and get a negative response back. Try to be positive, happy and perky and you might possibly get the message across positively.

Results:
69) No matter what you say, the message likely isn’t going to be received well.
iii) Who cares? Getting a negative reaction from Mr. Inadequate isn’t that big of a deal. S/he is going to get the message, even if it isn’t really welcomed. Actually I really do care how I’m received. I would love to have positive interactions with people on the trail. Sometimes that just isn’t possible.

Hope that helps a little.

Pete

[Tim Kelley]

One approach that you can use on peds, cyclists, and even drivers if you have more than just a passing moment starts with a plea, “Hey–can you help me?”

That usually disarms people enough that you can follow up with something along the lines of:

Peds: “It’s hard to see you in all black. Reflective gear goes a long way in making you visible–did you know that BikeArlington gives out reflective vests and “straps?

Bikes: “Your bike lights are blinding! Have you thought about turning off flash mode on the trail, or aiming your helmet mounted light off to the side when we pass?”

Cars: “I need help from drivers to give me a little extra space. Like you, I’m just trying to get home to my family”

[dasgeh]

I also find that if you start out with the mindset that this person is trying to be a responsible cyclist (or ped or driver or whatever) and just doesn’t realize whatever you’re trying to tell them, then you’ll go farther. It may not change your words, but it will your tone, and it will probably come across, even if the person is defensive at first.

This actually happened to me last night – as I was walking into the agency’s garage, a guy in all black, black bike, no light was biking out. I happened to have a handful of BikeArlington blinkies in my bag, so I said “Hey, would you like some blinky lights”. He was really grateful, took a couple lights for front and back, and turned on the lights he had on his bike all along (he mentioned he often forgets to turn them on until he gets to the dark part of his commute — to be fair, we were in Foggy Bottom, where there’s enough ambient light that I understand forgetting.

Anyway, I was so happy to be able to share the light! Thanks BikeArlington!

[baiskeli]

@creadinger 35872 wrote:

Thank you for being so extremely helpful. Sorry for wasting your time with such an obviously nonsense question…

Wasn’t trying to be snarky. Just saying that the direct approach is the best. He probably doesn’t know and would appreciate the direct input.

[jrenaut]

@baiskeli 35902 wrote:

Wasn’t trying to be snarky. Just saying that the direct approach is the best. He probably doesn’t know and would appreciate the direct input.

I think this perfectly highlights the fear most of us have when doing something like this. You’re not likely to be able to convey much beyond your actual words (like on the internet), as your facial expression is probably obscured in part by your helmet, maybe glasses, the dark, you may be moving, etc… And there’s no greater conversational context (like on the internet). And even your tone of voice may be hard to read because you may be breathing a little harder than usual, or moving, or whatever.

So the chances of something being misinterpreted are high. Since you’re delivering criticism, however constructive, this is an easy situation for the receiver to get mad at you.

[Author]

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