The death of the cyclist last weekend made me think further about fundamental bike safety issues, and how to address some of them.

Bike light is obviously a huge one, and judging from the number of cyclists I see riding at night without lights it seems like the word just isn't out that having lights after dark is a law in minnesota.

While I appreciate all that the advocacy organizations do for the cycling community, it would also seem to rank right up there in priority to get some PSA's out there somehow to educate cyclists - those that are just riding and maybe not part of the 'community' - about lights (and other issues).

I mean, how would someone know? Say you buy a bike from a neighbor or garage sale or something, and boom, you're riding. How would you know the rules if no one has them taught you?

These are perfect projects for film / design competitions. I actually think bus cards might be effective.

I have been wanting to put together a 'Light up the Night' , ala San Francisco for a while but have not been able to get traction. If someone wants to help me look for grant money, I am happy to help with this.

A similar topic surrounds all the people I see driving around with spidered windshields. They must not have insurance because it is state law that your insurance company has to replace any glass on your vehicle, free of charge, that has damage to it which could impede its ability to do its job (windshield, side windows, side-mirrors, headlights (if they're glass)). That includes even a single crack.

As for the lights: I really don't think they care, and little you do will make them. I'm not a member of your 'community' (I haven't met a single one of you, though I do post on here) but I have front and back lights on my bike and I stop and every stop-sign and light.

Same goes for helmets. I know a few people who bike every single day and don't wear a helmet. It's their personal choice. I just feel bad for whatever driver they inevitably get into a wreck with, because if they're crippled or killed due to no helmet/lights that driver would have to live with that their entire life, eventhough the end product could have been avoided.


if you want to get something rocking I would try to create a rough-draft tri-fold pamphlet and approach the city about some sort of grant to get a bunch printed up. It'd be much easier to hand a pamphlet to a fellow biker that lists out laws, regulations and some local groups in a non-judgemental way, or stick it to their bike as it's parked, than to yell at them from across the road or get them to watch a DVD on safety.

The point about community is that it transmits information. You're on this board, ergo you are part of the community of cyclists exchanging information. If someone is a recent immigrant or even someone new to cycling, how do you know lights are the law? And I disagree about the riders caring - no one wants to get hit or hassled by the cops. I think if they knew it was the law they'd be more likely to use lights.




I don't think we need to to an actual light give away to begin the process of education. But it needs to be coordinated and effective. Bus cards and a few billboards in the city would educate both drivers and cyclists. Its not enough to just hand stuff out to people already biking, its also good to have everyone see that the city is taking cycling safety seriously, and help people learn the laws *before* they start riding. A simple message - "Bike lights at night - its the law!" is all that's required. A partnership between one of the advocacy orgs and MN/DOT (who produces the "share the road" stuff) would be a good place to start.

Did you just make that up?

Nope. I actually learned of this myself just this past summer. Though I'm sure if one has low-ball insurance there would be a deductible or the insurance company can skirt the issue in some way.

[citation needed]

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=65B.134

[/quote]

Almost every night I bike home on the trail, I see a ninja or two that I would LOVE to donate a light to.

I mean, jeez, how the fuck are you supposed to see anyone coming at you in the dark with no lights or reflectors on the St Louis Park section of the trail?!?!?!?!

[/rant]

Well, this is why I got a Sunburn 5000 from Nuclear Lighting. Now I can see them.

Of course people I pass can't see anything again for about half an hour...

I think this is true for many of the ninjas out there. I mean, who doesn't know that it's a really good idea to wear a helmet when you ride? Does everyone wear a helmet? NO! And many people steadfastly refuse to.

To many people, lights on a bike seems dorky and I'm sure a lot of casual riders haven't even considered that they can't see or be seen well at night. That's what reflectors are for, right?

I remember many many years ago when I didn't really know anything about bikes that I considered one of those cushy "comfortable" gel seats unreasonably expensive at $20. WAY too much money... do you know how much I paid for the bike? I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way. "$20 just for some lights? But I hardly ever ride at night."

I myself didn't use lights until I started going further than a mile or two at a time over to friends' houses at night and had a few too many close calls where cars pulled out in front of me or whatever. I didn't get decent lights until I started using the Cedar Lake and Kenilworth trails regularly at night and couldn't see the path in front of me.

I'm sure some awareness and education would go a long way, especially with children (same goes for nearly every aspect of bicycle safety), but I think it's something a lot of people have to figure out for themselves. Hell, I've been chased and had my life threatened for suggesting to the guy coming straight at me in the bike lane the wrong way on a one way at night that he should at least have some lights if he's gonna do that.

But, anything would help and I fully support letting people know that lights at night are not just a good idea, it's the law.

I rode without lights for a lot longer than this Jerkbear has. I won't do it anymore, unless I have to ride "stealth" for a reason. Whether it's day or night, we are small on the roads. Any one of us can be snuffed way too easily. The simplest way to counteract the threat is to make oneself bigger. During daytime, I ride with my elbows out and in, flopping gracelesly with my pedals. But it makes me bigger, and more visible. And you know what? I didn't get hit by a car in 2011. Usually, someone hits me. At least once a year. This anecdotal evidence will get you nowhere, besides putting some lights on.

got a link to that light? you got me curious