AIBU to be annoyed with cyclists with no lights?

[BigMamaFratelli]

On the way home, so 20-25 min journey, I saw no less than 4 cyclists with dark clothing and no lights on the road.
AIBU to think these people are idiots?

I agree totally.

A few weeks ago I very nearly didn't see a cyclist. It was a dark night on an unlit road. They had dark clothing on, no lights and no reflectors. Fortunately we were going uphill, and I wasn't going particularly fast so I could deal with it in time.

My DH is a reasonably keen cyclist when the weather is OK. He goes out in bright colours, a bright reflective helmet and his bikes (he has four, for some reason) have more lights than a Christmas tree. Better safe than sorry.

I don't think not wearing a helmets should be illegal. If people don't want to protect themselves, that's their own business. Them not wearing a helmet is not going to hurt anyone other than themselves, so they can crack on.

Google

It's already illegal to not have bike lights!

I didn't know it was illegal already but I still maintain they need to wear high viz clothing as well.

Helmets: Research has shown that drivers are more cautious around cyclists not wearing helmets apparently (sounds weird to me as a helmet offers such limited protection, but there you go!). Also some research reckons they can actually lead to more severe neck injuries. There is therefore a school of thought that it is safer to go without. Personally I always wear mine, and was very glad of it when I had a nasty fall (courtesy of a dog walker) and thumped my head so hard that my helmet cracked!

OP of course yanbu, it is crazy. I always have lights on on my bike even during the day if it is dull/rainy.

I saw a jogger the other day who ran out across the front of me at a roundabout without even looking, dressed all in black, in the dark and proceeded to then jog up the road which leads quickly to a dual carriageway - why not the pavement???? I get that the tarmac on the road is softer than the concrete pavement but surely she values her life more than her knee joints???

I don't think not wearing a helmets should be illegal. If people don't want to protect themselves, that's their own business. Them not wearing a helmet is not going to hurt anyone other than themselves, so they can crack on.

The problem with this is that cyclists rights > motorists rights. A motorist will be prosecuted if they injure/kill a cyclist, even if they weren't driving negligently and even if the cyclist chose not to wear a helmet.

It's race for the top ten in Darwin Awards, not wearing a helmet that is. Cleans the gene- pool and all that...

YANBU, especially when they start ranting about how you are supposedly an unsafe road user for not spotting them from three miles away

Ah. I didn't know that SuperBeagle. Interesting.

How utterly stupid, drivers are careful around cyclists if they can see the buggers. If they can't, you'd be better off covering your noggin' with something hardish....

YANBU

I keep meaning to make a thread, asking MNers to check their sons' bike lights. (It's always boys, never girls. I don't know why, but I suspect that this is another facet of boys and girls being parented differently.)

Seriously, I want to know what the fuck is wrong with the parents. If you have a 10-18 year old son cycling after dark to scouts, mates' houses and general clubs, why would you not check he had lights and used them? They almost never have lights, they're clad in black, and sometimes they're even on the wrong side of the road. Where is the road safety and responsibility? Do their parents enjoy avoiding invisible cyclists themselves?

Yup just got in from work. It's dark. Three cyclists with no lights, dark clothes, no helmet. One on a 60mph road. If there's an accident I assume the car driver is still at fault though. Do the rules not always go in favour of cyclist if there's a car/bike accident?

Top happened to me too. Literally saw the twat just in time to swerve. Bloody furious. I very nearly knocked him off. No
Lights and all in black. Idiot

imight spot on. My sons were basically made to have lights helmets and reflective gear no argument. It’s insane.

I don’t know about liability if you knocked s cyclist off with no lights and dressed in Black? But blamed or not imaging how it would ruin not only their lives but yours too!!

Radio - what about the cost of the ambulance and the NHS funded care (if they're not dead that is)? To say nothing of the emotional/psychological cost to the driver.

Research shows people just drop cycling and health outcomes are not improved.

really, people would rather not ride, than have to wear a helmet? fuckwits

Fosterdog - I don't disagree. Hopefully a cyclist would sensibly take that into consideration and wear a helmet.

Agree about joggers too. I saw a guy last month jogging down the road, not the pavement. He was dressed in black. I drove past him and then, as I indicated to turn right, I noticed he wasn't visible in my mirrors. I had obviously clocked him already but someone a little bit less careful could have hit him.

A motorist will be prosecuted if they injure/kill a cyclist, even if they weren't driving negligently and even if the cyclist chose not to wear a helmet.

I suggest you read up on cases such as the death of Michael Mason and many more.

I wear loads of hi-vis and a helmet, not because I think it offers me any meaningful protection but because if I do get hit I don't want the driver to have any excuse. Sadly a significant proportion of drivers seen unable to see someone on a bike no matter what they wear.

The cycling practises of many leave much to be desired; there really should be a licence to operate bicycle on public roads, would weed out so many nitwits....

And yet cyclists are less likely to be at fault in an accident than drivers.

Yanbu, and I say that as a cyclist. Same with any other road users without lights on in any reduced visibility conditions.

Yanbu about the lights. As a cyclist (and a vocal supporter of cyclists' rights), I get very pissed off by ninja-cyclists. I cycle with at least two rear lights in case the batteries in one die before I notice.

However, high-vis during the daytime is a red herring, drivers should just look where they're going. Unless you propose banning dark coloured cars too?