Your description of cost has not been my experience. Of course if bicycles and pedestrians cannot see each other, cost IS IRRELEVANT. But the cost is not negligible these days. Possibly you might find a red tail light for $10.00 someplace, but in the past year my Catye white light cost over thirty. The bike shop salesperson said it was bright enough and the one he personally used. It cost over $30.00 and has a very small beam running on three AAA batteries. The intensity drops quickly. So, if a person rides much at night, a years supply of batteries is well over $20.00. Between the two lights five batteries are used. And then the expensive Catye has an electronic momentary switch which is not reliable. I examined the container for a "guarantee" statement and found none---so I have to live with that flaw, also.
Again, if one cannot see, they need light. But the cost is $60.00 without tax and NOT $10.00. If something is to be handed out--it should be reflecting tape and reflectors--which are also expensive.
EW
"e.hay" wrote:
maybe when you register your bike with the city - the reg fee could cover a freebee light? getting some at cost from planet bike or something might be an option.although cost is always presented as an issue- i bought a nite rider 3 led light for $10 a few years back. it's no back county light for sure- but city wise- it gets the job done.
students spend more than $10 on thursday night drinks-
On Nov 20, 2007 9:30 PM, s meiers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Getting more cyclists to have lights at night is a prime concern of mine and I have worked with the University bike people the last few years to increase usage. We have concentrated on that audience because most night time crashes are downtown and involve cyclists in their 20s. In the past a local pizza company has delivered flyers about safe night time riding with a coupon for a lite at local shops- with minimal results. We did this in late September/ early October when it is starting to get dark earlier. But as a bike shop owner told me student run out of $ pretty quickly and typically don't go into bike stores that time of year. We need to do our efforts when students return and Mom and Dad have their credit card handy. We need to think of different ways of reaching this audience. My initial idea would be to get an article in the State Journal and/ or something on the 6 o'clock news. But 20 somethings don't read the WSJ or watch the 6 o'clock news. If anyone has unique ideas for this aging boomer to reach younger people please share them.
"Schimpff, Jeff A - DNR" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Bob's observation is universal and prompts a quick tale from last night. Heading from downtown to the SW Path after 5:00 (quite dark), I stopped on Dayton at Broom for traffic. An unlit cyclist came along on Broom (a one-way street) within a few feet of me. and I called out with a friendly reminder as I usually do, "You need to get a light, sir!" Instead of responding the typical, "OK," or "I know." or with silence, he let out a rude "F Y." I soon headed west across Broom while he continued toward Johnson. I then heard a loud brake screech and horn honk, and turned back to see that this guy had nearly been creamed by a car that somehow got onto Broom heading the wrong way - and apparently couldn't see this unlit cyclist any better than I could when he passed by me....Then on the SW Path there was the usual parade of unlit cyclists, appearing to be nearly half of all riders.All of which begs the question of how can the City be more pre-emptive about lights at night. I suggest a short program of educational stops, followed up by a program of ticketing, focused on the bike paths and streets with high bike traffic and bike lanes. Our fellow cyclists endanger far more people than themselves."Swinging in the other direction, you have the cyclist who ignores every traffic law, rides down the sidewalk, then he goes through the crosswalk, and if a motorist doesn't see him he flips him off. Then he jumps on the road in the wrong direction and he doesn't have lights on at night."P Jeff Schimpff
Bureau of Science Services
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
"Bus, Bike, Walk or Carpool to Work for Clean Air for Kids"
( () phone: (608) 267- 7853
(() fax: (608) 267-5231
(+ ) e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=687001 Hopefully, this is an interview with a person, formerly from Wisconsin, who wrote a book about the law and bicycling. If this link doesn't work I'll go to Plan BSteve MeiersSafety educator(608) 267-1102[EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Meiers, Steve
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Bikies] article
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