Would you go out and drive your car around town after dark without your lights on? Of course not. You’d probably get many other drivers flashing their lights at you as a reminder to flip them on, if you weren’t pulled over by the police. All too often lately, I’m noticing cyclists out after dark without lights. As a year-round bicycle commuter, the idea that someone would go out in traffic at night without lights is simply incomprehensible. It’s also extremely dangerous and against the law.
Last weekend, I observed three cyclists riding on Overland Avenue – one with lights, but two others riding as a couple in traffic, without any lights whatsoever. At the corner of Sepulveda and Washington boulevards, near Tito’s Tacos, two more were riding without lights against traffic, on the sidewalk and riding in the crosswalk. These people were observed in just a 15-minute errand on a Friday night. Being invisible in traffic is foolish.
When I’m riding at night I want to be as visible as a float in a Disney electric parade. I want motorists and others to note my presence and know I’m there so they don’t hit me. That is just common sense. Common sense, unfortunately, isn’t all that common any more.
It’s also the Law: California Vehicle Code 21201(d) is effectively summarized in Culver City Municipal Code 7.04.300, stating:
“Every bicycle upon a roadway or sidewalk at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible any person or vehicle on the highway at a distance of 200 feet, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front, which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 300 feet to the front, and with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from all distances from 50 feet to 200 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 200 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.”
21201(d) of the California Vehicle code, also references the use of white or yellow reflectors on the pedals, shoes or ankles of the rider visible for 200 feet and side reflectors on the front and rear or reflective tires on the front and rear of the bike.
Keep in mind that lights are cheap – less than the cost of a typical tank of gas and likely much less expensive than the insurance deductible for an emergency room visit. A basic set will start around $25, with fancier and brighter lights going for more than $200. Moreover, they are available at just about any bike shop and most large retailers that offer bicycle accessories.
With the number of potholes and debris on the road, it’s important to see well and be seen. My headlight can illuminate a solid white light or a flashing light. I typically use an LED flashing light when I’m riding in the daytime to help catch the attention of drivers quicker – and it does. I have a second, brighter LED light with a rechargeable battery pack aimed downward to light the road in front of me when I’m riding home in the dark during the fall and winter months.
On the rear of my bike is a red light that can project a solid light or a couple of different flashing patterns. In my experience, it helps to have some sort of flashing taillight when riding in traffic.
Riding in traffic is challenging enough. Help yourself and those drivers who encounter you on the road – get lights and turn them on. Be bright, use your lights.
Join the Culver City Bicycle Coalition Saturday, June 25, as they celebrate the grand opening of the Overland Gate. They’ll lead a family ride to the event and then a family ride down the bike path. Check their site for details.
Bike Safe, Bike Smart! is a weekly column to promote responsible cycling by providing information, education and advice about riding. It’s written by members of the Culver City Bicycle Coalition (CCBC), a local chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. Join them for their family bike ride the last Sunday of every month. For more information and to submit questions, write: ccbicyclecoalition@gmail.com and visit ccbike.org.
