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Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

kickstarter.com

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Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#31

Post by gbog »

alexkus wrote: post #16
dlib wrote: post #2

I live in Holland and the dedicated bike paths here make cycling really safe. So safe that I don't see the use for this bike light here in the Netherlands although it will probably have a marginal benefit. However, last summer I rented a bike in London and it was truly terrifying. Never before have I felt so unsafe in traffic before, anything to improve this situation would be great. Nonetheless, proper training of d…

In London we simply don't have space to put in dedicated cycle paths everywhere. IMHO, they're treating the symptom anyway, the problem is that a large number of road users in the UK (including quite a few cyclists) are aggressive, discourteous or just plain bad drivers/riders. Cycle facilities (cycle lanes - dedicated or not, off road cycle paths, advanced stop line boxes, etc) all help encourage people to cycle; th…

> In London we simply don't have space

That's what they all say. I am sure some said the same in Paris before the recently build cycle lanes. Cars and other stuff can give more space to other means of transportation. If needed, just crush some old constructions, it will give work to those who need it and it will give an axe to grind to those who need it.

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#32

Post by endersshadow »

jawr wrote: post #22
dabeeeenster wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are cycling without lights, I would say you shouldn't be cycling at all.

This is true especially in the autumn/winter. Unfortunately my self confidence on the road usually get's the best of me. As much as I hate to say it, maybe there should be some sort of guidelines/laws to cycling on the road; I know there are plenty of drivers that would want this and I have seen some awful cyclists on the road who are not only a danger to themselves, but also to others.

...there are written laws about cycling on the road. They're mostly ignored. In most states in the US, cyclists are required to follow all rules that an auto is required to follow.

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#33

Post by ljf »

debacle wrote: post #13
AdamGorman wrote: post #3

Already launched similiar product.(this one goes backwards, instead of forward though) http://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/bike-lane-light Combine for red/green Christmas holiday theme goodness?

The product you linked looks much more functional than the one in this kickstarter. Do you own this?

I have one, and it's NOTHING like the image - if it hadn't have been a gift I would have returned it.

I'll give you that it looks cool and other cyclists see it and like it, but as soon as a car with bright headlights comes anywhere near you it disappears... It has no practical use in helping keep cars at bay.

I'd also agree with some comments above that drivers are looking a few feet up, not at the road.

I find 3 LED lights the best for the rear - one at bottom of seatpost, one on my back and one on my helmet - can easily be seen from all angles - where as a single seat mounted can be hidden for a range of reasons.

From the front a Cree T6 from ebay is stupidly bright - keep it aimed at the road. Great for off roading and city riding.

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#34

Post by ack »

alexkus wrote: post #16
dlib wrote: post #2

I live in Holland and the dedicated bike paths here make cycling really safe. So safe that I don't see the use for this bike light here in the Netherlands although it will probably have a marginal benefit. However, last summer I rented a bike in London and it was truly terrifying. Never before have I felt so unsafe in traffic before, anything to improve this situation would be great. Nonetheless, proper training of d…

In London we simply don't have space to put in dedicated cycle paths everywhere. IMHO, they're treating the symptom anyway, the problem is that a large number of road users in the UK (including quite a few cyclists) are aggressive, discourteous or just plain bad drivers/riders. Cycle facilities (cycle lanes - dedicated or not, off road cycle paths, advanced stop line boxes, etc) all help encourage people to cycle; th…

I rather suspect that the NL number plated vehicles are simply driving on the (for them) incorrect side of the road. I find it difficult myself when I visit the UK (annually) to keep proper distances on the wrong (again, for me) side of the car/road.

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#35

Post by TeMPOraL »

RobAley wrote: post #29

Its a shame, for a UK product, they didn't consider that it will be illegal to use in the UK[1] as your main bike light. It has a steady mode, and such needs to conform to BS 6102/3, which it won't, so it means it can't be used as the main light. As an additional light it doesn't need to be BS 6102/3 stamped, but does need to be white (not green) and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute…

> and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute (which it may do, but doesn't say).

There's a thing I never understood about bike lights - why people use flashing lights? They are distracting like hell, and could probably cause some serious discomfort for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

EDIT:

http://speakingupanyway.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/flashing-li...

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#36

Post by alexkus »

ack wrote: post #34
alexkus wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In London we simply don't have space to put in dedicated cycle paths everywhere. IMHO, they're treating the symptom anyway, the problem is that a large number of road users in the UK (including quite a few cyclists) are aggressive, discourteous or just plain bad drivers/riders. Cycle facilities (cycle lanes - dedicated or not, off road cycle paths, advanced stop line boxes, etc) all help encourage people to cycle; th…

I rather suspect that the NL number plated vehicles are simply driving on the (for them) incorrect side of the road. I find it difficult myself when I visit the UK (annually) to keep proper distances on the wrong (again, for me) side of the car/road.

I had relatively little trouble from cars with German, French, Italian or Spanish number plates.

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#38

Post by thisone »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #35
RobAley wrote: post #29

Its a shame, for a UK product, they didn't consider that it will be illegal to use in the UK[1] as your main bike light. It has a steady mode, and such needs to conform to BS 6102/3, which it won't, so it means it can't be used as the main light. As an additional light it doesn't need to be BS 6102/3 stamped, but does need to be white (not green) and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute…

> and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute (which it may do, but doesn't say). There's a thing I never understood about bike lights - why people use flashing lights? They are distracting like hell, and could probably cause some serious discomfort for people with photosensitive epilepsy. EDIT: http://speakingupanyway.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/flashing-li...

at night, the flashing gives me even longer warning that I'm coming up on a cyclist, since it's easier to notice a flashing red or white light. A solid light, can be dismissed for a second or two as a reflection.

also, it tells me it's a cyclist and not a small moped.

As a cyclist I like to have a blinking rear light, and two front lights, a blinking one and a steady one. (as a driver, cyclists with a blinker and a steady are the easiest for me to pick out)

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#39

Post by alexkus »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #35
RobAley wrote: post #29

Its a shame, for a UK product, they didn't consider that it will be illegal to use in the UK[1] as your main bike light. It has a steady mode, and such needs to conform to BS 6102/3, which it won't, so it means it can't be used as the main light. As an additional light it doesn't need to be BS 6102/3 stamped, but does need to be white (not green) and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute…

> and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute (which it may do, but doesn't say). There's a thing I never understood about bike lights - why people use flashing lights? They are distracting like hell, and could probably cause some serious discomfort for people with photosensitive epilepsy. EDIT: http://speakingupanyway.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/flashing-li...

> There's a thing I never understood about bike lights - why people use flashing lights? They are distracting like hell, and could probably cause some serious discomfort for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

They're more visible than a steady light, but it's very hard to gauge closing distance of just a flashing light. For these reasons I use a combination of flashing and steady lights (both front and rear).

As for triggering PSE. They won't. 240 flashes per minute = 4Hz. Perfectly safe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strobe_light

" Strobe lights and epilepsy ... There have been no known seizures at or below the 8Hz (or 8 flashes per second) level. Most fire alarms in schools, hospitals, stadiums, etc strobe at a 2Hz rate, which is obviously completely safe. "

Re: Bike light that projects the symbol of a bike down onto the road

#40

Post by incision »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #35
RobAley wrote: post #29

Its a shame, for a UK product, they didn't consider that it will be illegal to use in the UK[1] as your main bike light. It has a steady mode, and such needs to conform to BS 6102/3, which it won't, so it means it can't be used as the main light. As an additional light it doesn't need to be BS 6102/3 stamped, but does need to be white (not green) and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute…

> and the flashing mode needs to be between 60 and 240 flashes per minute (which it may do, but doesn't say). There's a thing I never understood about bike lights - why people use flashing lights? They are distracting like hell, and could probably cause some serious discomfort for people with photosensitive epilepsy. EDIT: http://speakingupanyway.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/flashing-li...

>They are distracting like hell

Think about that.

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