Are Flashing Bike Lights DANGEROUS?

[@K1909]

I’m with Nick, if a driver can’t judge a distant then they need to pay more attention, I want to be seen

[@user3wx9V-178]

flashing during the day is good for visibility. flashing at night makes it really hard to see at night. the flashing in daytime draws their eyes to you and they can look at your body and bike and use that to gauge distances. but at night they can't see your body and bike, only your light. that's why the light should be steady.

[@MrAlexshellard]

Same kinda. I find it harder to judge distance with a bright front white flashing bike when on my motorcycle, it takes away from looking at everything or a cager seeing my Honda and taking me out but at least im in leathers with a lid and some protection. Big but though, flashing red light on the back 100% from a walker cyclist and motorcyclists view just a no brainer, every motorcyclist will understand that.

[@awavey]

I think the problem is theyre talking about alot of different scenarios for lights, be that day riding, night riding, off road, on road, front or back and munging them all together as only one or two things, and it really is more complex than that. Because if your riding on a winding unlit country road with no street lights, you dont want a flashing rear light, because people behind you wont judge how near they are to you, to slow down enough for you, theyll just go oh that must be a cyclist...omg they were right in front of me...oops too late. And it is a real science thing its not a personal preference, the human brain cannot easily calculate distances of flashing lights when its the only illumination provided. Now in a daytime context its completely different ball game, a flashing light draws attention to you more than a constant would, but theres awhole bunch of daylight providing the compensation factors to work out your speed. And thats just one light on one road in two conditions.

[@viet0ne]

@@user3wx9V-178 sounds like drivers should slow down if they have problems with their visual sight. Regardless of day or night.

[@Judasswolf]

This is a stupid, stupid argument. You don't want other road users to spend too much time triyng to guess where the fuck the flashing light is coming from, because it will reduce by a lot their reaction time, therefore, making an accident more probable.

[@buster.keaton]

Tiny flashing bike lights are too annoying for drivers, but insanely bright blue headlights on cars are not?!?!

[@questgivercyradis8462]

Motorists will whine about anything, even if hypocritical :/

[@ickebins6948]

Why not both?

[@Liofa73]

Drivers hate cyclists not matter what we do, they also hate pedestrians walking on country roads. The problem isn't the cyclists, it's the cars.

[@Skooteh]

As a cyclist and motorist I'll say that car (especially truck/suv) headlights are much worse, especially if they're positioned wrong. I also think that "more attention is always better" ain't quite right. There's decent research that drivers tend to steer where they look so that could negatively affect your safety. Personally, I go for "visible but not attention grabbing" and have solid, reasonably bright front and rear lights and my rear light gets brighter when it detects braking.

[@bigrex3896]

I ride with one fixed and one flashing rear and a fixed/strobing front even on the brightest sunny day. Flashing catches their attention which is my main goal.

[@gaborozorai3714]

Driving in the dark it's impossible to tell the source and distance of a tiny continuous bright light. Especially if it appears in a sea of car headlights and/or rear lights. It may be just another car or motorbike in the distance. If it's a flashing light you know it's a bike and probably quite close.

[@vittocrazi]

Thats why in proper dark you pair two steady lights...

[@gaborozorai3714]

@ ...which look exactly like car headlights in the distance.

[@vittocrazi]

@gaborozorai3714 no they dont. Because they being doubled mean you see them part as you close IS, giving depth. A blinking light also gives 0 depth, but also IS less positional. Blinking litelally works by refreshing the stimulus, meaning they draw attention... To the light. But Will not see the rider.

[@gaborozorai3714]

@@vittocrazi Yes, you see them closing in, but still, 2 small lights inches apart are very difficult to tell from larger lights 1.5 metres apart at a greater distance. With a flashing light you cannot judge the distance but knowing it's a bike you adjust your expectations and pay attention.

[@vittocrazi]

@@gaborozorai3714 you can easy tell the distance. Plus you dont need them to be very bright... I ride a lot at nighttime and in terms of visibility 2 steady > 1 steady > blinking > no lights. Thats from experience and observing all the rest of the Riders and drivers. For visibility, you dont need a lot. Intense lights are for the Road, not safety. Otherwise Cars would have "high beams" on the rear.

[@Unktiontofunktion726]

I’m a flasher! I wanna be noticed. I think a standard solid light just fades into the background. Sucks y’all are taking time off, but good for y’all. Excited for the next one.👊🏼

[@mike_f]

My experience as a driver is that judging distance of a single flashing red light in very dark conditions is very hard to tell how far away it is. So in very dark conditions, I think a solid light is better. But by daytime flashing is definitely better. Just my personal perspective from both sides of the windshield.

[@djhartful]

That’s why I like the Garmin varia. Day flash and night flash modes. Day flash has occasional flash as default and then when a car approaches closer it flashes quickly. Night flash has a default slow flash and then as the cars approaches closer it flashes quicker. Quite a few drivers in Switzerland have signaled to me they found this really nice.

[@Feline-friend007]

I live at 69 degrees north, on the norwegian coast. Its dark now, and i have almost ridden straight into other cyclists riding in the opposite direction because i could not easily discern their front lights from the street lamps in the distance. Three weeks ago i barely missed getting run over by a car that was turning into a driveway, and the obviously did not see me until the last second. I use flashing lights for this reason, i dont want some poor motorist to have a heart attack on account of my presence on the road. Im just careful to aim the lights downward somewhat, so that i dont blind pedestrians or motorists.

[@g_rox6209]

‘He’s not a sniper who’s trying to shoot me and needs to know many yards I’m away’ 😅😅. I agree. As a cyclist(in the U.S.) I will always lose to a car if I get hit. I’ve noticed cars give me more distance when they see my annoying flashing rear light. So I always have it on.

[@mattswain552]

I'm in the UK and agree with the front strobe/flashing light being too much: I've struggled seeing where I'm going on a cycling path due to a hideous light show burning my eyeballs coming from the opposite direction!

[@gaborozorai3714]

@@mattswain552 Steady lights on cycle paths and flashing lights in traffic are the way to go.

[@MrGoodaches]

I’m an avid cyclist and long distance bike packer who does use lights - and I HATE clueless, self absorbed cyclists who use extremely bright headlights without consideration for anyone else. I’ve had to come to full stops on bike paths because of being totally blinded by oncoming cyclists who have their ultra bright light aimed high. I always use my center side hand (left hand in USA) to shield part of my beam from faces of oncoming riders. It might help if manufacturers of very bright lights were to illustrate and recommend this safety courtesy on the outside of their product packaging and on their websites.

[@tawanga]

Only a small and expensive subset of bike lights have a cutoff beam. Most of them are competing on lumens, with no regard for anyone else on the road.

[@awavey]

one of the aspects I believe of German bike lights is theyre very strict on beam width so as not to create dazzle problems of that kind, which is why maybe German riders are buying UK lights because its basically a free for all over here even though flashing lights only became legal within the last 20 year. And people will ride with bike lights designed to illuminate half a forest at night, on the road, and attach it to their helmet so its right in your eyeline and bobbles around with their head movements. For some reason these riders believe blinding people driving towards them, makes them more visible.

[@williamray7523]

I prefer a flashing light too but they are frowned upon in Germany / Austria (where I live). I am 90% sure there is a law against them because only emergency vehicles are supposed to have flashing lights. However, unless you're running a strobe lights suitable for a rave then the police generally give a blind eye.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Emily , Jimmi , and Nic . Where I live , I use a flashing white on the front , and a Garmin Varia that flashes with radar feature , AND a big ass whistle . I have to avoid doors , spit , cigarettes , and people actively trying to hit me IN a segregated bike lane ! I ride 90 percent off road because of this , but in the winter, the off road stuff can be impossible . Indoors is an option i have now as well. Happy New Year !

[@pejakesic]

On Flashing mode light battery last 4-5 times longer .

[@keessonnema]

Bullshit reason. Flashing lights during the day, solid lights at night, pleaes.

[@ickebins6948]

And that's not the point... If your priority is how long the battery lasts just don't turn the light on. Battery lasts for ages!

[@max-eb9vi]

I checked this on my lyzene strip 150. Turns out it lasts 3 times longer on the low watt fixed setting than most flashing stettings cos the wattage is higher on most flashing stettings. Mad but glad I checked cos I like a fixed light

[@ron_nor_]

That myth of the "hard to judge the distance" will never die in Germany. I'd rather have a driver, that can not judge my distance from 1500m away, than one that notices me from 5m away and runs me over, with an exact knowledge of the distance. Also if there are ten cyclists and one of them has a bright flashing light, he draws attention to all of them instead of stealing the attention. That's just BS blinky haters tell you here in Germany. Yes, I dim my Varia Radar light at night time, but during the day I cannot whip the synapses of smartphone distracted drivers enough.

[@ickebins6948]

Well it's not a "myth". You just can't judge the distance at night... It's fine in the daytime. The "blinky haters" ... who are they and why don't they hate the non-flashy lights?

[@ln1577]

Car drivers are a group of people who unfortunately have a lot of people with worsening eyesight as they age. Astigmatism, blurry vision at night, often wet windshield. On a dark road, a simple LED lamp with partially discharged AA batteries in ECO flashing mode is much worse than a regular bulb on the mudguard of an old Dutch bicycle. Old LED lamps usually do not have a built-in reflector. In the city, a strobe, blinding modern lamp increases hatred towards cyclists. A rarely flashing light from the front in narrow, intersecting, well-lit city streets is sometimes unnoticed by drivers who look for a large car with two headlights. A rarely flashing cyclist disappears somewhere behind the bodywork pillar, and the car drives straight under the wheels of an oncoming cyclist. A cyclist should think about their lighting and adjust it to the type of road, weather and time of day, most lamps have multiple operating modes. Sometimes you can flash and sometimes switch to continuous mode. It is best to think about how to see cyclists from behind the steering wheel or from the passenger seat; it is worth squinting to check how people with visual impairments see us at night. You can better judge the distance if the lamp shines with a larger surface, and not pointwise and blindingly. If the intensity of the visible light increases as you approach the cyclist. A very strong flashing light in the dark looks similar from 50 and 25 meters, and sometimes even worsens the possibility of recognizing where the cyclist really is. And not every car driver has intellectual abilities that surpass an automatic vacuum cleaner.

[@shanefahy3018]

Perhaps the problem is not with flashing lights but with flashing lights that are so bright they blind other road users much like a car driving towards you with full beams on?

[@9023gregb]

My light uses the highest lumen for the flash which makes it too much even in broad daylight. It's annoying.

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

@@9023gregb AliExpress laser cannon?

[@fennec13]

NO, I have actively flashing light front and back in day and night riding in the road. I do not wish to be hit by a car and I will draw as much attention to myself as I can.

[@ChrisMurley]

Agree with Jimmy, if it means they can see me, then I will continue using it. I have had drivers complain directly to me. Asked them did you see me? When they say yes then I say job done. I wonder how many of these drivers use high intensity LED headlights but think that is OK?

[@br5380]

+1 We've often had drivers come to a near stop when we've been out night-riding on MTB's (and on a road section). We've all got bar & helmet lights plus they're very bright. Exposure Lights 👍

[@barrybloye]

Gotta say, although I feel safer riding with flashing lights, I do find them distracting when I’m driving in darker conditions. I take a similar approach and tend to use a rear flash during good daylight, but keep the lights constant when it’s darker.

[@cottoneyejoe663]

As a driver i prefer the flasing light. Its stand out from the normal lights of the traffic and i find it more visible as a driver

[@stephensaines7100]

Exactly!

[@ickebins6948]

But in the dark nobody can judge the distance...

[@YavorM-Yash]

​@@ickebins6948 and at what distance you will finally realise that there's something infront of you? And when you approach enough your headlights will be illuminate that something so you should have very bright idea how far it is. Assuming you refer as it is dark. During day time I see no problems.

[@uranusjr]

The problem with flashing lights is they make lives harder for people seeing them, including other cyclists. And considering cyclists don’t have as powerful front lights as cars, they get blinded worse. I never use flash if I know there are likely other cyclists around me.

[@xaein9515]

How close are you driving or riding at towards a flashing light? If I see any lights infront of me, I'll be prepare to drive around them. That's the whole purpose of a flashing light, to get notice.

[@uranusjr]

@@xaein9515 If other cyclists need to ride around you (i.e. closer to cars than they normally would), you expose them to more danger than you are entitled to.

[@xaein9515]

@@uranusjr huh? What are you getting at? You have to drive or ride around a slower person, irregarless of flashing lights. Or if like to, you can always just follow them at a safe distance

[@ericharman4064]

I do find that it is harder to judge distance on a flashing light than a constant light. That's why I use both flashing and constant lights on the back when I'm on the road. The front I always use a flashing light and then add a constant light in the dark.

[@Sketchupdave]

As a German, it is quite safe to cycle, even in a busy city like Cologne, if you pay attention to your surroundings. You share the road with cars and pedestrians, and most drivers are pretty careful and predictable.

[@dismiggo]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but AFAIK flashing lights aren't even illegal in Germany, they're just not STVZO compliant, which means that you would just have to have a second light that is, in order to not get in trouble with the cops. Isn't that right?

[@rwo5402]

@@dismiggo Flashing lights fixed the bike are illegal or not STVZO compliant and the police can issue you a ticket. However a flashing light attached to the rider on the helemt or jersey or backpack is legal.

[@rwo5402]

It only takes one driver to clean you off the road. Having flashing rear lights on a country road definitley draws attention to the rider.

[@rwo5402]

@@Sketchupdave What if you are not German?

[@mucklark6943]

@@rwo5402 please be more specific - Daylight flashing lights are not illegal, even when fixed to the bike, as there is no requirement in the StVo that cyclights use lights during daylight hours.

[@jonas2674]

Ideally you would only be using flashing lights during daytime when lightning conditions are less than ideal, but it's not totally dark and you're riding on a country road. When it's dark it's better to use lights that are not flashing, especially when you're riding among other cyclist.

[@simon7790]

As a sailor that sails solo at night, for me flashing lights are very difficult to gauge the distance an object is away. Fixed lights are much easier to gauge distance on, and you can see the movement and direction of travel of the object better. Boats in an anchorage never use flashing lights because they can be hit easily. But I acknowledge that flashing is more noticeable in a busy environment. So I use both on a bike. I would also say that they do not need to be that bright at night, but can be in bright when there is low sun (dawn and dusk) or in daytime. Some are so bright they dazzle drivers.

[@johnnunn8688]

How do you cope with lighthouses, cardinal marks and other bouys etc?

[@simon7790]

@@johnnunn8688 Good question! Lighthouses and many other navigational aids have distinct patterns so you can identify them individually. The idea is not to approach them, but to stay away. They often use occluded sequences or lenses to reduce true flashing. Same idea for cardinal marks, they identify the area to stay away from, and where that is relative to you and the mark. Same for fishing boats that are seine fishing, they can have flashing lights on. So in general flashing means keep clear. That contrasts to fixed lights which are commonly used for objects you do need to approach close to, eg harbour walls, jetties, boats at anchor, etc. Some of those fixed lights will change colour depending on your relative aspect (eg masthead lights for vessels underway, or harbour lights) which can change from red (if you're to port of them) to white to green depending on your aspect or position relative to them. So it's easier to judge distance and aspect relative to them when it's a fixed light. So basically if flashing, I try to identify the light, identify my position and keep clear but often without solid knowledge of distance from the light. With fixed lights I can make a more controlled approach usually with an idea of how far away it is because it will start to appear to move eg start rising up (if I'm close and it's higher than me) or align with other marks, etc. In an anchorage when it's pitch black, having one boat with a flashing light can confuse. There are exceptions to this of course.

[@michael1]

@@simon7790 " The idea is not to approach them, but to stay away." - well that's the same with the bicycle too. Stay away from it. You got there in the end.

[@simon7790]

@@michael1 Oh, so smug. It's not enough that I make it clear that obviously flashing lights suggest keep clear. But you missed the point about fixed lights usually allowing people to better at judging distance and therefore keeping safe distance while overtaking on roads. Roads are not as wide as the English Channel and drivers cannot just do a 90 degree turn to keep clear. Of course they need to wait until it's safe to pass, but they also need a good indication of where exactly you are in relation to them. Try driving a truck for a few hours in the dark on busy roads and then come back and say one small low down flash against a sea of moving lights is the ideal.

[@michael1]

@@simon7790 You're making no sense at all. There really is no difficulty at all overtaking a bicycle. But, perhaps if you're "in a sea of lights" in a truck with limited mental facilities and poor night vision then you shouldn't be overtaking at that point anyway. Or maybe not even driving at all. In most sane jurisdictions where roads are busy they are not dark and where they are dark there are very few cyclists (or anyone else) - cities are lit up and you can see them from space - with North Korea being perhaps the only exception. As ever the myth that you can't see cyclists remains because it's a lie that you tell rather than the truth - you see cyclists perfectly well and pull out in front thinking "it's only a cyclist" or you see the cyclist and the "sea of lights" and think you can squeeze through anyway.

[@johndebrita9013]

I’ve actually had drivers slow down and tell me how much they LIKE my flashing taillight.

[@Flashback_Jack]

You sure that wasn't their passive aggression?

[@Semponi]

I use Red Shift Arclight pedals: they can be set to flash or steady, but on steady their up/down movement still attracts attention!

[@erich8258]

It depends on the application. If you use flashing front lights at night, you're using your light incorrectly. At night it becomes a see, not be seen, light.

[@andrewnorris5415]

Cities have street lights to see by and many distractions.

[@peterbedford2610]

I cycle and drive everyday. There are tree covered roads where the shadows are quite dark. A tail light makes a huge difference in visibility. Here in the US, cycling on the road has become much more dangerous than it was 20 years ago.

[@syknowland3902]

I think we should be discussing lumen intensity on your front light. I swear I've seen people with at least 1500 lumen, on a shared direction bike lane, and the worst part is they don't even angle them down. If you need a bright front light to let a car know your in danger, either your in the wrong lane or they are, and either way, that bright light isn't going to stop a car in it's tracks, perhaps make it worse. As for flashing rear lights, keep the pulsing ones, and I always keep mine on solid and bright.

[@Flashback_Jack]

Flashing front lights are often banned in many jurisdictions--those things limited to emergency vehicles--but I'll be damned if I follow those laws. Visibility is key for me as a cyclist and flashing lights keep drivers awake, and me alive.

[@aaronhamlen8215]

I can't ride without three flashing lights, 2 in the front one on my seatpost where I live in New england. I have tested this without lights vehicles, don't give me enough space when passing. I also record every ride.

[@kihunpark8669]

I do agree that aggressively bright flashing lights can be too distracting, but steadily glowing or moving lights are very good! Because Germany has stricter regulations than any other countries, it’s extremely difficult to buy non stzvo lights. people are just not accustomed to non stzvo lights, since very few people own them and germans simply enjoy their stupid rules so much! I would stick to stzvo lights if I’m in a group ride or on quiet road. Some of the drivers in Bavaria are more disciplined and considerate to cyclists. I wouldn’t hesitate to use high power flashing light in Saxony because the drivers there are all jerks ready to kill me at any moment.

[@christianb.1028]

It's not difficult at all... Just order in the Netherlands or some other neighboring country. I own the illegal Varia version with flashing lights. Just ordered it online from a Dutch webshop.

[@YavorM-Yash]

Years ago I've read that flashing lights in Germany aren't allowed not because of the distance issues, but due to the possibility of epileptic seizures people prone to may get. Being an active cyclist during the day ride I use flashing lights - front and rear. But when getting dark turn the front light to steady mode.

[@jonatkinson4544]

I noticed on a recent Audax ride that there is, in this community, a strong aversion to flashing lights which I was surprised at. Personally, I don't want to give a car driver any excuse to say they didn't see me. If my lights annoy them, well at least I was noticed and avoided, thank you. During the day I ride a small front flashy light to ensure no-one pulls out in front of me. At the back I'll also have a flashy light but my light has a sort of rotating setting between the three bulbs which I hope is just as noticeable but less annoying. At night I'll have a brighter solid front light to see where I'm going but with care to point it at the road not the oncoming cars, and two lights on at the back - one on solid, one flashing.

[@poxcr]

Flashing lights are great for drawing drivers' attention, however at night it makes it difficult to judge distance/position. The solution is simple, flashing lights during the day so you stand out from whatever is going on around you, and solid lights during the night so you can be easily spotted and "tracked".

[@robertpeterson8640]

For me in the USA I use a flashing rear during the daylight and constant after dark. In the front a flasher is ONLY appropriate during daylight hours. The flashing lights I think maybe made sense when lights were not so bright. Now lights are nice and bright and the flashing can be annoying and also less safe. They ARE harder to track. That said most people here use a flashing rear light and a few with poor judgement use one on the front as well.

[@timoakley277]

The one thing to be careful of is indeed the front strobe light. They can be massively annoying and distracting. Even dangerously blindingly so.

[@Deedumdee]

Depends how bright the light is, I've sometimes driven by cyclists at night with flashing front lights so bright it was really disorientating, far more than just being dazzled by a constant beam or even another car's headlights. I don't want to cycle around disorientated drivers. When I'm on my bike it's blinking on the back and steady on the front because blinking would do my head in and I want to actually see the road.

[@M3GRSD]

Agreed, the route I take to get on the cycling trail requires riding with the cars for a bit so I don't care if I annoy them, the purpose of the light has been achieved; I am noticed.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Almost all cyclists killed by cars are because the cars didnt see them. Flashing lights are to be SEEN. If they annoy you, they are working.

[@Secretlyanothername]

A side-to-side flasher is the best light. Gets attention but doesn't confuse everyone as much. Or a steady-flash which is the best combination

[@stefanwagener]

I noticed that with flashing backlight (at daylight) cars keep a much bigger distance to my side when overtaking which is a good indication that I have been recognized better than before. The argument "judging distance from blinking lights is more difficult" is not really valid (and the law in Germany was mainly made for cars in mind): - because we are mainly talking about using blinking lights during daylight and then you do not judge the distance by a single light but by the whole size of the rider including the bicycle - second: judging distance at night from cars is more based on the varying distance between the two headlights or taillights, not by the size of a single light alone. Meaning, with a single rear light on a bicycle it is difficult to judge the distance either way (with normal and with blinking lights)

[@ronniebelcastro5391]

I’m a cyclist and flashing front light when coming towards me also pisses me off because rarely can any anyone adjust the light correctly. The lights always seem to be aimed to high.

[@stealfwayne]

Flashing lights: Against a background of urban cycling at night, with a flashing light you stand out against all the other lights out there, shop lights, lids bikes, parked cars with light on. All lights that can blind you against. But one of each front and back is now my preferred choice, cameras also. They have come in handy.

[@bee_whisper]

I like the ones that pulse more because it draws attention without being glaring ... also exposure lights for example have a brake mode in which when you slow down the light gets slightly brighter ive had drivers say they are great lights .

[@Skooteh]

Gold standard for detecting distance is 2+ lights that are somewhat far apart and visible (helmet+saddle works great). No need for flashing. Also, there's decent evidence that drivers steer where they look, so you may not want to be as attention-grabbing as you think. Visible is fine.

[@lfoster7601]

That whole bs about the distance to flashing lights was rolled out in the UK in the '90s. That being said - I always ride with both flashing and steady. And no car driver ever said "sorry mate I got hypnotisedby your light, they always say "SMDSY"...

[@niallfordyce7148]

This is probably an outlier (and not sure re veracity), but I've also heard that the flashing lights can be a focus for drunk drivers. I had this happen years ago on a night commute. Not fun. Bloke ended up crashing his motor - I saw it happen. Then became very obvious that he was seriously blotto. He was arrested. Anyway, it has not stopped me riding with flashing lights. Keep up the great work!! Show is always lots of fun. Cheers!

[@jamesenloe2791]

In the US during the 90s a study was done when a high amount of law enforcement officer were getting killed by drivers while conducting high risk traffic stops. What the found is that drivers tend to steer at the blinking lights since they were highly focused on them. Granted, this was in the 90s and I am sure there are quite a few other studies that contradict it, but the logic is sound. There are still a high number of officer desths due to this issue with blinking lights. With that said, I still ride with blinking lights

[@MrJhockley]

Interesting. I use a flashy light to save battery. Maybe a partial full/dim strobe for best of both worlds.

[@HanOfGod13]

I use flashy during the day and constant in the evening for the front and a flashing rear always. For me it's the angle cyclists have the lights, I try to have mine with a slight downward angle so not to blind oncoming cars or bikes. But with many dual direction cycle lanes in London, there are some cyclists who put their lights on max strength and pointing directly forwards so I'm blinded and takes me a moment to see clearly after passing them. That's what's dangerous in my opinion, yes you want to be seen, but in doing so you make it more dangerous for other road users by having super bright lights. It's the same for cars too, halogen lights are overpowered for regular urban driving and blinding to oncoming traffic, even looking in side and rearview mirrors. People need to be aware of how bright is too bright. On the other end of the spectrum, is those with super dim lights on their bikes. It doesn't cost must to get a decent set of "to be seen" lights. But there are those who don't change batteries or charge them and have dim lights which are next to useless, but they have the mentality "it's better than nothing", whichay be true to an extent but still as pointless as not having any lights.

[@gabrielnetto8283]

France has just announced a ban on flash lights too besides other cycling lights rules.

[@DanielF-sw2px]

Riding a TT Bike (as a Triathlete) with a very small frontal and rear silhouette, I do use flashing lights and a Radar. My n=1 experience is that this reduced the number of critical situations.

[@FML22]

For me, the level of brightness I use and the flashing speed I use depends on conditions: I live in Washington, DC, which is much safer for cyclists than most US cities, but still abysmal compared to most European cities. I use a slow flash on head and tail lights during the day so cars see me, but don’t get distracted. I might use a faster, brighter flash in heavy traffic. If commuting in the dark I need to see the bike path, so run my headlight at constant and brightest setting, but pointed at a spot on the ground 3-4 meters in front of me. I may run my taillight at brightest, but slow flashing level if there’s no bike path and I have to ride in the roadway, mixing with cars. I lived in Frankfurt 2018-2020. I felt safe, but believe me, no one loved me, smiled at me, or waved to me. If I was walking to work and accidentally smiled and said good morning (as we do in less urban parts of the US), they’d look at me like I had 3 eyes in my head. 😂

[@flo8273]

i run a garmin varia. the illegal version so it can flash. i get both parties at this discussion but the comparison from nick at 2:25 is just spot on.

[@hesersu]

RTL515 Gang!

[@WN-ff4qb]

Interesting discussion about flashing lights and greeting other cyclists. I live in the far south of Switzerland (Tessin or Ticino in Italian), and most riders use flashing lights at the rear, and about 50% use them at the front. As for greeting other cyclists, forget it. I'd say, after being here for 3 seasons, that approx. 10% of riders will greet you, if you greet them first. I'd estimate that 1% will greet you first. Admittedly, being 67 years old and pretty slow, I get passed a lot, but the lack of manners is unfortunate. In any case, I'm absolutely pro flashing lights, front and rear, and I use them day or night. Get's their attention 100%.

[@georgeskinner2474]

If I am the sweep for a group I use my Garmin rear light in flash mode. If I am within the group I switch rear to steady mode. In daylight I use flashing front light. At night I use steady front handlebar and helmet light and rear as in daytime. I have added yellow flashing lights to my bike's fork sides to make me more visible to drivers at intersections, day or night.

[@DougHayes-i6k]

On the subject of time trials, I would love to see a retro TT stage where everyone rides a steel frame "funny bike" with different size wheels and bull horn handlebars.

[@simonacker]

There was a brand of bike lights, I can’t remember who it was, which had two LEDs in the unit. The flash mode had only one of those lights flash and the other remained solid: reason being is the research they had done was that a flash mode limited a driver’s depth perception and made it difficult to judge distance to the cyclist, so the solid light alleviated that issue.

[@ginocerullo]

Flashing lights are a must as daytime running lights. The whole point is to make yourself noticeable. I agree they are not appropriate for nighttime use as they do make it difficult to judge distance and can be distracting. A constant light is safer for nighttime use for both the cyclist and other users of the road, The bigger problem is that most people don’t adjust the beam level properly for their front light. Many people have their front light beam set too high and that ends up blinding oncoming drivers. More should be done to educate people about how to set proper beam level height.

[@72fresh92]

I had an old bloke, who was walking on the pavement, berate me for my flashing front light, I politely explained my reasons, he got angry, I told him to crack on with his walk and have a nice day haha

[@EastCoastSteam4468]

I don't ride with flashing lights and when driving I don't like seeing flashing lights. To me its not about visibility of the subject, but being able to judge the speed and direction the subject is moving in the dark. During the day time its not an issue (maybe thick fog?), but at night where the only point of visibility is the light, its important to know the speed and direction the subject is moving. If cars had on/off flashing headlights and rear lights, that would be horrible.

[@petetrundell5454]

Take a typical early winter evening on a UK road. It’s busy, it’s raining, there are large bright headlights reflecting off puddles and defracting off unswept areas of windscreens and mirrors. How is a driver supposed to identify a relatively small constant bike light? A flashing light is indispensable in those conditions, as far as I’m concerned.

[@robbrigham5926]

I think there is a real problem with people having a really bright main light on the front with a rapid flash, i.e. strobe - this will blind oncoming drivers or even possibly induce a fit. I have a lower power light on the front which has a slow flash, along with a bright beam on solid which is pointed down to see the road and shielded from oncoming drivers. On the rear its all flashing, dont see a problem there. Again, two lights on the rear - if you have only one and the battery runs out then you will never know until you get home or someone crashes into you...!

[@NelsonSherry]

I also disaprove of strobe lights for all the reasons given. Bright & dimmer varying lights are much safer and much less annoying.

[@VHaard]

Flashing lights can sometimes provoke seizures in epileptics! Got clipped by a driver in broad daylight because he wasn't looking!

[@JDH-1888]

I can remember buying a flashing led light in the early 90’s and putting it on my bike and getting pulled over by the police because it was too bright !! , the officer had never seen one before but my argument with him was wasn’t it best that other road users could see me , he had to agree with me in the end

[@wohololao]

If you're riding on a peloton at night, having a blinking light can definitely be a nuisance to the rider behind you. But that is the only moment I see blinking lights a bad thing

[@akejohansson6805]

In some countries like Sweden, flashing front lights are prohibited to use by law. Only steady front lights are allowed.

[@jurisauzins9266]

+1 on Flashing side. Especially in poor visibility. But this made me rethink - that maybe I should ease this a bit if riding around bike lanes, but im not gonna jump on and off the bike to switch it.

[@PNWspirit]

I keep mine on a solid state on. So I use the low setting red tail light. Drivers scare me and I’m trying not to annoy by flashing lights which me personally. Car lights have solid steady-on brake lights. So I figure bikes too.

[@rboyce4539]

I agree with Nick, flashing lights are needed. Portland Oregon as a bike culture, It a good idea to make sure you a visable.

[@Cyps36]

OK as a driver of 30 years since I was 17 (when I sadly stop road cycling), having just gotten back on a racer (road bike) this last two years. I can spot a flashing rear bike light much , much faster much further away? So static is of course better than nothing but can sort of blend in with houses/car break lights etc in the background. Day and night there essential plus plenty of reflective patches on your clothing. As I driver I appreciate this along with brighter colour jerseys etc to really stand out during the day time, especially while approaching corners that could have a cyclist in front of me but is hidden by the apex till I am around it? In short the sooner a driver spots you they on paper at least have more time to assess and prepare what to do more safely? Stay safe Guys.

[@kevinthebespectacledpilgrim]

Cycle v’s motor vehicle. I’d rather be seen than dead or injured. Brief aside… some years ago a UK product design company immediately cancelled a lucrative commission to design a product on a motorbike that bikers could purchase to enhance their visibility during daytime. At that time it was a growing voluntary trend to simply turn on a headlight to be better seen in daylight and the design company recognised this was the simplest, safest, most effective solution that already existed and didn’t want to deter this for some gimmicky, expensive alternative.

[@Rad1shed]

Front strobe lights are really dumb. I almost crashed into another cyclist because of his slow front strobe light. Daft.

[@Corryvreckan23]

Steady lights at night - the flashing is much more difficult to judge in the dark, and very disconcerting, especially if there isn't a steady light beside it (I noticed this on the bike seeing other riders at night with their headlight still dayflashing). Flashing lights in the day - they don't blind anyone, and once someone notices me, they can easily judge my distance because they can see me as well as the light. Solid light in the day just isn't visible. (also, I credit my flashing headlight with stopping drivers from overtaking while coming towards me - ie, it keeps them from coming at me in my lane head on at 150-ish kph combined closing speed).

[@andrewnorris5415]

Makes sense. Flashing in day also allows brighter settings as run times are longer. So more chance of being seen in the day.

[@NothingToSeeHere-mb3fw]

Being in the States...I use the PoPo Setup: Alternating Flashing Red AND Blue lights (Blue is legal in my state) on the rear. I have had 3 friends killed by cars. Rather be annoying and alive then considerate and dead...

[@NeverTooTiredToRideTwoTyres]

I'm downunder and my Magicshine light has a great setting - solid, then once a second or 2 it quickly flashes brighter then goes back to solid, like a car pressing their brake lights. It's not fast and annoying

[@shaheedosman5635]

I always use a flashing rear light in South Africa and a front flashing in heavy traffic so drivers don’t cut me off from the front. No matter where I will find myself I will still use my rear flashy

[@brandennall]

We only use flashing lights in a group during the day. The last person or pair will have them flashing when it gets dark. In a group of cyclists flashing lights are pretty distracting and does decompose depth perception acuity, in my opinion.

[@sebastianm2381]

I think it depends on the circumstances. Imagine urban traffic with loads of cyclists with flashing lights. It gets to the point where it's simply distracting and confusing for car drivers. We got a lot of mixed traffic in Germany's cities with cyclists, cars and even trams sharing the same space of road. Hence, I agree that in those kind of circumstances, constant lights make it actually safer for everyone involved. Now if we're talking me alone out on the lonely country roads. Then yes, sure why not. Give me flashing lights.

[@graemeblundell2884]

My brother has epilepsy. Flashing lights can cause epileptic fits. As a precaution, he'll pull over if the light is too intense. We cyclists also need to be considerate.

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

Flashing lights are a must-have item. Drivers here in Australia hate cyclist also.

[@stephensaines7100]

In all fairness, the 'intrusion' of lights flashing manifest differently front to rear. For a rear red flashing light...absolutely the best choice. What's the alternative? Lights of the same lumen power as a car's? Hardly. For a front flashing light, intensity becomes more of an issue. It's not the flashing per-se that's the issue, it's the intensity of that light, flashing or otherwise. Do these same drivers complaining of flashing white/front lights use high intensity front lights on their cars? There's a huge degree of hypocrisy with those that complain.

[@martinmalloy5997]

I started cycling when the old Ever Ready lights were still available. Flashing lights are a safe, noticeable light which have probably saved more people than caused deaths. I agree that you should acknowledge other cyclists. I've recently discovered indoor cycling and prefer it and I've been cycling since 1992.

[@CDeBeaulieu]

If you think about it, a flashing light is OFF for half the time! I use one flashing light during the day and constant at night. Front lights are useful to see where you're going and at night a car being overtaken on the opposite lane can see you. Flashing fronts are pointless.

[@flo8273]

for frontlight to be seen i recommend the ravemen fr300. it would be a nice review .

[@bbrod14]

of course it was a German (I live in Germany), that scenario that Nick mentioned about the car pulling up to you and only slowing down at the last moment is exactly how people in this country drive.

[@twistoffat]

Sebastian needs to check up on German law. Flashing rear lights have been allowed since 2022 and as you guys say they draw more attention from drivers who might oversee a sodid non blinking lights.

[@harrywalker4922]

Regardless road or path. I have my lights on. Blinking or steady

[@Kacavida11]

I flipped my rear light 180° so it's blinking more toward the rear wheel and the tarmac not directly towards the driver and I am still noticeable

[@hondasaurusrex6998]

.I'm a commuter - 1.5 hrs one way drive daily, all year round on highways and country roads. As a driver I rather see in the daytime - flashing lights are brilliant idea, dawn and dusk and night not so much, steady light is the ticket. But then again it's a personal choice. Personally, when I ride, it's always steady light no matter what time I ride.

[@edamshoidbolx]

I use flashy during the daytime here in France and I kept getting yelled at. I googled it this week and it’s illegal, apparently.

[@veloello1]

So is it just me that uses flashing rear light just to save battery?

[@derekmcdaniel6029]

It's a great idea

[@edmundhodgson2572]

I just called Travis Pastrana to ask him if flashing bicycle lights were dangerous.

[@maniac0303]

Anything on 'their' roads is annoying to drivers, and if it makes you feel unsafe, that is a welcome side effect. They do not want you on 'their' roads.

[@glennmcfarlane5513]

Flashing light during the day is perfectly fine. At night, it is a bit more difficult for drivers. At night it may be better to use a pulsing or "breathing" mode

[@CameronFraserACHF]

Flashing vs fixed is not a factor for judging distance because a single light provides no perspective. Dig in to the science, and you'll discover that (even though they dont know it) people judge distance based on the distance between the two rear lights on a car ahead. It's why it is hard to judge your distance if the car ahead has a burnt out tail light. Given that single tail lights can't provide perspective to judge distance, then the only consideration is whether it makes you visible, and if flashing does it better, so be it. Worth remembering that a reason for making flashing lights is that it's a practical way of replicating movement, which draws the eye. Personally, I like my Garmin Varia, which flashes faster in response to the closure rate of the vehicle behind.

[@ill_will1338]

Flashy light for the day, and solid for night