I'm not being unreasonable. People who ride bikes should have farking lights!

[ScaryMotherWhoScreeches]

Because if they don't get lights they'll get blardy killed and then they'll complain. Won't they.

honestly, this evening I saw three cyclists. It was dark, raining. Lots of other cars, with headlights which are really glary in those conditions and bloody idiots cycling round with no lights on their bikes

And then the third had such an ineffectual little thing on the front, frankly it may as well not have been there.

FGS, invest in some decent lighting in your bikes.

There. Glad I got that one off my chest.

Always happens at this time of year, like they forget it gets dark earlier. I have been known to stop and give them a rollocking before now. Like you said, they'll complain and you'd have to live with it forever if the worst happened

...and out in th stick if there is a car coming the other way you literally cannot see them. SPLAT

I'm totally with you. I honestly think they have no idea what they look like from the car driver's POV (ie near enough invisible). Either that or they've got death wishes. Makes me very cross.

I agree with CDJ inasmuch that it's easy to get caught out without lights when the clocks change. Also that people in general seem to have no idea that black clothes make them virtually invisble and merrily jay walk as though they have a Ready Brek glow protecting them.

lights, reflective jackets and all the daylight in the world don't stop selfish gits driving far too closs and knocking people off their bikes with the wing mirrors though, and not stopping

But those who don't wear the jackets and don't have lights, well, they are kinda asking to be hit really. So YANBU

Not just cyclists - I nearly cycled in to a jogger this evening - entirely in black running at speed across a busy road stupid!

I wonder if it is because the clocks have changed. And they're all getting home this evening going "flippin eck, must get some lights sorted."

I would hope so.

Oh no, the clocks went back a week ago.

[slow on the uptake]

YANBU. Am getting a fluorescent band for me, and also for the dog. Better safe, etc.

Decent bike lights are horrendously expensive, minimum of £150, and going up to £700.

Something like this: www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Hope_Vision_4_LED_Front_Light_2009/5360035060/ is pretty good, but actually the best option is this for a mere $35: www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12623

Losing a life- priceless. It doesn't matter if something cheap and cheerful from Argos, it's got to be better than nothing, and how much for a his-vis band. Our school bought high-vis jackets for walking from Poundland for, yes you've guessed it £1

I agree, lat year I nearly ran someone over, they had a light, the size of a ten pence, flashing, they were cycling fast on the pavement and I came out of my driveway.

He was so rude and angry - tosser.

Have a light make it BIG in the rain and dark.

decent bike lights do not cost £150 !!

I have got a rechargeable halogen bike light that is v. bright for £25 i also have an LED back light plus 3 back lights on my trailer cost aprox £8 each.

My friend pulled out at a junction and a cyclist rode into him, cyclist had no lights, was dressed in black and was going v. v. fast downhill under trees. Cyclist was killed instantly . My poor friend was in bits about it for months and as CaptainDJ says he has to live with that forever even though not his fault. Tragic and unnecessary!.

OP You are being totally reasonable!!

I'm not cycling at the moment as I'm pg, but when I'm out at night I have:
halogen double-headlight things.
flashing red lights in the ends of my drop handlebars (that can be seen from behind)
a back red light
flourescent strips on the bottom of my leggings
and a very funky gilet that looks blue in daylight but has reflective stuff all over it so it reflects all the lights at night.
Cyclists need bright things, reflective things, flashing things - everything you can get! I look carefully for cyclists because I know what it's like being one, but it makes me SO ANGRY to see cyclists riding around at night all in black with no lights. It's so dangerous! It's even worse when it's raining/drizzly, as it often is in this country. If nothing else, throw a Sam Brown belt on over your clothes. They reflect light for miles.

Oh yes the high vis jacket is as important as lights. Lights are only any good if you are in front or behind the cyclist (as hairybabysmum's sad story proves )

I also have fluorescent strips on my helmet. I am a cycling christmas tree basically. I look like a twat but that's better than being dead

Quite SCARY. I have a friend who's been hit three times whilst riding, once she was basically left for dead by the person that hit her .
She now has a neon orange bike, bright clothes, neon orange legwarmers, and basically does look like a christmas tree even in daylight.

Christmas tree twat here too with hi-vis and ankle strap things!...i am v. paranoid about it especially as i have a trailer with kids in it too.

I had to buy a new light for the back of my bike the other day. I have a child seat on and there is no fitting that goes onto a seat; they are designed to go on the seat post or onto the frame bar down near the gear hub...neither of which can then be seen as will be hidden by either bike seat or trailer!! Seems daft to me...i went for one of those elastic-y ones so that i can attach it to the seat itself but it is not as good as a proper fixing.

Bettymum...i cycled to work daily til 36 weeks with DS1 so dont let pregnancy put you off. Mind yougettting on and off the bike was a bit of a mission, fine once on though!

I can't believe how many people I see in the UK riding on the road witout a helmet!! Incredible! Why is there no law against this?

yanbu
dh uses them and wears a viz vest(is that what is called)

eye starts twitching

Can't stand cyclists who don't use lights, don't stop at lights, cycle on pavements when they're over ten years old or cycle two abreast. Gives proper cyclists like me a bad name.

Can't stand pedestrians who think that they have a right to walk in all the cycle lanes in brighton just because the pavements are 'too full'. I will cycle right up behind you and shout 'BOO' very loudly (normally works)

Can't stand cars who park in cycle paths or on double yellow lines forcing me into heavy traffic, cars who don't bother indicating when turning round a corner or who overtake me just to pull a left turn right in front of me. To the bus driver in the last week who forced me off the road because he didn't notice me besides his bus and to the prat two days before who didn't notice me before pulling out of a side road - hah to your slightly scratched bonnet! Nuts to my slightly bent front wheel.

takes a breather
Thanks, needed to vent, perfect post. YANBU.

Bubbaluv - because the evidence on helmets is equivocal. the arguments for and against have been much discussed on mumsnet before, so I won't rehearse them here, but if you're interested a search will explain why any attempt to enforce wearing them would be VERY controversial.

The evidence is very equivocal indeed.

Try living and driving round Cambridge. There are literally thousands of students (and others) cycling/wobbling around with no lights every evening - often on the wrong side of the road, in dark clothing etc).
There are also many sensible cyclists "done up like christmas trees"

SomeGuy, if you're spending at least £150 on cycle lights, I could do you the twin 55W/60W halogens off the front of my motorbike including wiring harness and rechargeable battery, for £100. And I'll throw in the twin 21W back lights for free.