Please don't ride your bike on busy streets after dark

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If anyone wonders why some bicyclists think cars should be banned, just look to the type of things posted above. You drivers are really not doing yourselves any favors.

There are bad drivers and bad bikers - they both are at fault here but at the end of the day physics always wins.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Don't bike after dark?

Drive more carefully.

I am mostly a biker and a walker, and as a result I am an extremely cautious driver.

It’s next to impossible to see a biker at night.

Don’t be an idiot.

A lot of people do it seeing normal lights/reflectors. If you have a hard time seeing lights and reflectors then please get your eyes checked to see if you have a condition. It's not normal.

I'm not taking about people who have no lights or reflectors.

WABA recommends using as much reflective material as possible when cycling at night in order to increase visibility beyond what is mandated by law, including reflective vests, wheel reflectors, tires with reflective strips, reflective ankle band, backpacks, stickers and decals. Not sure why you don’t want to take professional safety advice.

Do you need me to find you a link about driving after dark if you're visually impaired? I'm quite sure it's not recommended and may even be prohibited. Not sure why you don't want to take professional safety advice.

I am an optometrist. You need to stop. Most people with good vision cannot see a dark figure against a dark background at night, which is the scenario being described over and over again in this thread.

Then they shouldn't be driving after dark. Driving is inherently dangerous, if most people can't do it safely after dark then is it something that people should be doing after dark?

I can't tell if you are trolling, sarcastic or delusional.

It is delusional to think that people who want to operate a two ton machine do so safely?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Don't bike after dark?

Drive more carefully.

I am mostly a biker and a walker, and as a result I am an extremely cautious driver.

It’s next to impossible to see a biker at night.

Don’t be an idiot.

A lot of people do it seeing normal lights/reflectors. If you have a hard time seeing lights and reflectors then please get your eyes checked to see if you have a condition. It's not normal.

I'm not taking about people who have no lights or reflectors.

WABA recommends using as much reflective material as possible when cycling at night in order to increase visibility beyond what is mandated by law, including reflective vests, wheel reflectors, tires with reflective strips, reflective ankle band, backpacks, stickers and decals. Not sure why you don’t want to take professional safety advice.

Do you need me to find you a link about driving after dark if you're visually impaired? I'm quite sure it's not recommended and may even be prohibited. Not sure why you don't want to take professional safety advice.

I am an optometrist. You need to stop. Most people with good vision cannot see a dark figure against a dark background at night, which is the scenario being described over and over again in this thread.

Then they shouldn't be driving after dark. Driving is inherently dangerous, if most people can't do it safely after dark then is it something that people should be doing after dark?

I can't tell if you are trolling, sarcastic or delusional.

It is delusional to think that people who want to operate a two ton machine do so safely?

Is it delusional to ask that people riding bikes in the street use proper reflective gear? I mean seriously, as someone who bikes to work and runs 5 miles daily, you are making arguments which harm us. I honestly don’t believe you are a cyclist or pedestrian because it’s unfathomable that you are arguing again the promotion of very basic safety features.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey bike haters, get your story straight. The lycra-clad cyclists are well lit and reflective via pricey cycling gear that has it integrated into their clothes, shoes, helmet, etc.

The people completely unlit are poor and biking because that's how they can afford to get around. How about we use our copious taxes to fund a handful of people out this time of year giving out free lights and reflective stuff...

Actually this is something WABA does regularly in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Don't bike after dark?

Drive more carefully.

The most careful driver in the world will hit an object in the road that is not visible. Reflective clothing was invented for a reason.

Bikers don't want to be required to do anything at all. They want to do something that is very dangerous but it's everyone else's job to make sure they don't get killed doing it.

As drivers, it is our job to make sure we don't kill anyone while we drive, no matter what they're doing. The reason bikes aren't required to be registered and checked for safety equipment, meanwhile, is the same as the reason that pedestrians aren't required to wear lights: because of bikes, cars, and people walking, only one weighs thousands of pounds.

Yeah, this makes zero sense. The reason bikes aren't regulated in any way whatsoever -- the reason why you're free to balance a two year old on your head while riding your bike sans helmet down the middle of Connecticut Avenue during rush hour in the dark -- is because there is no organized group pushing for cyclists to be regulated. It would make no sense to treat cyclists like pedestrians because, unlike cyclists, pedestrians are on the sidewalk.

And it’s time for that organized group to lobby for the creation and enforcement of bicycle safety equipment to appear. If cyclists won’t act in their own interest of safety, then AAA or another group representing drivers needs to start pushing on their behalf.

If bike registration/tags and annual safety inspections save the life of even ONE cyclist, it’s worth all the hassle and associated costs to them.

I don't think a group of drivers pushing for bike safety "on behalf" of bicyclists would come off as particularly credible. It's also not true that the only reason there's no safety requirements for bikes is because of the lack of an organized group calling for it. It is also, as noted earlier in the thread, because the main danger people on bikes pose is to themselves, whereas cars can injure or kill not only their drivers and occupants in a crash but also random other people in the vicinity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Don't bike after dark?

Drive more carefully.

I am mostly a biker and a walker, and as a result I am an extremely cautious driver.

It’s next to impossible to see a biker at night.

Don’t be an idiot.

A lot of people do it seeing normal lights/reflectors. If you have a hard time seeing lights and reflectors then please get your eyes checked to see if you have a condition. It's not normal.

I'm not taking about people who have no lights or reflectors.

WABA recommends using as much reflective material as possible when cycling at night in order to increase visibility beyond what is mandated by law, including reflective vests, wheel reflectors, tires with reflective strips, reflective ankle band, backpacks, stickers and decals. Not sure why you don’t want to take professional safety advice.

Do you need me to find you a link about driving after dark if you're visually impaired? I'm quite sure it's not recommended and may even be prohibited. Not sure why you don't want to take professional safety advice.

I am an optometrist. You need to stop. Most people with good vision cannot see a dark figure against a dark background at night, which is the scenario being described over and over again in this thread.

Then they shouldn't be driving after dark. Driving is inherently dangerous, if most people can't do it safely after dark then is it something that people should be doing after dark?

I can't tell if you are trolling, sarcastic or delusional.

It is delusional to think that people who want to operate a two ton machine do so safely?

Is it delusional to ask that people riding bikes in the street use proper reflective gear? I mean seriously, as someone who bikes to work and runs 5 miles daily, you are making arguments which harm us. I honestly don’t believe you are a cyclist or pedestrian because it’s unfathomable that you are arguing again the promotion of very basic safety features.

Yeah, I do think this person probably is a cyclist, but I also agree that lights and reflective gear are pretty basic things you'd want on your bike after dark. (I have wrapped reflective tape all over various parts of mine, personally.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Don't bike after dark?

Drive more carefully.

I am mostly a biker and a walker, and as a result I am an extremely cautious driver.

It’s next to impossible to see a biker at night.

Don’t be an idiot.

A lot of people do it seeing normal lights/reflectors. If you have a hard time seeing lights and reflectors then please get your eyes checked to see if you have a condition. It's not normal.

I'm not taking about people who have no lights or reflectors.

WABA recommends using as much reflective material as possible when cycling at night in order to increase visibility beyond what is mandated by law, including reflective vests, wheel reflectors, tires with reflective strips, reflective ankle band, backpacks, stickers and decals. Not sure why you don’t want to take professional safety advice.

Do you need me to find you a link about driving after dark if you're visually impaired? I'm quite sure it's not recommended and may even be prohibited. Not sure why you don't want to take professional safety advice.

I am an optometrist. You need to stop. Most people with good vision cannot see a dark figure against a dark background at night, which is the scenario being described over and over again in this thread.

Then they shouldn't be driving after dark. Driving is inherently dangerous, if most people can't do it safely after dark then is it something that people should be doing after dark?

I can't tell if you are trolling, sarcastic or delusional.

It is delusional to think that people who want to operate a two ton machine do so safely?

Is it delusional to ask that people riding bikes in the street use proper reflective gear? I mean seriously, as someone who bikes to work and runs 5 miles daily, you are making arguments which harm us. I honestly don’t believe you are a cyclist or pedestrian because it’s unfathomable that you are arguing again the promotion of very basic safety features.

Why is this an either/or? I am a cyclist who agrees we need reflective gear, you can't be seen at night without it. I ALSO think the post being quoted is obvious sarcasm pointing out how extreme it is to say cyclists just shouldn't ride at night at all - its analogous to saying drivers shouldn't drive at night if they can't see. Saying this applies to cyclists who don't wear lights and reflective gear, not all cyclists, is analogous to saying only eople with vision problems at night shouldn't drive in the dark. And who would argue with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey bike haters, get your story straight. The lycra-clad cyclists are well lit and reflective via pricey cycling gear that has it integrated into their clothes, shoes, helmet, etc.

The people completely unlit are poor and biking because that's how they can afford to get around. How about we use our copious taxes to fund a handful of people out this time of year giving out free lights and reflective stuff...

Actually this is something WABA does regularly in the fall.

That sounds very reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Why is this in the politics forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Don't bike after dark?

Drive more carefully.

I am mostly a biker and a walker, and as a result I am an extremely cautious driver.

It’s next to impossible to see a biker at night.

Don’t be an idiot.

A lot of people do it seeing normal lights/reflectors. If you have a hard time seeing lights and reflectors then please get your eyes checked to see if you have a condition. It's not normal.

I'm not taking about people who have no lights or reflectors.

WABA recommends using as much reflective material as possible when cycling at night in order to increase visibility beyond what is mandated by law, including reflective vests, wheel reflectors, tires with reflective strips, reflective ankle band, backpacks, stickers and decals. Not sure why you don’t want to take professional safety advice.

Do you need me to find you a link about driving after dark if you're visually impaired? I'm quite sure it's not recommended and may even be prohibited. Not sure why you don't want to take professional safety advice.

I am an optometrist. You need to stop. Most people with good vision cannot see a dark figure against a dark background at night, which is the scenario being described over and over again in this thread.

Then they shouldn't be driving after dark. Driving is inherently dangerous, if most people can't do it safely after dark then is it something that people should be doing after dark?

I can't tell if you are trolling, sarcastic or delusional.

It is delusional to think that people who want to operate a two ton machine do so safely?

The streets are quite safe here. Traffic accidents are rare, and it's very, very rare for anyone to die. Traffic fatalities are down 30 percent this year to just 26. Almost ten time as many people were murdered last year.

Wearing a reflective vest at night is an easy, inexpensive thing people can immediately do to make the streets even more safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Don't bike after dark?

Drive more carefully.

I am mostly a biker and a walker, and as a result I am an extremely cautious driver.

It’s next to impossible to see a biker at night.

Don’t be an idiot.

A lot of people do it seeing normal lights/reflectors. If you have a hard time seeing lights and reflectors then please get your eyes checked to see if you have a condition. It's not normal.

I'm not taking about people who have no lights or reflectors.

WABA recommends using as much reflective material as possible when cycling at night in order to increase visibility beyond what is mandated by law, including reflective vests, wheel reflectors, tires with reflective strips, reflective ankle band, backpacks, stickers and decals. Not sure why you don’t want to take professional safety advice.

Do you need me to find you a link about driving after dark if you're visually impaired? I'm quite sure it's not recommended and may even be prohibited. Not sure why you don't want to take professional safety advice.

I am an optometrist. You need to stop. Most people with good vision cannot see a dark figure against a dark background at night, which is the scenario being described over and over again in this thread.

Then they shouldn't be driving after dark. Driving is inherently dangerous, if most people can't do it safely after dark then is it something that people should be doing after dark?

Then I can’t see how riding a bike in the dark can be any safer than driving a car. Perhaps a lot of these riders shouldn’t be on a bike after dark either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this in the politics forum?

Because there is maybe one or two people who just cannot stop talking about their bicycles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this in the politics forum?

Because there is maybe one or two people who just cannot stop talking about their bicycles.

Seems like it's a transportation issue and belongs over in Cars and Transportation (https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/forums/show/79.page). Unless we want to start talking about the politics of bicycle safety advocacy and encouraging our politicians to invest in bike/ped infrastructure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this in the politics forum?

Because there is maybe one or two people who just cannot stop talking about their bicycles.

Seems like it's a transportation issue and belongs over in Cars and Transportation (https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/forums/show/79.page). Unless we want to start talking about the politics of bicycle safety advocacy and encouraging our politicians to invest in bike/ped infrastructure?

Our elected representatives need to look into sensible, common sense bike safety laws. Registration, tags, annual safety inspections - just like with cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this in the politics forum?

Because there is maybe one or two people who just cannot stop talking about their bicycles.

Seems like it's a transportation issue and belongs over in Cars and Transportation (https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/forums/show/79.page). Unless we want to start talking about the politics of bicycle safety advocacy and encouraging our politicians to invest in bike/ped infrastructure?

Our elected representatives need to look into sensible, common sense bike safety laws. Registration, tags, annual safety inspections - just like with cars.

If we're talking about common sense safety laws to include registration, tags, and annual safety inspections, I have a different issue I'd like our elected officials to start tackling first...