Lights for Bikes – Volunteers Needed!

[acc]

I had one set of lights left when I spotted a man getting off from work and getting ready to ride his bike in the back parking lot of Flippin’ Pizza in Falls Church. I must have made quite an impression as I jogged across the lot waving the lights over my head and yelling, “Hey, I got free lights for your bike.” I think I startled him. Anyway, once I showed him how they worked and snapped them on his bike he said, “Thanks, you made my weekend. I really needed those.”

So that you too can run across parking lots accosting strange men, a reminder of the bike lights give away coming up on Monday:

When: Monday December 12th
Where: At the W&OD and Custis Trail near Bon Air Park
Time: 4:30-6:30

ann

[consularrider]

I’m now down to one set of lights to give away after lighting up two riders on Thursday and one on Friday. It seems to be easier to get the attention riders going the other way on 4MRT or the W&OD. I haven’t had much luck in the MVT. There’s one ninja there I have passed a couple of times after coming around Hains Point before reaching the airport. He’s too much heads down to pay any attention.

[Dirt]

I illuminated three people today.

[baiskeli]

@Dirt 11631 wrote:

I illuminated three people today.

We don’t need to hear lewd details about your personal life, Pete.

[consularrider]

I’m now out of lights for distribution. Too bad, on my way home last night someone I illumintated last week was riding with a bud. They had split the light set I gave rider #1, both had their blinky on the front handle bars only, but I had just given away my last set to a total ninja who just about took me out at the W&OD intersection with S Oakland/Court C along S Four Mile Run Dr.

[americancyclo]

I’m still surprised when people turn down lights. I offered some to a young couple pushing a stroller in the dark. They had headlamps, but were completely invisible from behind. At least take one red one for your baby! Argh. Count me in for stopping by on monday as long as its relatively dry.

[Dirt]

Looks like Monday will be nice, but cold. Bring an extra jacket and a warm hat so that you’ll be comfy standing around helping people with lights and reflectors.

Thanks!

Pete

[consularrider]

I could really have used a bunch of lights last night! There were a lot of riders out and I could have lit up at least six ninja cyclists and a few half ninjas.

[MCL1981]

I witnessed an almost collision between a zoned out cyclist and ped on the CCT this evening. It was “late dusk” so the headlight was not needed to see. But if you’re not heads up paying close attention, you could easily run into something or someone due to the lack of contrast. Cyclist was in front of me, both of us going south. A northbound ped in the southbound lane almost became bike food. The cyclist in front of me was clearly in “a zone” and didn’t see the ped until only a few feet away. It was REALLY REALLY close even after the ped plastered himself against the fence. We were going a good 15-18mph. That would hurt.

Point of my rambling… Even if the cyclist has lights, if they’re zoned out, it won’t matter. A ped with lights will snap a cyclist out of the zone from quite far away. I wish more peds would wear lights.

[Mark Blacknell]

Going to try to make this one. Please start a bonfire.

[DaveK]

As always I’m going to bail. Got an invite to go bowling at the Executive Office Building… I didn’t even know I could do that.

[americancyclo]

I’ll try to be there from 4:30 til I have to go get the little one.

[Dirt]

@Mark Blacknell 11887 wrote:

Going to try to make this one. Please start a bonfire.

*Tasteless, yet extremely funny comment deleted.*

See y’all tonight.

[Arlingtonrider]

See y’all there! I understand that the intersection of the Custis and W&OD is known as a perfectly appropriate venue for tasteless, yet extremely funny comments.

[Dirt]

Thanks for a great night y’all! Thanks Tim and Zanna for getting us out there and supporting this awesome effort! Thank you very much to all the volunteers who distributed lights! Thanks to all the folks who came out to get them! It was cool to hear that people had read about us on twitter, the forum and on the web site and came to get their lights!!!!

Y’all rock!!!!
Pete

[Author]

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