[Closed] Using lights on shared cycle/foot paths...

Yawn obvious troll.

On the flip side i frequently see dog walkers with no lights on them or their dog nor even anythin reflectveand often an invisible lead across the path .

Ill keep my bright lights so at least one of us can see the other.

You could wear lights as well 🙂

[img] [/img]

Carry an off road strength light yourself and burn their retinas so they recognise the problem they are causing?

I mount my lights on my commuter lose enough that I can tip them forwards if I need to dip them. There are very few bike light equivelents of car dipped headlights. I think some German dynamo lights have a beam pattern with a spread that avoids light going high.

I think he's got a point. I know my commuter lights are bright, I try and adjust them so they mainly point at the road ahead. I get pissed off with cyclists who just point bright lights straight forward and dazzle everyone with them.

why would you throw a ball whilst dis-orientated?

i find putting a blue filter on a strobing front cycle light, while blowing a whistle soon clears the doggers away from a path.

I think he's got a point. I know my commuter lights are bright, I try and adjust them so they mainly point at the road ahead. I get pissed off with cyclists who just point bright lights straight forward and dazzle everyone with them

These people also drive cars with foglights on all the time when not on their bikes,commonly referred to as numbnuts.

I'm generalising a bit but the really bright lights tend to be off-road lights which have a broad beam that is great for seeing where you are going but not great for anything or anyone heading towards you. I would assume that if the lights are 'that' bright then the oncoming cyclist will have seen you and you should just keep on going along as you were and they will avoid you. If the ambient light is such that full beam is not necessary then it would be polite for the cyclists to reduce the power of the light to a suitable strength but this is not always the safest option.

Wearing some kind of light or reflective material yourselves would help the situation as would keeping your dog either on a lead or under close control when on a shared path.

Anyway, one light was so bright tonight that my missus got so startled that when she threw the dogs ball it hit the cyclist and he gave her a barrage of abuse. It was a genuine accident, but is there/should there be some kind of light etiquette on shared paths?

your on a shared path, do you throw balls into the road? would you be complaining if after throwing a ball into the road that your dog was hit by a car? If your throwing a ball how is the dog under close control????

Mines pointed down and left tbh and mostly flashing but on a pitch black shared use path i will use a higher setting to identify dogs and leads in my path

How bizarre, "I saw you coming, but was startled, so threw a ball at you".
More like she threw the ball at the cyclist because he was dazzling her. Either way, silly thing to do. No wonder she got abuse, if my OH had done that I'd have given her some abuse too.

Walk somewhere else then.

Humm, a mixture here of consideration & sense towards fellow outdoors people and show of MTBer sense of entitlement.
The OP was a polite question from a fellow path user (and premium member so probably NOT a troll) who happens not to on a bike at the time in question. I have some serious lights for off-road but do try hard to not blind others; just seems like a basic courtesy to me.
While you not likely to be mown down, all users should be able to feel safe too. I'd like it too if nearly invisible dog walkers didn't spread their leashes across the path but our countryside is a shared space and we are still building some sort of etiquette up, together.

An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind.

Wow, a lot of aggression in here. Defensive much?

women in black, walking a black dog on a 10ft lead, on an unlit shared use path says to me

"your light is too bright"

hmmm.

new light is german dynamo light and is traffic friendly, bright on the ground but only lit above, like dipped beams on a car - tis great.

Definitely not a 'troll'...been biking for over 20 years!

Beside the path there are a few open fields where we throw the ball...as my wife was about to throw the ball a cyclist crested a hill on the path, dazzled her with his lights and she turned as she was throwing the ball...hence hitting him.

All I am asking is it reasonable that cyclists should dip their lights (the really bright ones) or slow a little when on a shared path in the dark? I know I would.

Ha, was just about to post something similar OP.

Except I commute by bike with lights but don't feel the need for 1000 lumens on a canal path in central London. To me it just seems like willy waving...grrr, look at my bright lights...

Mostly you can turn them down a notch or two and you can certainly point them more at the ground.

But perhaps then you wouldn't look so manly. Or something...

All I am asking is it reasonable that [s]cyclists should dip their lights (the really bright ones)[/s] dogwalkers refrain from throwing stuff or slow a little when on a shared path in the dark? I know I would.

It is hard to tell where a light beam is pointing exactly, especially if it is a fairly strong one. The cyclist will have probably been able to see you even though you may not have seen them. It is alot easier to continue riding and get out of your way than to take action to dim a light that may also still be pointing in your face. As you say the cyclist came over a 'crest' so was perhaps a shock to him as much as it was for you.

Most lights can be dipped but taking a hand off the handlebar at even slow speed, usually on bumpy surfaces, can be dodgy. I recently bought some lights with different brightness settings and got complaints from walkers. My immediate defence was , it's pitch black where are your lights, it felt like, what else is expected, not enough light on the road and too much offroad.

Having thought about it I leave it set low on shared pathways now and don't get as many complaints BUT I would urge you to get a light for your dogs collar, wear reflective clothes and carry a torch. It would help us see you. And please if a cyclist is coming dont trail the lead across the path between you and the dog!!

I'd like to complain about my route to work and home of the dog walkers who are in cloud cuckoo land and have a whole field to walk and cr&p their breeds, who choose to amble across both the cycle path and footpath and have no interest in others around them. They blatantly talk on mobiles, have headphones in and have no dog control. So lights I use in the winter months , pointing to the ground, only seem to make them want to stare at how bright they are and hypnotise themselves have only themselves to blame. 🙄
And the dog cr&p on my tyres is another rant of lack of clearing up after their dogs and use the bins provided. But thats for another day. 😉

I get this occasionally while commuting on a shared access path which is unlit and very dark. Numpties with lights on full beam coming the other way and make no attempt to dim or shield their rayguns of doom.

Then there's the complete opposite, dog walkers wearing dark clothing, no reflective bands/clothing and no torch.

Grrrr....

</first_world_problems>

I always try to be courteous with my light (a helmet mounted Exposure Diablo).

I think the beam pattern is more of a spot than some of the other flood lights available and I'll always have it pointed down and to the left. Never had any complaints from anyone, but have no idea how my light affects others in reality!

I dip mine but I've hardly got Portland Bill on my handlebars. My lights are more so people can see me.

Throwing balls on a cycle path? So presumably you have a dog running up and down a path at random chasing a ball? You are kidding, right?
I really don't like it when you approach an uncontrolled dog on a path and don't know if it is going to stay put, run in front of you or try and bite you.

Definitely not a 'troll'...been biking for over 20 years!

Beside the path there are a few open fields where we throw the ball...as my wife was about to throw the ball a cyclist crested a hill on the path, dazzled her with his lights and she turned as she was throwing the ball...hence hitting him.

All I am asking is it reasonable that cyclists should dip their lights (the really bright ones) or slow a little when on a shared path in the dark? I know I would.

I am beginning to worry about my soon to arrive 60lux B&M light

An ignorant twunt was cycling towards me with a bright light so in retaliation I threw a ball at him. Imagine my surprise when he became very angry. What should I do? Post up on a cycle forum and ask all cyclists to turn off their lights?

Many cyclists have a single really bright light with umpteen modes including high, medium, low, slow strobe, fast strobe, sos and off. OK for off road but not really suitable in traffic. It's not possible to dim the light without cycling through all modes to get back to the point where the light is correct. I can understand it though. Its an arms race out on the roads. Car HID headlights and LEDs are getting brighter and cyclists are having to fit brighter lights to compensate.

I have 3 lights. One is a blinker for visibility, another with a cut off beam pattern pointing down and the third is a single mode cree torch for main beam which I turn off when I see people coming towards me. Despite my courteous intentions people with no lights or reflective clothing sometimes don't get the benefit of my well thought out lighting arrangement because I don't see them looming in the shadows until the last moment. I wouldn't expect them to throw a ball at me though and probably wouldn't be too happy if they did.

If it's a regular problem turn on the back light on your phone so they can see you in time to react. When they slow down they'll be an easier target. Then throw a ball at them.

I have the main beam about 15 foot in front on the deck. Really not that hard to push the light so it shines downward without flicking through modes plus on dimmest setting an offroad light is plenty bright enough on an unlit river path (cheapo DX)

Why some need their lights so bright I don't know.

Ever tried doing 40mph in the pitch dark? You suddenly become all too aware of the limitations of your lights.

With lights though, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's sometimes very difficult to know how you appear to others, as there's no real standards for bikes as there is with cars. I always push mine down towards the floor when I see people on shared paths, but depending on your mount you may not be able to do that - and it'll do the paint on your bars no good.

When passing people I think you should always slow down and show a little courtesy, day or night. Something that sadly doesn't happen often.

Even dipped bike lights can be pretty annoying, as they spill a lot of light in all directions.

Bike lights have come on a huge way in the last couple of years in terms of increased brightness and reduced cost, making offensively bright lights very affordable, and I think most people buying bright lights simply don't realise what it's like to be on the receiving end.

You do need a fair amount of light to ride on a completely unlit road or path, and there are very few lights that put enough light on the road spilling it everywhere else too. Sadly there's no British equivalent of the German regulations for bike lights, so manufacturers happily sell what should be off-road lights as suitable for on-road use.

I use a shared use path alongside a busy A road on my commute, and with a bit of glare from oncoming traffic it can be very hard to see the few pedestrians you encounter, even with good lights. I accept that it's my responsibility to be able to see and stop if necessary, but pedestrians wearing just the slightest bit of reflective clothing make it so much easier.

40mph?

Just a recommendation: lumicycle road lights are very good. They have a tighter beam than most offroad lights, they also have a bit on the top that reduces the light out the top. They are still bright but when tilted down (the mount is good for dipping) they don't seem too bad. I have tried looking at them from in front of my bike and I am happy that they are not anti social. I don't get flashed by cars either unlike when I used an offroad light once. Also I was happy doing 40mph down into Chepstow tonight 🙂

Oh given that walkers and dogs seem to have no code of conduct on shared paths I only use a few uphill sections. In my opinion they are unsuitable for commuting speeds and only any good for families taking the kids out for a bimble. Use the roads it's what they were made for.

I need all my lumens to pick out dark-clothed, headphone wearing, torchless pedestrians on an unlit, tree-lined shared path on my commute.

Out in the sticks, it seems that anyone walking down a quiet country lane after dark carries a torch, yet in a city on a dark shared path, logic seems to evade people.

Hornits scare the living crap out of the headphone brigade

Carry a mirror with you. If the oncoming cyclist complains that you are dazzling them point out that no, they are merely being dazzled by the brightness of their own lights... 8)

I need all my lumens to pick out dark-clothed, headphone wearing, torchless pedestrians on an unlit, tree-lined shared path on my commute.

I use a shared path every day on my commute, and part of it is pitch black. My commuting light is perfectly adequate, except when cyclists with stupidly bright lights are coming from the opposite direction, thus making it completely impossible to see pedestrians ahead of me.

i can understand why it would do peoples head in. I find that some of the flashing lights used in traffic have become so bright they are just dazzling, it can be counter productive

OP makes a perfectly fair point.

I bike a canal towpath very regularly at night and I'm running 600L minimum. That kind of power directly in your face is totally and utterly blinding. So, I see someone I tip my lights forward.

Easy, it costs nothing to be courteous...

I bike a canal towpath very regularly at night and I'm running 600L minimum. That kind of power directly in your face is totally and utterly blinding. So, I see someone I tip my lights forward.

Easy, it costs nothing to be courteous...

[b]End of thread.[/b]

Yep, I commute with a bright headtorch with quite a tight "spot" beam pattern. Once I've spotted a hazard on the path/road I can slow down and shine my bright light on it until I know it's safe to turn it away so as not to dazzle it unnecessarily. Great whilst circulating roundabouts too.

Agree that pedestrians / dogwalkers should learn to recognise that they're using a shared path, but there's usually enough space for everyone.

If you want to commute at 40mph then stick to dual carriageways.

I'll bite.

About 6 miles of my commute is completely unlit rural shared-use path - with trees around it and no nearby street lights, so [i]properly[/i] pitch black.

I ride with an circa-2004 Lumicycle Halide. It's an off-road light (13° beam), seriously bright and has no low power or dipped modes, just on and off.

I wouldn't ride with anything less. There are hazards on the path to look for: dog eggs, broken glass, potholes, gates, frogs.. as well as the odd all-in-black ninja dog-walker with accompanying unlit black lab.

Occasionally I see people riding on that path with rather weedy "two for a tenner" lights. Usually these folk are either wobbling along at walking pace, stopped at the edge of the path, or in one case pulling himself out of a bush. 😀

I do try to "dip" my light (by pushing it forwards) as I approach other people - though I only do this if they are lit too in some way. If they are unlit then I need to know where they are!

[i]My wife and I often have to walk the dog in the dark and lately it seems that the cyclists on their way home from work are blinding us both with lights that are so bright we're often left quite dis-orientated. To add to this these cyclists don't slow down and we have no idea how close they are and on which side of the path they're on...often waiting to be 'mowed down'[/i]

Surely as you're an elderly retired couple you could walk your mutt in daylight?

ninja dog-walker

Genuine lol 🙂

You throw balls for your dog in the dark.

if I can see their dog is on a lead I'll put my hand over the light so it's not shining in walkers face but I can still see the trail, if dog is off the lead I'll keep lights as they are so I can see if the mutt decides to run infront of me. Generally keep my lights on medium for my not very technical commute purely to extend battery life to last 2 days, if lights/battery were more efficient I'd have them on full, why wouldn't you? You might only be riding a towpath but what if there's unexpected obstacles? tree branch etc

Obviously match speed to suit the conditions, narrow path I'll go slower than a wide dirt road.

if I can see their dog is on a lead I'll put my hand over the light so it's not shining in walkers face but I can still see the trail

Yeah I do this sometimes. The risk is that one day you'll find someone with one dog on the lead and another one running wild.

Or sporting two leads, one of which is extendible and attached to a dog somewhere on the other side of the path!

The [i]good[/i] dog walkers round my way have lit/reflective collars on their dogs; and/or carry torches which they shine themselves and their dogs as I approach; or just get their dogs to heel when they see me coming.

They all get a heartfelt "Thankyou!" as I pass.

Theres is acutally a real problem here.

There is a real shortage of properly designed powerful battery powered bike lights with a cut-off beam pattern suitable for road use.

In addition, despite going against the DFT's recceomendations, many councils create UNLIT shared-use paths where you need a bright light to see where you are going. Some of these even face the oncoming traffic, making it very difficult to see both the path and any (unlit) pedestrians against the backdrop of car headlights.

Predicatbly, it makes using shared paths quite difficult. Even an off-road light angled downwards spills a significant amount of light upwards.

There is a real shortage of properly designed powerful battery powered bike lights with a cut-off beam pattern suitable for road use.

You want to get on Rose Bikes or similar, pretty much all German lights (battery or dynamo) have a decent beam pattern for road use.

In addition, despite going against the DFT's recceomendations, many councils create UNLIT shared-use paths where you need a bright light to see where you are going.

Not sure many people would thank you for putting lights all along my unlit shared-use path. It's a nice rural walk/cycle - not a main road. It doesn't need to be lit, it just needs users to think a little bit, carry their own lights and make sure they (and their dogs/children/ferrets) are visible.

I run my light Full Beam on the canal path so I can see the copious amounts of Dog Cr4p, dip it when on road...

By the way, I use my Lumi on the road too.

Direct quote from my missus after she passed me in her car as I crested a very foggy hill at the weekend: "Your lights were brilliant - we could see you from miles away."

This is a [i]good thing[/i].

GrahamS - Member

(and their ferrets)

WTF?

T'North innit?

(and their ferrets)

WTF?

It's not unheard of to take your ferret 'walkies' in the north.

Several things jump out here, and it's not all one way traffic.

[b]To the OP - [/b]

You've seen a bright light, it's dazzled you. How about looking away from it for a few seconds and/or stopping until it passes? Works for me every time.

You're out in the dark. Have [b][i]you[/i][/b] got a light or any hi-viz? That way an approaching cyclist will be able to see you from further away.

You're using a shared footpath/cycleway. The clue is in the name. Are you keeping to one side or are you, as a pedestrian, wandering about aimlessly all over the shop? Personal experience would suggest the latter.

Why is your missus throwing the ball for the dog in the dark? Does the dog have night vision? And how can it go after it if it's under close control?

[b]To the cyclists -[/b]

If the behaviour of pedestrians and/or their dogs bothers you, try riding accordingly.

Assume that pedestrians are brainless zombies and wander about aimlessly everywhere, because 99% of them do. If you aren't sure that they've seen you try an audible warning (bell/horn/shout/warning shot into the ground at 100 yards).

So they've got a dog - it's not on a lead and running all over the shop. Not sure what it's going to do? Need more time to think and assess the situation - how's this for an idea? TRY SLOWING DOWN, or even stopping!!! Fugg me it's not difficult, is it?? Are you really in that much of a rush?

[b]Finally, to everyone -[/b]

Stop assuming that because you're on a particular piece of road/path/trail that you own the thing. You don't, you have to share it with other people. Try doing so courteously and maybe people will stop being so ghey about the issue.

Or, if that isn't an option, try walking/riding where there isn't going to be conflict. Too many people ride their bikes where they have no right to do so and then get all upset and weepy when people complain. Well I get upset and weepy when I get tarred with the same brush as these no-marks.

Play nice kiddies, that's the ticket...

I need all 100% max power from my lights to spot the traveller horse that moves across the road, thus stretching it's lead into a potential head removing trip wire.

Being courteous and angling your lights down a little is easy and costs nothing. However, like other posters have said, it's a judgement call as to how bright your lights are and the impact they have. I had a driver stop at the end of my street when I was riding towards him in the mrning gloam / fog with my wee one on the back. I was using a C and B Seen light on flash mode. When I passed, he politely pointed out that he couldn't see anything becasue of my light. From my perspective, that's no bad thing as he stopped and waited as the more common experience for me when it is lighter is that drivers will see me then come towards me even though I am already on the road and riding towards them when there is not much more than a car width to drive down. It is a little frustrating that they would stop for a car but not a bike.

As for ridng in traffic in the city, I've succumbed to the light arms race. I now run the main light on full or flashing in traffic and supplement it with a bright head mounted light to ensure that both drivers and pedestrians see me. I've lost count of the number of times when folk will dart across the road despite having made eye contact with me, recognised I was approaching them and then gone for it. The helmet mount gives them casue to stop and wait so as far as I'm concerned is safer for everyone. I'd rather dazzle someone than them not see me.

It's not unheard of to take your ferret 'walkies' in the north

how's this for an idea? TRY SLOWING DOWN, or even stopping!!! Fugg me it's not difficult, is it?? Are you really in that much of a rush?

Big assumption there. I do slow down as required (and am often thanked for doing so).

But the potential danger isn't from people/dogs/hazards I have seen and can slow down for.

It's from the stuff I don't see: dog loose in the bushes, extendible lead stretched invisibly across the path, etc

From my perspective, that's no bad thing as he stopped and waited

Aye. My experience with the Lumi is that some people stop or give me room because they think I might be a motorbike. I imagine it is quiet upsetting for them when they realise they've been "tricked" into showing courtesy to a push bike.

I occasionally see a special soldier or two riding along the LH pavement as I ride home; Full beams angle upwards on the bars (or better yet a 1000 lumen flasher) and a chuffing helmet light just for riding on the bastard pavement!

These tools normally manage to get a good few lumens straight in my eyes and presumably those of any oncoming car driver on the same side of the road as them...

In answer to your question yes most higher powered lights can be put on a lower intensity setting, they can also be angled down too reducing the amount of glare going in peoples eyes...

As with any other group of road users, there are sadly a few Twazzlers on bikes too...

I occasionally see a special soldier or two riding along the LH pavement as I ride home; Full beams angle upwards on the bars (or better yet a 1000 lumen flasher) and a chuffing helmet light just for riding on the bastard pavement!

Yep, I'm one of those tools 😀

Have you considered that they may only be on pavement for a short stretch before they are back on unlit path?

I do try to tip my light down and to the right when riding on the pavement next to oncoming cars but it is a wide beam so there is still a bit of spill.

If drivers find it major problem they must really struggle with the opposite lane of cars!

i saw a special soldier last night - his light was pointing straight back at him.

i kinda saw his logic as his lumo jacket was light up well.... but he was essentially riding blind to anything in his perifferals .

Yeah - good way to be seen, but not a good way to see.

Have you considered that they may only be on pavement for a short stretch before they are back on unlit path?

Nope there's a perfectly good road they could be using, I know this because I'm riding on it the opposite way on my bicycle!

If you really are that scared of the road that you have to ride on the pavement, why not try to do so without blinding all oncoming traffic (which includes cyclists) FFS!

Do you regularly get "blinded" by oncoming cars? Why is a bike light so different?

It is probably less lumens than modern car headlights.

By the way, accusing people of being [i]"scared of the road"[/i] epitomises the typical macho nonsense that puts other people off riding bikes for transport.

You shouldn't have to be brave to ride a bike in traffic. It's not supposed to be an extreme sport!

Graham S - never mind the ferrets, what are dog eggs? in your earlier post 😉

theres a couple of points not mentioned so far, most cyclists at night are legally obliged to have lights are they not? Dog walkers / pedestrians are not. In my mind, those without, in pitch black conditions, are stupid and lacking common sense but clearly they think its safe to walk without. I imagine a their lower speeds their eyes have adjusted to the lack of light and they feel they can see enough without. Whereas us cyclists with our huge lumens see the direct light in front of us and our eyes are set to that, anything outside that range will be pitch black, our eyes wont adjust that quickly. We are travelling much faster than walkers.

Over the last few weeks I have lowered the beam on sections where I am likely to meet pedestrians and then where I know theres little chance of seeing somebody, or back on the road I up it by a notch.

I've had less complaints which is good, other than the dad with 4 teenagers straddling the path with no lights, they saw me coming and continued to walk the whole bredth of the 4x4 track until I was close, finally parting very late, the dad held his fist up at my head hight... I didnt go near it and he didnt move it so we missed each other... very bizarre.

nowt so funny as folk.

Do you regularly get "blinded" by oncoming cars? Why is a bike light so different?

Do you regularly get "blinded" by oncoming cars? Why is a bike light so different?

It is probably less lumens than modern car headlights.

you're probably right, Car lights are of course about half the height off the road and approriately angled down, compard to your bar mounted jobs which are about level with a drivers eyeline, and if set horizontal rather than at the road in front basically just wasting all that POWER on blinding strangers.

By the same token any Driver who drives round with his full beams on all the time is rightly considered a bit of a ****hammer by most TBH, and will get tooted/sworn at by every other road user...

By the way, accusing people of being "scared of the road" epitomises the typical macho nonsense that puts other people off riding bikes for transport.

You shouldn't have to be brave to ride a bike in traffic. It's not supposed to be an extreme sport!

Precisely riding a bike on a road is not particularly brave, so Why are you riding on the pavement when when there's a perfectly good road provided for wheeled vehicles? Largely free of Ped's, Dogs lamp posts and other obsticals you probably encounter riding on the pavement...

I speak as both a cyclist and a driver...

There is a difference between making yourself "More visible" to other road users (whether on the road or pavement) and wilfully blinding the controller of 1.5te+ of mobile metal, which probably only needs a slightly unsighted course correction to wipe you out, well done your safety measures have reduced your level of personal safety.

I do use full power lights and Helmet lighting but only when I actually need/benefit from it. That's when I'm riding through woods in near pitch blackness, not on streetlit roads with other people about...

Flashing lights are a bag of shite and should be banned from use on the roads IMO, please explain how a 1000+ lumen blinding flash once every second helps anyone gauge your distance & closing speed? and it's not going to help the rider see where they are going is it?, A steady 2-300 Lumens gives a better positional reference to others without burning out everyone's retina'...

There's something to be said for proportionate lighting and a bit of bright yellow/orange clothing with plenty of reflective materials, as opposed to firing a death ray in every unsuspecting road users face just because you've got a chip on your shoulder... lights are not the only thing that drivers can see...

You're being a tool basically, and will probably end up on someones bonnet as a result... your choice of course.

[/Rant]

Precisely riding a bike on a road is not particularly brave, so Why are you riding on the pavement when when there's a perfectly good road provided for wheeled vehicles? Largely free of Ped's, Dogs lamp posts and other obsticals you probably encounter riding on the pavement...

I ride pavements all the time. They are nearly always free of ped's, dogs, lamp posts, and cars. Some roads I wouldn't even consider pedalling around on. I love cycling, but doing it amongst cars doing anywhere between 50 and 100mph on roads wide enough only for two cars side by side is not my idea of fun. I'd sooner take the bus. And I [i]hate[/i] buses.

Flashing lights are a bag of shite and should be banned from use on the roads IMO

Can't agree with this either. Flashing lights are great for catching attention during the day and in murky weather conditions, as well as preserving battery life. Though I do make sure I have one on constant in the dark.

Also a flashing rear light will instantly mark you out as a cyclist, which is important when you have traffic approaching you at silly speeds.

i got shouted at on the road by a passing subaru for my rear light being too bright last night (use red eye on solid and a flashing smart 1watt ) .....

for me that means i have the balance right ..... well at least you noticed me didnt you.

you're probably right, Car lights are of course about half the height off the road and approriately angled down

please explain how a 1000+ lumen blinding flash once every second

Graham S - never mind the ferrets, what are dog eggs? in your earlier post

Those special little brown eggs that dogs lay on the path 😉

cyclists at night are legally obliged to have lights are they not?

yep - though not sure if that is only on the road.

And we're also legally obliged to have things like pedal reflectors etc 😯

Car lights on dipped beam are positioned to point down and slightly to the left that is why car lights do not create such a problem.

Yep - so if I point my Lumi down at to the left (or right) then I'm mimicking that as best I can whilst still seeing where I am going.

so Why are you riding on the pavement when when there's a perfectly good road provided for wheeled vehicles?

Why would/should I risk riding in the dark and wet on a dual carriageway (even one with cycle lanes) when I can stick to the pavement, enjoy a relaxing stress-free ride and probably get there faster to boot?

There is a difference between making yourself "More visible" to other road users (whether on the road or pavement) and wilfully blinding..

I don't wilfully blind anyone. I do however notice that other traffic gives me a lot more courtesy and room at night, than when I'm using bright lights, than they do during the day or when I was running crappy commuter lights.

I'm unconvinced that has "reduced your level of personal safety"

Flashing lights are a bag of shite

However they are [url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2013/jan/10/cycling-high-visibility-safe-fluorescent ]visually distinctive code for "cyclist"[/url] which can be useful. Personally my front light is steady but I run three back lights: tail light on steady, holy hand grenade and fibre flare on flash.

You're being a tool basically, and will probably end up on someones bonnet as a result... your choice of course.

I'll continue to do what I think is safest thing for me and those around me based on the reactions and experiences I have. I'm sure you do likewise.

As I mentioned earlier I sometimes end up riding on the same road as my missus in her car and we compare notes about my visibility etc. If she thought there was a problem or I was being unsafe then I can assure you I'd know about it!

Flashing lights are useful, IMO, because as said they mark you out as a cyclist. In winter I use a flashing helmet light (only a small Knog Frog Strobe) along with my main light on steady, always on low if there are other road users around. In summer I use a Smart light on flash to grab drivers' attention.

However, 1000 lumens on strobe is a very different matter, I occasionally pass someone on my way home from work who's got a mega-bright strobe light pointing at eye level, in the dark, on an unlit cycle path 😕 Surely it doesn't help him see where he's going, nevermind how antisocial it is.

When people say 'dip' with reference to cars' it's not that it's less light, just a different light pattern with a pronounced cut-off above a certain point so they illuminate the road without blinding oncoming traffic. Very few if any bike lights do this. If you reduce the power you still have a full-on, in your face beam pattern, even if you angle it down, you still get lots of spill at eye level.

I think Philips make a road-specific light which is designed to give a low beam with a car-like sharp cut-off though it's expensive and not that bright. I know Lumicycle does a road-specific head unit that's presumably a spot -spots work best on the road as there's less light spill so they're more directional, but there doesn't seem to be much out there, presumably because most proper roadies seem content to ride at 30mph plus with something like an Exposure Joystick...

Anyway... if someone made a road-friendly light which was both bright and had a genuine car-type dip beam, I'd buy one in a flash.