Cycling UK Forum

My commute involves a short stretch of the Union Canal (the Leamington to Shandon bit). I've only been cycling since May so it's only since the clocks went back that I've been doing the route in the dark.

It's so dark along there. There are no streetlights at all. It's a busy route, popular with cyclists, pedestrians, dog-walkers and it's so hard to see a) the mental cyclists without lights and b) pedestrians in their dark winter coats - and their black dogs. I only avoided one guy the other day because he was walking his golden retriever and I could see the dog's fur. Maybe I'm just sensitive to it because I'm a lone woman, but it feels very unsafe.

I contacted the council who phoned the streetlighting people, and streetlighting said that I have to contact British Waterways and ask them to ask the council to install lights. So I emailed British Waterways (who haven't responded) and I've written to all my councillors, 2 of whom cycle regularly, and to the councillor with responsibility for community safety.

So, I just wanted to draw it to your attention and ask that people who use the route consider asking for lighting along that way too.

Have you considered making some flyers and handing them out to the people that you meet on your ride - just simple notes saying what your aim is re lighting and asking them to write to the various councillors and BW (you'd supply addresses on the flyer) to back you up? Assuming that you feel safe to stop and talk to people on the unlit track of course.

I haven't - but I could. I suppose what puts me off is that I'm only really there on my way to work - when I have to get to work - and on my way home, when it's dark and I don't want to hang around. It's a good suggestion and I will consider it!

This is NOT a "Lecture" so please don't take it the wrong way.

I personally take responsibility in these cases by fitting suitable lights.

At present I use an HID off road system from Hope, because that is exactly what you are doing.

There are reasonable lights for this type of riding at a relatively cheap price.

A 10 watt halogen will prove invaluable to you, both making you more visible and enabling you to see obstacles.




THis Smart system is available in 10 / 2.5 watt and 10 / 10 watt systems are both available at less than £30

I have loads of lights on my bike - I'm like a Christmas tree on wheels - including lights for seeing by as well as being seen with. But there is no other lighting, other than what's on my bike, and pedestrians in dark clothes, walking next to dark walls, under dark bridges or next to trees are invisible until they're very very close.