Night Time Bicycle Rider Safety: Drivers, Turn Off Those High Beams!

During the summer months I like to take my bicycle out for a ride at night. While one reason may be exercise the other reason is less obvious unless you have been through a hot and sticky summer in the Mid-Atlantic. While the humidity may not drop significantly at night the temperatures are slightly cooler. One thing that worries me though is that if I ride out past a town's limits where there are no streetlights cars often react in exactly the wrong way.

Partly this is my fault. I am not doing one important thing I should be for safety and that is attaching a headlight to my bicycle, but however there are reflectors on the bike and if I tend not to wear dark colors while riding out after sunset. However, the reaction of cars is often surprises me.

The first mistake they often make when seeing me crossing on a country rode is that they turn their high beams on. While it may be that they just decided to turn them on, this happens too frequently for it to be just a coincidence. If you are coming across a cyclist out after dark this is one of the absolute worst things you can do to them. Normal headlights are enough for a cyclist to see you. By turning your high beams on what you do is blind the rider and may in fact make him unable to see other things that might be in his path. You may think you are doing him or yourself a favor but you are actually putting the bicycle rider in greater danger - turn those high beams off! (This also applies to people who for whatever reason might be out for a late night walk.)

Secondly the cyclist - at least according toe Pennsylvania law - should be along the side of the road and traveling in the direction of traffic. Staying along the side of the road is not only what the law requires in most states it is also safer. Even the best of cyclists cannot keep up with a motor vehicle over a long trip. While many states do offer bike routes now, they are often along lesser traveled highways and back roads rather than one trails made specifically for the purpose. Just because something labeled as a route for bicycles does not mean the cyclist should feel free to travel down the center of the road.

Bicyclists can also make sure that their tires are properly inflated for safety and remember that although the law may say drivers are supposed to yield the right of way to bicyclists, many drivers do not see things that way. And let's fact it, do you really want to be into an argument with something that outweighs you by several hundred pounds? Just use some common sense when out there and I'll have to remember to attach a headlight to my bike's frame.