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Night Riders Need Lights on Bicycle or Above Their Heads

From the Zeeland area, a middle aged man rides his bicycle along a country road late at night and gets killed when a motorist clips him from behind. Of the six news reports on this accident, all report that he did not wear reflective clothing and there were no streetlights. Only the news article supplied here added that his bicycle was equipped without lights.

Reflective clothing may be smart but is not a requirement,but riding down the road after dark on a bicycle without lights (a red one in back, a white light in front) is a civil infraction. Sometimes it becomes necessary if you have rode your unlighted bike somewhere and need to get back later than you think. If you find yourself in that situation, and you need to ride to another destination, be sure that you don't do what this cyclist has apparently done, which is trust that someone coming from behind you will be able to see you and ride around you, as they do during the day.

Even if you have lights, reflective clothing, and plenty of reflectors on yourself so that you think you may resemble a Christmas tree, the cars going down these mostly poorly lit roads will probably think you are a sign or a yard ornament-- maybe an actual Christmas tree-- and not recognize you otherwise until they are too close to change their course. Always consider yourself invisible to traffic at night, and drive accordingly.

I have actually rode Taylor Road at night with a poorly lit/reflective bicycle and would never let one come up behind me like it has been portrayed. You must either get to the side of the road when you hear and see the lights behind you, or be on the opposite side (presuming no opposing traffic). Riding at night as if it was broad daylight on a bicycle (lights or no) is a sure recipe to end up like this unfortunate rider.

BLENDON TWP. Mich (WZZM) - A 45 year old Allendale man dies after his bicycle was hit from behind by a car. Ottawa County investigators say the accident happened on Taylor St. near 88th Avenue in Blendon Township just before 11:20 p.m. Friday.

They say Brian Kenneth Smith was riding his bicycle east on Taylor when he was hit from behind by an 18 year old Wyoming woman. Deputies say Smith did not have any lights on his bicycle and wasn't wearing reflective clothing. There also aren't any street lights in the area.

Night Riders Need Lights on Bicycle or Above Their Heads

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