My Evening Commute

[Tim Kelley]

@Drewdane 128268 wrote:

Is it me, or are people being more clueless about headlight etiquette this year than in the past? No one seems to be covering or swiveling their lights when approaching oncoming traffic on area MUTs; I don’t recall it ever being quite this bad.

Nah, lights have just gotten brighter and cheaper.

[S. Arlington Observer]

@Drewdane 128268 wrote:

Is it me, or are people being more clueless about headlight etiquette this year than in the past? No one seems to be covering or swiveling their lights when approaching oncoming traffic on area MUTs; I don’t recall it ever being quite this bad.

I agree. I have no idea why and can only hope that people re-learn by observing the example of the few who do it.

[ursus]

@S. Arlington Observer 128275 wrote:

I agree. I have no idea why and can only hope that people re-learn by observing the example of the few who do it.

Some people seem to wait until the very last minute before doing something, and I am already blinded.

I swivel my headlight instead of covering it because I don’t feel that I am in complete control of my bike, especially with someone heading toward me, with one hand covering my light. I often wonder if the colored light which normally goes toward the side and is facing forward when I swivel the light still causes trouble to an oncoming rider.

[Emm]

@Drewdane 128268 wrote:

Is it me, or are people being more clueless about headlight etiquette this year than in the past? No one seems to be covering or swiveling their lights when approaching oncoming traffic on area MUTs; I don’t recall it ever being quite this bad.

I think people need hints. Nice and friendly ones if possible. I had no idea how bright my light was until last year when someone shielded their eyes and said “ouch thats bright!”. From then on out I made sure to a) point my light more downwards and b) only use the high (800 lumens) setting on the super dark segments of the MVT–which is under the 14th st bridge to the end of gravely point on my commute. Otherwise I use the 600 setting which is all I need for most of my commute. I have not had any more people shield themselves from my light, so I assume it’s working well.

But seriously–if people aren’t told, they might not know how bright it is or how bad of an angle it’s at.

[DismalScientist]

@Drewdane 128268 wrote:

Is it me, or are people being more clueless about headlight etiquette this year than in the past? No one seems to be covering or swiveling their lights when approaching oncoming traffic on area MUTs; I don’t recall it ever being quite this bad.

Nah… You’re just getting older.

[annoyedindc]

I’ll add my gripe to this thread. As a reverse commuter from the crowd I’m getting hit probably 10:1 compared to folks who go into town.

Some people on the CCT heading out of DC at night really do run full on trail lights that turn the path into daylight. I’ve yelled out a few times that someone’s light is really bright.

[DrP]

Even though it was so humid (okay, misting) the ride home, it was just so lovely. The fog over the river made DC and the Monuments look really pretty. All the red tail lights from the folks trying to get home on the GWP, Lee Highway, I66 or over any of the bridges were softened by the mist and made a nice red glow. With them all barely moving, it gave me such a seasonal appropriate warm and thankful feeling that I was not in one of those metal boxes. Even the giant pick-up truck that decided the instant the light on Lee Hwy at the IOD turned green for him he had to turn and not go anywhere so was blocking the crosswalk stopping anyone in or about to enter the crosswalk didn’t bother me as much as it might have.

[mstone]

1) a roofing nail makes a surprisingly loud sound when it bursts through the Kevlar layer of a tire

2) pulling a nail out through the Kevlar layer of a tire is surprisingly difficult

[dkel]

…may not happen. I just realized I left all my lights at home.

[ian74]

@dkel 128568 wrote:

…may not happen. I just realized I left all my lights at home.

You’ll just have to leave early! Problem solved!

[BTC_DC]

After a flat rear tire this morning on the way to work, picked up the matching flat front tire on the way home this evening… Both from unrelated causes.

Does this mean no more flats the rest of the winter?

[consularrider]

@BTC_DC 128628 wrote:

After a flat rear tire this morning on the way to work, picked up the matching flat front tire on the way home this evening… Both from unrelated causes.

Does this mean no more flats the rest of the winter?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10137[/ATTACH]

[Boo Boo]

Second evening in a row I’ve seen Falls Church PD on the trail. Tonight (~5:15pm), an SUV was parked just east of Citizen’s Bridge. Yesterday ~4pm, a cruiser was parked on the eastern side of the Little Falls intersection.

[Choiboy525]

Dear other biker,

I was headed south bound on the trail on the south side of Memorial Bridge, just inside Virginia. I had my strobe on for fear of death (still new to this night biking thing) and I didn’t see you approaching. Sorry about the obnoxiously bright strobe .

[Steve O]

@Choiboy525 129326 wrote:

Dear other biker,

I was headed south bound on the trail on the south side of Memorial Bridge, just inside Virginia. I had my strobe on for fear of death (still new to this night biking thing) and I didn’t see you approaching. Sorry about the obnoxiously bright strobe .

As a general rule, better to use a steady light on the trails and save your flashing/blinking for mixing with cars.

[Author]

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