‘Be Cycle Light Conscious’ When Riding At Night

All cyclists are aware of the dangers of cycling at night without appropriate illumination or reflective gear, but what about being over-illuminated?

If you are currently searching for road bikes in the West Midlands, remember to invest in an appropriate bike lamp while shopping and to use it and your bike correctly, to avoid what happened to one motorist in Huddersfield recently.

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reported that a cyclist temporarily blinded a driver because the bicycle lamp was too bright and the individual was riding on the footpath, elevating the bike and the lamp to the motorist’s eye level.

The driver was quoted by the newspaper as saying: “Not only is that illegal [but] you will then see how I was blinded by his high-intensity front white lamp flashing away like a searchlight.”

Local councillor Martyn Bolt – who is also a keen cyclist and trustee of cycling charity Cycling UK – reminded road users that whether on four wheels or two, they are to be mindful of the hazards of winter.

“We would welcome that this cyclist is making himself visible but they have to consider the effect on others … We should all share the road space and think about actions and impacts on other people,” he told the news source.

We recently published a blog with eight top tips for cycling at night, including reminding cyclists to wear reflective clothing, invest in a puncture repair kit, fit winter tyres and keep warm. It may sound obvious but a commuter cyclist in a hurry could easily forget the one thing that keeps them safe on a dark road home.