>>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 09/22/03 02:35PM >>> wrote:
The law doesn't require peds to carry/use lights. Bicycles, it does. . . . . . . I have seen people ticketed for lights, but not around here. . . Bicyclists in Madison do get ticketed for not having lights at night. I know because I teach a class for bicyclists who have been ticketed for any traffic violation, and no lights at night is reasonably common among those in the classes. Madison and UW police will soon be starting selective enforcement for bicycle violations, and there will be night patrols. There are some interesting differences in the lighting laws for bicycles and motor vehicles. All of the following is Wisconsin State Statutes. First, pedestrians are not required to carry or wear lights or reflectors, nor are they required to wear or not wear particular colors at night. Motorists have to have lights that allow them to see others, including pedestrians: 347.10(2) "There shall be a lowermost distribution of light or composite beam so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead . . . ", and at least 350 feet ahead for high beams. If a motor vehicle's lights only allow the driver to see 75 feet ahead, then the motor vehicle cannot be operated above 20 mph [347.10(4)] Bicyclists are required to have lights so that others can see the bicyclist from a distance of at least 500 feet away. There is no requirement that a bicycle light allow the bicyclist to see people, other vehicles or objects a certain distance ahead. The light can be either mounted on the bicycle on worn by the bicyclist. A red reflector is all that is required on the back of the bicycle. That said, my recommendations with respect to lighting for bicyclists are: Start with a bright white front light and a large red rear reflector. Add lights and reflectors that move. Pedal and wheel reflectors, reflective leg bands or leg lights, and flashing rear lights are eye catching due to their motion. Wear reflective clothing. A reflective vest can be worn over any clothing and helps outline your body, making you more recognizable to other drivers. If you are buying a jacket specifically for bicycling, get on with reflective material sewn/glued/screen printed in. Apply reflective tape to your helmet and bicycle. Use a red rear light. Reflectors alone won't help if the driver behind you doesn't have his lights on. Flashing rear lights are especially effective. The law only requires a front light that is visible to others 500 feet in front of you. But you should also want to see the road far enough ahead of you so you can stop if necessary to avoid a hazard. It takes 35 feet to stop a bicycle traveling at 15 mph on a clean, dry, flat road. Under the best conditions, your front light should allow you to see the road at least 35 - 50 feet ahead. Additional lighting is needed under adverse road or weather conditions. Be careful not to override your front light. Slow down if you cannot see far enough ahead to avoid road hazards. This will prevent the feeling of hitting something as soon as you see it. Here is the Wisconsin bicycle lighting law, verbatim: 347.489 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles and motor bicycles. (1) No person may operate a bicycle or motor bicycle upon a highway, sidewalk, bicycle lane or bicycle way during hours of darkness unless the bicycle or motor bicycle is equipped with or the operator is wearing a lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of the bicycle or motor bicycle. A bicycle or motor bicycle shall also be equipped with a red reflector that has a diameter of at least 2 inches of surface area on the rear so mounted and maintained as to be visible from all distances from 50 to 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red or flashing amber light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to but not in lieu of the red reflector. Arthur _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
