I feel bad for all AM eastbound/PM westbound commuters

[kcb203]

The sun glare is treacherous this time of year. I’m usually riding west and looked over my shoulder and realized you can’t see a thing when riding east at 8 am (or riding west at 6:15 pm).

Topic

[Steve O]

@kcb203 126638 wrote:

The sun glare is treacherous this time of year. I’m usually riding west and looked over my shoulder and realized you can’t see a thing when riding east at 8 am (or riding west at 6:15 pm).

So be especially careful crossing roads that go east-west, as drivers may not be able to see the traffic signals. Route 50 in Arlington/Falls Church/Fairfax can be notoriously bad, and sun glare may have been a contributing factor in the car/bike-rider crash at Irving St. last year.

[mstone]

@Steve O 126646 wrote:

So be especially careful crossing roads that go east-west, as drivers may not be able to see the traffic signals.

Note that the correct approach to driving under such conditions is to speed up, so you spend less time in the intersection.

[MFC]

Good time to use both your front and read lights in blinking mode, so you stand out and are identifiable as a cyclist (or maybe just speed up – either one should work).

[GovernorSilver]

@kcb203 126638 wrote:

The sun glare is treacherous this time of year. I’m usually riding west and looked over my shoulder and realized you can’t see a thing when riding east at 8 am (or riding west at 6:15 pm).

Around 8 AM I’m still crossing the bridge to Washington St. in Old Town Alexandria. Haven’t had a problem with glare, whether it’s because I might not actually be facing the sun directly (I’m kind of facing north at the start of the bridge, and gradually turning east as the bridge curves, then I’m looking at the bridge itself instead of the sun as I climb).

Around 6:15 it’s not a problem for me either – I’m probably riding west in the National Mall or some other shaded place. I do have a cycling cap w/ visor I can put on just in case, underneath the helmet.

My coworker says though that motorists start looking out for cyclists less as the weather gets colder. I’m probably start using my helmet light in blink mode in the mornings.

[Author]

Replies