Would it be unreasonable … ?

[nirakaro]

I went for a nice ride along the towpath today, sunny afternoon, lovely quiet space, everything just starting to burst into leaf. The only (small) fly in the ointment was the occasional cyclist coming towards me with a dazzling flashing front light. There’s always one or two. I mean. Part of the reason for going to such places is to get away for a bit from that twenty-first-century sensory overload; so would I be out of order, or over the top, or unreasonable if I stopped them, pointed out the incongruity, and politely suggested that they turn it off?

[yostumpy]

Haha, depends, you might up in the canal.

[AndyK]

I went for a nice ride along the towpath today, sunny afternoon, lovely quiet space, everything just starting to burst into leaf. The only (small) fly in the ointment was the occasional cyclist coming towards me with a dazzling flashing front light. There’s always one or two. I mean. Part of the reason for going to such places is to get away for a bit from that twenty-first-century sensory overload; so would I be out of order, or over the top, or unreasonable if I stopped them, pointed out the incongruity, and politely suggested that they turn it off?

I generally go for throwing one arm across my eyes and screaming "AAAGH! MY EYES! THE PAIN! I CAN'T SEE!!! MAKE THE FLASHING LIGHTS GO AWAY!!!"

But each to their own.

When I lead member group evening rides in the summer, regulars know that there are just two house rules.:

The Winchester CTC house rule: After dusk, make sure your rear light is on steady mode, not flashing.

AndyK's house rule: If you put your $*&^-off big trillion-lumen front light into flashing mode while you're on my ride, you will find your light being used to illuminate that place where the sun don't shine.

[Jdsk]

...
AndyK's house rule: If you put your $*&^-off big trillion-lumen front light into flashing mode while you're on my ride, you will find your light being used to illuminate that place where the sun don't shine.

I had previously misunderstood "end up in the canal".

; - )

Jonathan

[AndyK]

...
AndyK's house rule: If you put your $*&^-off big trillion-lumen front light into flashing mode while you're on my ride, you will find your light being used to illuminate that place where the sun don't shine.

I had previously misunderstood "end up in the canal".

; - )

Jonathan

Alimentary, my dear Jdsk; alimentary.

[simonineaston]

I’ve been upset by this issue since it cropped up with the arrival of cheap, powerful LEDs. I have concluded with a heavy heart that a significant number of cyclists - often otherwise reasonable and kindly folk - are too dumb or too selfish to engage with this oh-so-simple fact.
After a lot of soul searching and incredulity, I’ve decided to pop it the box marked, Exactly why I hate most humans and, frankly, think they (we) will Deserve All We Get.
Which is just all too sad, really…

[geomannie]

Frankly I took do not appreciate being blinded by other cyclists. Perhaps the solution would be for organisations like Cycling UK to lobby government for new cycle light regulations, ones that copy the German legislation that specifies beam pattern. I only use German designed & built lights and they cast a bright beam pattern only on the ground and hardly any scatter into the vision of oncoming cyclists, pedestrians or drivers. I am less keen of the German requirement for dynamo for any bike over 11kg.

More details here https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers ... ike-lights

[plancashire]

Frankly I took do not appreciate being blinded by other cyclists. Perhaps the solution would be for organisations like Cycling UK to lobby government for new cycle light regulations, ones that copy the German legislation that specifies beam pattern. I only use German designed & built lights and they cast a bright beam pattern only on the ground and hardly any scatter into the vision of oncoming cyclists, pedestrians or drivers. I am less keen of the German requirement for dynamo for any bike over 11kg.

More details here https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers ... ike-lights

The dynamo rule was abolished several years ago in Germany. We can use battery lights now, provided they are approved. Flashing lights are not approved but widely used. City and trekking bikes mostly come with dynamos, "mountain" bikes not so much, pure road bikes almost never.

[mattsccm]

I don't appreciate being blinded. What really irritates me is the use of those lights in daylight or nearly so. Equally flashing rears off road if on at all.

[Nicholas]

AndyK's house rule: If you put your $*&^-off big trillion-lumen front light into flashing mode while you're on my ride, you will find your light being used to illuminate that place where the sun don't shine.

Yeah right. What you actually mean is you very politely ask everyone before the ride starts to switch lights to constant or turn them off.

[Nearholmer]

There is a non-confrontational, non-making-a-big-self-righteous-fuss-about-it, way to deal with this: “Excuse me mate. Did you know you’ve accidentally left your front light on?”.

I’ll confess that I’ve sometimes come off a road, onto a path, and forgotten to turn the light off, so you never know, it might be me.

[AndyK]

AndyK's house rule: If you put your $*&^-off big trillion-lumen front light into flashing mode while you're on my ride, you will find your light being used to illuminate that place where the sun don't shine.

Yeah right. What you actually mean is you very politely ask everyone before the ride starts to switch lights to constant or turn them off.

Actually no, I have used those exact words on many occasions. Ask anyone who's been on my Wednesday night rides. (Except I don't use the word $*&^ 'cos I'm polite like that.) It varies, though. If I'm in a good mood I may simply threaten to tear the light from any offender's handlebars and jump up and down on it repeatedly on it while shouting "Make it stop, make it stop." (This is all covered on the advanced ride leader course.)

[simonhill]

I have a similar problem on a fairly narrow cycle path. You have to look away and that is dangerous for me.

You could look away, ride off path, fall in canal and when he hopefully helps you out you explain that you fell in because his lights dazzled you.

His remorse will be unending and no punch in the face for you.

[Nicholas]

Good grief ... some folks love to catastrophize! What started out as a few seconds minor annoyance for the OP has been blown out of all proportion ... again.

[Bonefishblues]

I think a small tut could be used to good effect, or perhaps a shrug if you want to really drive home your discontent. That'll do the trick.