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NIGHT
RIDERS AND COMMUTERS
 In
this economy people are constantly
finding new ways to improve their health
and save money; it is not surprising
that more and more people make the
choice to commute on their bicycle in
the dark. While this can be good for the
heart and good for the planet, you have
to take safety seriously; I have seen
many bicyclists injured in the dark by
motorists who failed to see them.
Do you know what your rights are if
this type of accident happens? You
should. If you get hit by a vehicle
while riding your bicycle in the dark
you could learn the hard way that
insurance companies are likely to find
you "partially at fault" or "contributorily
negligent" and pay less for your claim.
Don't fall victim to these common
insurance industry practices; protect
yourself by following the rules set
forth by the California Vehicle Code.
First of all, when, legally, is it
considered dark? California Vehicle Code
§21201 states that “darkness” is defined
as half an hour before dark, or half an
hour before sunrise, or when visibility
is less than 100 feet (i.e. fog). During
winter in San Diego, sunrise is at about
6:34 a.m. and sunset is at about 4:42
pm.
When you're riding during these
times, California Vehicle Code § 21201,
states that you must follow these rules
and guidelines for visibility:
1. Front: The front light of your
bicycle must be seen from 300 feet away
and from the front. (Tip: I suggest that
you securely mount a light on your
bicycle handlebars so that it
illuminates both your bike and the road
in front of you. As an extra precaution
I also suggest mounting a light onto
your helmet. I don't recommend using a
helmet light as your only source of
light, though, because when your head is
turned, so is your light. You want to
make sure oncoming cars can see you no
matter the direction in which your head
is turned.)
There are several bicycle light types
to choose from. The two most popular are
the HID light and the LED light. The HID
(High Intensity Driving) light is the
same blue-tinted light you see in newer
car headlights, whereas the LED (Light
Emitting Diode) light is a clean, white
light. I tend to recommend LED bicycle
lights over HID lights because they last
a long time and tend to shine more
brightly over a wider area. For more
choices though, check
out MTBR
they're a great online source for
bicycle light information and more.
 2.
Back: The rear of your bike must have a
red reflector on it visible from 500
feet away. (Tip: Check auto-parts stores
and bicycle shops to find a red
reflector and mount it securely where it
can be seen. Make sure that nothing
obscures the reflector while you
ride--I've seen many cases in which
bicyclists have unintentionally covered
their rear reflectors.)
3. Pedals: Your pedals must be white.
(Tip: People often change pedals. If you
don't currently have white pedals, wear
day-glow white ankle reflector straps
around both ankles so you can be seen
from 200 feet away. You can also attach
lights to your legs as extra insurance.)
4. Wheels: Your wheels must have
white or red reflectors on both your
front and rear wheels. (Tip: Some people
choose to illuminate their sidewall
tires, install reflectors in their
spokes, or put reflective tape on the
forks or tubing too. Whatever you decide
to do, make sure that your turning
wheels are illuminated for any
approaching vehicles.)
5. Clothing: Your clothing should be
bright and reflective so that you are
visible to vehicles at night.
If you're still not sure exactly what
you need to do to stay safe, visit my
blog and check out the bicycle safety video
clip called "Let's Get Visible." It is
an informative (and fun) two minute
video about night-riding visibility.
Riding in the dark is serious
business, even if you do follow all the
rules. I recently took the case of an
injured triathlete that made me think
twice about riding at night. On a
training ride after work she hit a 4X4
beam that was left negligently in the
bicycle lane near a construction site.
Because she had followed all the rules
about riding in the dark we didn't have
to settle for anything less than she
deserved. To read more about her
case--and to get a few more tips on
safely riding in the dark--you can visit
my
David and Goliath: Evening Dangers of
Bicycle Riding article
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