As I was biking home with a friend tonight, she exclaimed: You know, I really ought to get a light. She wasn’t wearing a helmet either.
As we split ways, I rode faster, more vigorously, and likely more recklessly. I did however, have a helmet. It occurred to me that in this situation, I was, based on my riding style, likely to be better off without a light. My riding style contains altogether disregard for traffic rules combined with an absolute abhorrence for waiting or slowing. I reasoned, if a car were to see a little my white light screaming towards them in an unexpected manner, they were likely to follow with an unexpected maneuver. However, if I were riding in darkness, they would continue on their way, unbeknownst.
Contrast this to friend, the cautious biker, who would be better served with a light (and a helmet for that matter). Not only would it help people avoid her, but it would also make her feel more secure, less nervous, and less likely to make irrational, unpredictable moves.
Conclusion: Defensive riders, given the opportunity, would receive greater benefit from use of a bike light compared to a helmet. On the other hand, aggressive bikers, given a somewhat familiar environment, are better off without a light. In my case, I was riding on a relatively well lit bike path, sparsely intersected by city streets. This theory cannot be true for every situation. For example, on a highway aggressiveness would not noticeably affect the effect of using a bike light.
Further conclusion: I seek fellow night rogue bikers.
May 27, 2009, 2:04am
