I must admit I'm struggling to find an explanation other than
> "He doesn't like motorists".
Do motorists like cyclists? Do motorists like slowing down for other road users? Do motorists like being stuck in jams of their own making?
Do cyclists like being run off the road sideways? Do cyclists like being passed closely at high speed? Do cyclists like having motorists pull out in front of them?
>>> I was greatly interested in a letter from a cyclist who had fitted a >>> set of rear blue flashing leds to go alongside his flashing red ones. >>> Since he fitted them 3 years ago, he says that drivers have given him >>> much more room than when he rides with them turned off, presumably as >>> they will associate them with the emergency services. I have ordered >>> one myself and will use it to see if I can duplicate his findings.
>> It may be fun but it is strictly illegal if that bothers you at all.
>Indeed, but if it saves my life, I will pay the fine quite happily should I >get pulled by plod.
A small number of bikes using them is one thing, but if it catches on and road users start to think "bike" instead of "ambulance" I'm not sure that's a Good Thing.
> Fitting them to the bike and using them is illegal. Clipping them to > your person is not. Police use blue pedal lights and using the lights > clipped to your legs may be sufficient for the average joe to give you > the room you need when he would otherwise 'need' to pass without > sufficient room. It could stilll warrant a stop from the police, but > you would be legal.
> A small number of bikes using them is one thing, but if it catches on > and road users start to think "bike" instead of "ambulance" I'm not > sure that's a Good Thing.
I see your point but OTOH the association of bike and ambulance might itself be a Good Thing.
>> A small number of bikes using them is one thing, but if it catches on >> and road users start to think "bike" instead of "ambulance" I'm not >> sure that's a Good Thing.
> I see your point but OTOH the association of bike and ambulance might > itself be a Good Thing.
>>> A small number of bikes using them is one thing, but if it catches on >>> and road users start to think "bike" instead of "ambulance" I'm not >>> sure that's a Good Thing.
>> I see your point but OTOH the association of bike and ambulance might >> itself be a Good Thing.
> Cuts out the middle man ;-)
I have just bought one from a well known Internet auction website.
I realise they are illegal to use on the highway, and I accept that I may get some police interest. However, at a time when the police are trying to get cyclists to use lights, I doubt very much if this would ever get as far as the magistrates court. If it does get that far, I am sure I would be able to get plenty of positive publicity concerning dangerous driving near cyclists and needing to take as much lighting precaution as possible.
And before any motorists starts bitching, just ask yourself have *you* ever broken the law?
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:04:46 -0800, thirty-six wrote: > Fitting them to the bike and using them is illegal. Clipping them to > your person is not. Police use blue pedal lights and using the lights > clipped to your legs may be sufficient for the average joe to give you > the room you need when he would otherwise 'need' to pass without > sufficient room. It could stilll warrant a stop from the police, but you > would be legal.
It wouldn't be illegal under the RV Lighting Regulations but you could still be prosecuted for impersonation. It's more likely that will happen if the police stop you and you try and tell them that the RVLR doesn't apply so you intend to continue using them.
How big is it and iis it helmet mountable realistically?
Size and weight is clearly important. I already carry a forward facing white light on my helmet which I switch on when cars don't dip lights. If this is avaailable in a similar small unit I would certainly mount it rear facing on my hat!
>I was greatly interested in a letter from a cyclist who had fitted a set of >rear blue flashing leds to go alongside his flashing red ones. Since he >fitted them 3 years ago, he says that drivers have given him much more room >than when he rides with them turned off, presumably as they will associate >them with the emergency services. I have ordered one myself and will use it >to see if I can duplicate his findings.
> > Fitting them to the bike and using them is illegal. Clipping them to > > your person is not. Police use blue pedal lights and using the lights > > clipped to your legs may be sufficient for the average joe to give you > > the room you need when he would otherwise 'need' to pass without > > sufficient room. It could stilll warrant a stop from the police, but > > you would be legal.
> What about attached to a saddle bag?
Could be classed as part of the vehicle. (I think this needs checking in court records.) Some jumped up copper might like to prove himself right. Still wastes your time. Probably never pass his seargent. You may have better luck in the event of a stop if the bag used a quick release mounting. I dont think it would prevent a pull. If the light is clearly on your body, the police have no reason to stop you. With a little luck, they will learn this. If it could be deemed as on the bike they have good reason to stop you. They need to check that the light complies with the law, which means not mounted on the vehicle while using it.
> How big is it and iis it helmet mountable realistically?
> Size and weight is clearly important. I already carry a forward facing > white light on my helmet which I switch on when cars don't dip lights. If > this is avaailable in a similar small unit I would certainly mount it rear > facing on
On 8 Nov, 13:13, Brown Cat <br...@eye.invalid> wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:04:46 -0800, thirty-six wrote: > > Fitting them to the bike and using them is illegal. Clipping them to > > your person is not. Police use blue pedal lights and using the lights > > clipped to your legs may be sufficient for the average joe to give you > > the room you need when he would otherwise 'need' to pass without > > sufficient room. It could stilll warrant a stop from the police, but you > > would be legal.
> It wouldn't be illegal under the RV Lighting Regulations but you could > still be prosecuted for impersonation. It's more likely that will happen > if the police stop you and you try and tell them that the RVLR doesn't > apply so you intend to continue using them.
If you are stopped, turn them off. Then pocket or bag them. I don't know of any personnel who wears flashing blue lights on their person. Er, Erm possibly is, though not common.
> "Trevor A Panther" <ta...@PSANTISPAMblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message > news:YDzJm.49781$%%3.4089@newsfe23.ams2... >> How big is it and iis it helmet mountable realistically?
>> Size and weight is clearly important. I already carry a forward facing >> white light on my helmet which I switch on when cars don't dip lights. If >> this is avaailable in a similar small unit I would certainly mount it >> rear facing on
Absolutely, but the point is that a mere humble cyclist who wishes to make his own life safer but breaks the law in the process is likely to receive a torrent of abuse from hypocritical motorists who routinely break the law.
>> A small number of bikes using them is one thing, but if it catches on >> and road users start to think "bike" instead of "ambulance" I'm not >> sure that's a Good Thing.
> I see your point but OTOH the association of bike and ambulance might itself > be a Good Thing.
There are a small number of bikes with blues on them - legally.
"This argument has been unsuccessfully used before the ICTY in Miloševic', Kupreškic' and Kunarac cases, when the accused tried to justify their crimes by insisting that the opposing side had also committed such crimes. However, the argument tu quoque, from the basis of international humanitarian law is completely irrelevant, as the ICTY has stated in these cases"
> Milosevic', Kupreskic' and Kunarac cases, when the accused tried to > justify their crimes by insisting that the opposing side had also > committed such crimes. However, the argument tu quoque, from the basis of > international humanitarian law is completely irrelevant, as the ICTY has > stated in these cases"
>>> And before any motorists starts bitching, just ask yourself have >>> *you* ever broken the law?
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque > Absolutely, but the point is that a mere humble cyclist who wishes to make > his own life safer but breaks the law in the process is likely to receive > a torrent of abuse from hypocritical motorists who routinely break the > law.
I'm putting mine on my QR seat pack, not on the bike itself.
> >>> And before any motorists starts bitching, just ask yourself have > >>> *you* ever broken the law?
> >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque > > Absolutely, but the point is that a mere humble cyclist who wishes to make > > his own life safer but breaks the law in the process is likely to receive > > a torrent of abuse from hypocritical motorists who routinely break the > > law.
> I'm putting mine on my QR seat pack, not on the bike itself.
> "Keitht" <KeithT> wrote in message > news:S7udnQIaQJ7TlWrXnZ2dnUVZ8lli4p2d@bt.com... > has been unsuccessfully used before the ICTY in >> Milosevic', Kupreskic' and Kunarac cases, when the accused tried to >> justify their crimes by insisting that the opposing side had also >> committed such crimes. However, the argument tu quoque, from the basis >> of international humanitarian law is completely irrelevant, as the >> ICTY has stated in these cases"
> It's a bike light, not genocide FFS!
I was commenting on the reference to Wiki in reply to the 'you can't use that'.
>> >>> And before any motorists starts bitching, just ask yourself have >> >>> *you* ever broken the law?
>> >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque >> > Absolutely, but the point is that a mere humble cyclist who wishes to >> > make >> > his own life safer but breaks the law in the process is likely to >> > receive >> > a torrent of abuse from hypocritical motorists who routinely break the >> > law.
>> I'm putting mine on my QR seat pack, not on the bike itself.
> >> >>> And before any motorists starts bitching, just ask yourself have > >> >>> *you* ever broken the law?
> >> >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque > >> > Absolutely, but the point is that a mere humble cyclist who wishes to > >> > make > >> > his own life safer but breaks the law in the process is likely to > >> > receive > >> > a torrent of abuse from hypocritical motorists who routinely break the > >> > law.
> >> I'm putting mine on my QR seat pack, not on the bike itself.
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