The Chainlink

Riding with a Rear Light During the Day

I started riding with a rear light during the day because I do a lot of long rides with no shoulder or bike lane. Cars tend to give me more space when they pass if my rear light is on. Reading this blog post by Steve Tilford, it makes a lot of sense. We become significantly more visible with the rear light, even during the day.

"I saw the results from a couple different studies that show that the lights reduce chances of collisions with cars somewhere between 19-35%.  That seems pretty significant, but you have to realize the odds of getting hit by a car is super low, so you’re just reducing a super low chance that much more."

See the full blog post.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on February 3, 2016 at 8:56pm

I do this too. It's been routine for me ever since I got lights. That's the only time I use my strobe setting on the headlight.Think about in the summer when the sun is bright and the cars are in the sun but you are riding under a patch of thick trees. You would be much easier to see with a light.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on February 8, 2016 at 12:01am

I've started doing this ever since my office moved. The last mile or so of my commute is on lower Water St, Illinois, and/or Michigan so I like to have the light on those streets. I believe drivers are required to have headlights on so the bike light might even be a legal requirement. 

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 8, 2016 at 9:28am

Have you noticed any difference since you started using it?

Permalink Reply by Rich S on February 8, 2016 at 10:30am

Can't really say that I have. City drivers tend to give me space to begin with and I try not to ride like a jerk. I think behavior while riding, such as not blowing red lights, goes further in Chicago. Wisconsin country roads with no shoulder, higher speed limits, and fewer traffic lights would probably be a different situation. 

Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on February 8, 2016 at 12:14pm

My rear light is almost a permanent fixture (I've shaved off the lever on the mount so I'd need some kind of pick to take the light off) on my commuter, especially in the winter months. I usually turn it on when I ride on Michigan Avenue - no matter the time of day.

Permalink Reply by Paul Lazzaro on February 8, 2016 at 6:13pm

I have a dynamo hub on most of my bikes, and I tend to leave the lights on all the time.  Does it make a difference?  Meh.  Maybe I'm less likely to be run over in a dark expressway underpass (e.g. Logan at Western).   But leaving the lights on involves no effort, so why not?

Permalink Reply by David P. on February 9, 2016 at 10:51am

I often ride with my lights on in the daytime. I'll have one or both taillamps on under pretty much any conditions other than a bright and sunny day with a high sun. On hazy-sunny mornings like this morning, with a harsh light reflecting off of wet streets, I use rear lighting. On a sunny day when I'm riding into a low sun, I use rear lighting. Etc. Since I use dynamo lighting on most of my bikes, I have a headlamp on all the time. I've got two taillamps - a blinkie set to flash, and a B&M light on steady.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 9, 2016 at 10:57am

+1

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 9, 2016 at 11:05am

I also started wearing my high vis Rapha vest more often for the same reason - I want to be as visible as possible. 

Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on February 10, 2016 at 11:09am

Last winter I was "bumped" from behind on Milwaukee Avenue.  The sun was very bright that morning and I suspect it was in the driver's eyes.  Since then I try to remember to turn my rear light on when riding on sunny winter mornings when the sun is low in the sky.

Permalink Reply by Alex on February 10, 2016 at 7:40pm

i have my lights blinking in front and rear during the day, provided that i'm not being lazy about putting them on.

I have definitely noticed a difference in how cars treat me--I get a lot more space with lights on.

Permalink Reply by Mark D on February 10, 2016 at 9:03pm

I think it should be illegal to ride with lights on during the day, whether it's a car or a bike.

The proliferation of ridiculously bright and offensive headlights, turn signals, brake lights, etc. has made it very unpleasant - and more dangerous to ride after dark.  And now that more and more a$$holes are using their lights during the day, it has become increasingly unpleasant and dangerous to ride during the day as well.  To alleviate the glare, more and more people are tinting their windows and driving after dark with their sunglasses on, thus making it harder to see bicyclists - or anything, for that matter. 

Did anyone see the news article of the cop driving a vehicle that was blinding everyone he passed?  Several people flashed their lights at him and he finally got so pissed off he made a U-turn and went after a teenage driver and killed him (and of course nothing happened to the cop).

It would be so nice if Americans could simply show a little more consideration for other people.  Just because you can put a super bright light on your bike and irritate everyone around you doesn't mean you should.  Personally, I can't imagine driving/riding a vehicle with those types of lights.  I would expect (and deserve) a good a$$-whooping.  I use one of those mid-century type chrome bullet headlights on my bike.  It doesn't offend anyone and it's plenty bright enough to see where I'm going and for others (who aren't drunk or blind) to see me.

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