"See and Be Seen" Bike Light Public Service Safety Campaign Shines

Leah:

I did not get to join the See & Be Seen bike light parade. And with three kids I barely get to ride my bike. But I will still benefit from this transportation safety program by the fact that it will help bikers be more visable to me during the dark days of winter.

You gays/gals are the best.

Clara

This is a great program. However, it's unlikely to do much of anything about the problem of cyclists who insist on riding in the dark with no helmets, no lights, and no reflectors while wearing black, at night, in the rain, in Portland. They're a dangerous infestation in SE Portland, where I live.

I ride a bike, and I've almost run over these characters on my bike on any number of occassions.

Until we start seeing these self-destructive idiots pulled over by the cops, being issued high-dollar tickets, and having their bikes 'towed', their behavior won't change, no matter how many rah-rah signs go up.

Here's a suggestion: form a "citizen's bike patrol" of deputized bike-riding members of the citizenry who call in sightings of kamikaze bike riders to the cops, who can then pull them over for the real citation.

Seeing a few cyclists pulled over and receiving tickets for being beyond stupid would go a long way toward relieving the anti-bike resentment that's been building of late. Which will help all of us survive.

- Mitch

That is, any impulse or activity which does not conform to and have its place within the workings of society must, for the good of that society, be absolutely and categorically disallowed. We thus begin to understand more fully the reason behind the severity and frequency of the punishment of universal or seemingly inoffensive crimes. Simple and sensible forms of social control lead to social stability, and to the creation of model social subjects; and in the process, corruption, and all its corresponding disruptive vices, are usefully driven out from society.

while I appreciate the sentiment and do see more cyclists 'lighting up', there seem to be a lot of substandard bike lights being used. It's still really hard to see a cyclist with a one-LED headlight. European countries have minimum standards for brightness, etc. of bike lights, and we should too.

Bright lights are key to bike safety, but why is there nothing in the See and Be Seen Campaign about bright clothing? I just pulled this off the top-ten list of a national bike safety website:

"3. Wear something bright, even during the day. It may seem silly, but bikes are small and easy to see through even during the day. Yellow or orange reflective vests really make a big difference. Reflective leg bands are also easy and inexpensive."

If Portland bikers wouldn't be caught dead in dorky vests, maybe we need a Portland-style bike-safety fashion contest and fashion show. I can see Sam coming down the runway already.