A couple of other ideas with all the others suggested so far are dimmers for bike headlights that have a thumb switch. One thumb for the bike bell and the other thumb for the light. (It probably won't be long that people will be asking for turn indicators - but that's another discussion thread)The second one may be kinda far fetched for cyclists but the technology already exists at airports for private pilots who can turn on runway lights while in the approach pattern by a few clicks of the PTT button (pilot-to-talk) pilots use to transmit. What I'm thinking is that with the prevalence of wireless and wi-fi devices on cell phones that cyclists who prefer nominal lights on the SW path can turn on a short segment of the path with a wi-fi device as they are passing by. Those who like the darkness, and on some nights I'm one of them, don't have to turn on the lights. The only issue is what happens when someone who does want lights approaches someone who doesn't. I haven't figured that one out. Or -- this idea just occurred to me, that those with wi-fi can turn off the lights and take their chances with night ninjas while those without wi-fi, usually the ninja, turn on the lights with theramin sensors. ;-) ooo-eee-ooo DJ
--- On Fri, 10/16/09, Bill Obermeyer <[email protected]> wrote: From: Bill Obermeyer <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Bikies] Southwest Path- is it getting too silly at night? To: [email protected] Date: Friday, October 16, 2009, 5:10 PM I like the darkness and the, what did someone say ... stillness on the SW path. Less enthusiastic when I can't tell where to find the edge of the path, and even less enthusiastic about the ninjas (bike and pedestrian both). Occasional dim, downward pointing LED's would be nice, but I suspect very expensive. Reflective stripes at the edge of the path would be much less expensive and what I would prefer, all things considered. The thing is, neither of those is a solution to the ninja problem. Indeed I cannot think of (an ethical) solution to the ninja problem that does not involve a lot of light at eye level. I'd rather carry that light with me than have it produced by elevated lights that are permanently on. Regardless of the long term solution, a good bike light is the only short-term solution (though I did like the theremin suggestion). The Fenix setup that W Madison mentioned above (or in the other thread) is nice. We use it as a backup. My favorites are LED lights with German style reflectors that have a cutoff like automobile headlamps to minimize the blinding of oncoming traffic and put more of that light where you are going. I use a B&M IQ Fly (essentially the dynamo version of the Ixon that Isa mentioned above). That reflector makes a big difference - and a heckuva bike light. (are you listening Planet Bike - at $60 your new 2W headlight is coming in close to the price of these European lights) -Bill On Oct 16, 2009, at 4:41 PM, India Rose Viola wrote: > Harry, > > You may be correct that there are too many lights to go around, but that is > not an argument against appropriate lighting. I don't like light pollution, > but I wouldn't ask you to remove the lights from inside your house. > >> From the numerous emails that have been circulating about this topic, it >> seems that we are relatively evenly split down the middle- with some folks >> wishing there was some moderate, intelligently designed lighting added to >> the corridor for added safety for all, and others opposing it. I am in the >> light camp, but want to be respectful of all my fellow bikies. I'm going to >> pursue keeping this dialogue open and see if the neighbors are still feeling >> the same way that they did when the path was first constructed. I am all >> for using bright headlights, but I don't think that is the only way to make >> the path more user-friendly. I also really don't like it when cyclists have >> to blind me as an oncoming biker because they are relying on their lights to >> see so far ahead. It's extremely unpleasant. > > -India > > *********************** > India Viola > UW-Madison > Stretton Lab > 115 Zoology Research Bldg. > 1117 W. Johnson St. > Madison, WI 53706 > 608.262.3336 > *********************** > > "How can we learn from our mistakes if we don't first acknowledge them?" > -Anonymous > > "We exist in the bacterial world, not bacteria in ours" -Stuart Levy > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: HARRY W READ <[email protected]> > Date: Friday, October 16, 2009 3:44 pm > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Southwest Path- is it getting too silly at night? > To: [email protected] > > >> I say no additional lighting. We've got enough electric lights in >> this world. >> >> Harry Read >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Jesse Wickizer <[email protected]> >> Date: Friday, October 16, 2009 2:57 pm >> Subject: Re: [Bikies] Southwest Path- is it getting too silly at night? >> To: [email protected] >> >> >>> *"If we are taking an informal poll here, and it seems we are, I >> vote >>> no >>> additional lighting on the path. Spend that money elsewhere."* >>> >>> Agreed. >>> If you're riding at night you should have a light anyway. A bright >>> light not >>> only helps on the dark paths, but helps cars see you better. >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM, Linda Kietzer >>> <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>>> I have that same feeling of exhilaration on that path at night >> with >>> only my >>>> bikelight on a cloudless winter night. The downhill trip is >>> superfun. But I >>>> like that sorta thing. >>>> If we are taking an informal poll here, and it seems we are, I >> vote >>> no >>>> additional lighting on the path. Spend that money elsewhere. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> --- On *Fri, 10/16/09, Mark Evans <[email protected]>* wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> From: Mark Evans <[email protected]> >>>> Subject: [Bikies] Southwest Path- is it getting too silly at night? >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Date: Friday, October 16, 2009, 2:01 PM >>>> >>>> >>>> Eh -- >>>> I've been riding that stretch from Monroe to Glenway for several years, >>>> year round pretty much. Getting a good bright light is just a good >> >>> idea (and >>>> cheaper than having them wreck the stillness with sodium vapor). I >> >>> got the >>>> basic Dinotte and it works great, rechargeable AA, extra holder so >> I >>> always >>>> have backup. >>>> >>>> http://store.dinottelighting.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=dinotte&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=527248561&Count2=444388985 >>>> >>>> I note that during the fall/winter, when it it cloudy (a condition >> that >>>> exists a good portion of the time) that ambient house and neighborhood >>>> lights seem to reflect off clouds and illuminate the trail pretty >> >>> well. On >>>> clearish moonless nights, it's just downright fun, with skittering >> cats, >>>> twinkling starts, and idiots on bikes with no lights making for an >>>> adrenalin-rush on the commute home.... But with a bright light, I >> >>> can see it >>>> all. >>>> >>>> it is indeed a bit of stillness in the midst of the city that I'd >> rather >>>> not lose to public lighting. >>>> >>>> and oh yeah... does anyone else think that tall upright riders >> with >>> helmet >>>> lights coming at you in the dark on a path look like some weird alien >>>> headless horseman sorta visage? >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Bikies mailing list >>>> [email protected] < >>>> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Bikies mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Bikies mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >> _______________________________________________ >> Bikies mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
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