When I ride at night I want to look like Christmas and the 4th of July. To that end I have lights and reflective tape all over the place — on me, on my bicycle — even in the spokes. And I wear reflective gear and light colors.
On top of that, should I project my own lane on the road with LightLane if it ever becomes a viable product? Hmmmmm…
I’ll leave that question unanswered for now. Let’s take a look at a video of LightLane in beta testing (via TheWashCycle):
I’ve heard it said that one problem with helmets is that they encourage bicyclists to take more chances. I’ve always found that to be absurd. That’s not to say it isn’t true. I’m simply not aware of riding any differently when wearing a helmet versus not wearing a helmet (and I do sometimes ride without one).
Should we ask the same question about LightLane?
The guy in this video is taking some awful chances. I think he’s traveling entirely too fast for the conditions. He’s passing far too closely to parked cars. He appears to run a stop sign. And, interestingly, the guy is a gutter monkey, i.e. a person who eschews a perfectly good lane (the road) to ride in the gutter region.
Is this what LightLane encourages? Or is this the kind of riding the LightLane people suppose is proper? Or is the the kind of riding they assume most of their potential customers will do?
From the 4th-of-July perspective, I can certainly see the utility of this gadget. But, like a helmet, it is also certainly no substitute for safe riding.
Comments 4
Bikejax had a recent post on the light lane. The guy in the video is clearly showing off his lack of proficiency. He even takes a left turn from the right hand side of the lane.
I have doubts on how visible a light lane would be from a drivers seat. I do like the light lane on my right to properly ride at a safe distance from the curb and parked cars. Sometimes, I tend to get closer to the curb than is safe.
Posted 29 Jun 2009 at 11:16 am ¶It’s a pseudo-safety talisman for gutter bunnies.
Make your own door zone bike lane!
Don’t wait for incompetent facility design to direct you too close to parked cars, strap on these lasers and do it yourself today! Want to make a left turn from the right curb? Bring your own bike lane that does it with you!
It speaks volumes about our culture that the guy in the video is that clueless.
Posted 29 Jun 2009 at 4:24 pm ¶Keri… You could write their ad copy!
Shek… Yep. Green is the wrong color. Yellow would be better. Still it would be hard to see from a distance.
Posted 29 Jun 2009 at 6:10 pm ¶The name Light Lane is indicative, I think. The rider in the video is riding where the bike lane would be if there were one. I agree, where he chooses to ride is unwise. There is a perfectly good lane to use.
I think something like this that shows the 3-foot buffer cars should give bikes would be very cool, but I’m afraid it won’t work. I don’t drive staring at the pavement, and I hope most drivers don’t.
A person on a bike is tall, taller than most passenger cars, and looks distinctively different on the road from a car, especially if they have reflective gear on up high around the shoulders or on the helmet. I want the motorists eye to see me, not the pavement.
Posted 30 Jun 2009 at 6:21 am ¶