Light your way in the dark

Are you familiar with the term "ninja rider"? 

It's a mysterious rider...

It is the person on a bicycle that during nights wears dark clothing, mostly black, rides a bicycle in a high speed and has no bicycle lights. His night vision depends completely on moonlight.

During the day the ninja rider isn't any different than any other typical cyclist. But as the night starts to fall and the darkness approaches the ninja rider takes his ninja form!

You see him for a second but afterwards you're not sure that you really saw him. He vanishes in front of your eyes, only to appear suddenly in front of you and cut you off in the next intersection.

He's a cyclist that likes to ride in mystery, thus the coverage and the free of lights riding system he uses. But despite the hard looks and the puzzling aura, he's vulnerable. In fact the ninja rider is more vulnerable than any other type of cyclists. 

I started to write this article with humor, but after getting to the main point I think it is time to get serious.

No matter the place, the time or the infrastructure, everyone who rides a bicycle after the sun is set must use bicycle lights! 

The three scenarios

Number 1:

Some say that where they ride, there are no cars thus no need for having a lighting system.

First strike!

You need lights not only for cars, but for pedestrians and other bicycles, too. 

Having a collision with a pedestrian isn't nice, don't forget that they tend to wander and pass a road trusting mostly their hearing. By not having lights on your bicycle, you just don't give them the opportunity to see you. The same applies with running into other bicycles.

Number 2:

Others say that they ride at night without lights, but not during rush hour and that most of the time they're all alone in the road, hence bicycle lights are optional.

Second strike!

Riding alone makes the importance of using bicycle lights even greater! As you do not expect to run across anyone at that time, other vehicles aren't expecting to meet you either. And because they do not expect anyone to be on their way, by being invisible you just don't make yourself present and they aren't aware of you. You are just an alive target, begging to be hit. As cynical as it sounds, it is the plain truth. 

Number 3:

Last but not least, there is a group of cyclists that swear to their city's lighting system and infrastructure and think city lights and the sparse bicycle path lights are all they need.

Third strike!

No matter if you ride in the heart of a city or in a peaceful neighborhood with a good lighting road system, you still do need bicycle lights. Take it from yourself, when you ride during nights, what does it catch your eyesight? I bet the traffic lights, the illuminated banner on the opposite building, the bright front window on a near shop, etc. Lighting temptations are lurking everywhere, attracting your eyes and capturing your attention. Sadly, the same applies to the driver that holds the wheel behind you... You can imagine the rest!

In the urban environment, these lighting temptations are endless! By having lights on your bicycle, you catch others' attention, so they won't hit you. Again, the same applies on bicycle paths in relation with other bicycle users.

So I'm asking all of the ninja riders out there, please, light your way in the dark!

Invest in a proper lighting system. You don't need much, a good front light and a rear light are all you need. Your front light choice depends on where you tend to ride. In urban areas you need a strong light with a short beam so others can see you, but in rural areas you need a light with a wide beam that illuminates at least 20 meters ahead of you, so you may be able to see the road along with its potholes and other obstacles. 

The rear light on all occasions must be strong but in a way that doesn't blind the people behind you. Make sure also that the rear light has three leds, one in the center and one in each side. You want to be visible when someone is looking you from the side, too. 

By having lights in your bicycle you catch other vehicles' attention, you're making yourself present!

Light your way in the dark! 

Let others notice your existence!