Safety and Education Committee Report
Does your bike have lights?
When bicycling after dark you must use a white front headlight and a red rear light or a rear reflector visible for 300 feet (RSA 266:86) and at least one item of reflective clothing (RSA 265:144-12).
Our club is trying to promote safe cycling but this year we had a problem with a ride leader whimsically extending the ride causing unprepared riders to return after dark. Riding in the dark without lights is dangerous and illegal; we as a club find this practice to be unacceptable. When someone agrees to lead a ride it is their responsibility to stay within the parameters set forth before departure. Everybody (including the other ride leaders) should be informed of the anticipated difficulty, pace, and mileage; but “things happen” and any evening ride could easily be delayed long enough to encounter darkness. Numerous people have informed this leader about using bad judgment but I didn’t hear much feedback regarding the riders that chose to show up unprepared.
“Poor planning is a sign of immaturity.”
Last year four out of five bicycle/motor vehicle accidents involved a bicyclist that was breaking the law; it is expected that everybody on club rides will obey the law. We are a recreational club; a group should stay together and return intact (next time follow a different leader). Abandoning the slow and/or disabled because you want to make it home before dark is both selfish and inconsiderate.
I don’t like using my “good” bike after dark (fragile tires) but every bike I own is equipped with lights. Is it just being a “Cranky Yankee” to think that preparing for foreseeable conditions is one’s duty? People that rely on others to protect them from themselves get little sympathy from me. Adequate lights can be purchased for less than $30 and don’t weigh very much. Using a bicycle instead of a motor vehicle (60 miles at $.50/mile) will amortize this cost and foregoing essential equipment wouldn’t be my first choice for lowering the total vehicle weight of most of the bicycles I see being ridden.
During my many years of bicycle commuting and working the off shift I often encountered unlit cyclists coming at me in the dark. This was the most dangerous thing that I encountered and I have no tolerance for “Dark Riders”. Any of these people that I see more than once are reported. I think they should be given a citation when caught and the bikes of repeat offenders should be confiscated and scrapped.
Hopefully, this problem has been properly addressed and will not recur. I don’t see a valid reason for not having lights but maybe in your case something is “special”.
Bill Fisk- Safety and Education
Safety and Education Coordinator
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Impaired Drivers
Take Your Body to its Limits
HB-1203
Protecting your Bike
Helmet Mounted Headlights
Tire Pressure
My Helmet is White