Night trail lights – please don’t run flashing be seen lights

[DismalScientist]

Travelling home from one of the many holiday parties, I was cruising south at Gravelly Point, I faced a brilliant northbound light. “Nice light,” I shouted. There was no response from theoffender. Half-blinded, I noticed the trail turning right. The airplane passed harmlessly overhead.:rolleyes:

PS: I pity you folks with a night-time commute on the MVT south Those northbound cars are much worse than any bike light. Perhaps I am getting old, but I had a hard time following the trail.

[Arlingtonrider]

Just now came through there southbound. I always have to take that area a little more slowly – those darn northbound airplanes! Seriously, the lights of the oncoming cars, sometimes combined with Ninja joggers, make it a little interesting right there.

[consularrider]

@DismalScientist 38100 wrote:

Travelling home from one of the many holiday parties, I was cruising south at Gravelly Point, I faced a brilliant northbound light. “Nice light,” I shouted. There was no response from theoffender. Half-blinded, I noticed the trail turning right. The airplane passed harmlessly overhead.:rolleyes:

PS: I pity you folks with a night-time commute on the MVT south Those northbound cars are much worse than any bike light. Perhaps I am getting old, but I had a hard time following the trail.

I was again being tailgated on the W&OD section between Columbia Pike and Bluemont Park by a park ranger. For some reason he was using his brights, only dimming them on the few occasions that there was an oncoming runner.

[cephas]

@DismalScientist 38100 wrote:

PS: I pity you folks with a night-time commute on the MVT south Those northbound cars are much worse than any bike light. Perhaps I am getting old, but I had a hard time following the trail.

I used to ride that daily. It improved tremendously with a bright headlight on my bike.

I admit to blinking last night. It was twilight when I started out just before 5, and I figured the basic light wouldn’t have had much visibility, nor was it necessary. So I ran the blinker mainly to be seen. I would’ve switched to steady if I’d known it was an issue. As to the taillight blinkies… since half my commute is on the street, I need the visibility. and they’re not easy to switch back and forth. I ride from the White House up Penn, across Key (all on street until) turn onto Custis, jump off at N. Aberdeen, Wash Blvd, left on Lee, onto W&OD for a mile, before heading up to the WFC metro. I hope this hasn’t thrown anybody’s eyesight off!

[GuyContinental]

@cephas 38189 wrote:

I ride from the White House up Penn, across Key (all on street until) turn onto Custis, jump off at N. Aberdeen, Wash Blvd, left on Lee, onto W&OD for a mile, before heading up to the WFC metro. I hope this hasn’t thrown anybody’s eyesight off!

Do you mean Abingdon St at Washington Blvd? I’ve never thought of going that way (but I do everything I can to avoid traffic)- with the multiple lights it can’t be faster than the Custis (even when crowded) and there is some serious traffic at the intersection of Washington and Lee.

Regardless, I leave my rear blinkie on for the same reasons- I can’t really turn it off and I’m in enough Londoun traffic that I need all the attention that I can get.

[5555624]

@mstone 37993 wrote:

There’s a reason emergency vehicles use flashing lights; solid lights are much more easily lost in the background, while blinking lights draw attention. Stupid human brain. I assume that’s also the reason that people stare at oncoming strobes rather than looking aside.

Emergency vehicles need to “stand out,” which is different than to “be seen.” If I’m driving, at night, and I see a pair of headlights behind me, I know it’s a vehicle; if I also see flashing lights, I know it’s an emergency vehicle. (It’s also the reason they use them during the day, as the flashing lights make them stand out when they are responding to an emergency — when they are done responding to the emergency, they don’t suddenly become invisible.)

[mstone]

@5555624 38207 wrote:

Emergency vehicles need to “stand out,” which is different than to “be seen.”

I also need to stand out. I do not need my epitaph to be the classic, “I didn’t see him.” I’d rather err on the side of overseen than underseen. I also would prefer someone to get distracted from their text messaging by the blinky light and wonder what’s going on, rather than tuning out and running over me. Note that they leave the flashing lights on even when they’re stopped on the side of the road. Why is that? Because a disturbing number of people will slam into a police car or even a gigantic, non-invisible fire truck. They do that even with the flashing lights, but somewhat less often. This should, of course, terrify anyone whose relative speed makes them essentially a stopped object and whose mass is less than a fire truck. Cyclists aren’t invisible either, but for some reason they also get hit anyway. And for some reason, some studies have shown it’s safer for a cyclist to have a blinking light, even in daylight, and even though he isn’t invisible. YMMV.

[Terpfan]

@DismalScientist 38100 wrote:

Travelling home from one of the many holiday parties, I was cruising south at Gravelly Point, I faced a brilliant northbound light. “Nice light,” I shouted. There was no response from theoffender. Half-blinded, I noticed the trail turning right. The airplane passed harmlessly overhead.:rolleyes:

PS: I pity you folks with a night-time commute on the MVT south Those northbound cars are much worse than any bike light. Perhaps I am getting old, but I had a hard time following the trail.

I’ve always wondered what the opposite effect was from a driver perspective. On Friday, I had the day off and had to drive into the city around 5:30. I encountered someone riding southbound with both helmet and bar-mounted lights that seemed about equivalent to a car with bright lights! I didn’t think it was possible, but someone out there has really really really bright lights.

With that said, I always get blinded by cars coming southbound every night and end up with one hand in the air trying to block out the light.

Everyone on the trail this morning (save me and one other guy) had blinkies running front and back. I didn’t really think it was necessary, but it’s actually not too bad at all during daylight hours the way it is during night time. Must be some sort of optical illusion effect.

[NicDiesel]

On the MVT the bright lights (and super bright flashers) are annoying but the worst offenders, for me at least, are the ninja riders and runners that have no lights, are usually wearing black, and are usually wearing no reflective gear. The other night (~8pm) I passed five separate cyclists without a single piece of reflective clothing or light on their bike.

[americancyclo]

Solid and steady on the trail, blinkies on the road if you really need.
If I see a trail user with a bright light in “flash” mode, I’ll switch my light from steady to “flash” to show them how annoying it is. Education is the key.

[DaveK]

@americancyclo 38301 wrote:

Solid and steady on the trail, blinkies on the road if you really need.
If I see a trail user with a bright light in “flash” mode, I’ll switch my light from steady to “flash” to show them how annoying it is. Education is the key.

My (550-lumen) light has a rapid-flash mode that I’m certain could induce seizures. I’ve never used it but I’ve been tempted a few times on the trail.

[cephas]

@GuyContinental 38190 wrote:

Do you mean Abingdon St at Washington Blvd? I’ve never thought of going that way (but I do everything I can to avoid traffic)- with the multiple lights it can’t be faster than the Custis (even when crowded) and there is some serious traffic at the intersection of Washington and Lee.

Exactly. It usually turns out at least a few minutes faster. It’s almost exactly 1 mile shorter, plus you have a few very sharp curves on the trail. The two lights that are generally sticking points are George Mason and Lee Hwy. and sometimes Patrick Henry or Sycamore.

and for emphasis:
@mstone 38215 wrote:

I also need to stand out. I do not need my epitaph to be the classic, “I didn’t see him.” I’d rather err on the side of overseen than underseen. I also would prefer someone to get distracted from their text messaging by the blinky light and wonder what’s going on, rather than tuning out and running over me. Note that they leave the flashing lights on even when they’re stopped on the side of the road. Why is that? Because a disturbing number of people will slam into a police car or even a gigantic, non-invisible fire truck. They do that even with the flashing lights, but somewhat less often. This should, of course, terrify anyone whose relative speed makes them essentially a stopped object and whose mass is less than a fire truck. Cyclists aren’t invisible either, but for some reason they also get hit anyway. And for some reason, some studies have shown it’s safer for a cyclist to have a blinking light, even in daylight, and even though he isn’t invisible. YMMV.

[consularrider]

@cephas 38406 wrote:

Exactly. It usually turns out at least a few minutes faster. It’s almost exactly 1 mile shorter, plus you have a few very sharp curves on the trail. The two lights that are generally sticking points are George Mason and Lee Hwy. and sometimes Patrick Henry or Sycamore.

and for emphasis:

But I don’t understand, why would you want to shorten your ride?

[ColumbiaHeights]

What bridges do you recommend for crossing the Potomac River at night? Thanks.

[sjclaeys]

Last a rider with a bright flashing front light passed me on the MVT. I nicely said, “Please don’t use flashers on the trail.” He slowed down, asked why and switch to a steady mode after I explained why. Very psyched.

[Author]

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