Counterpoint: blinking lights are in fact installed on airplanes both large and small. Red beacon lights blink, and so do high intensity white strobe lights. The variation helps identify the source of lights against a busy city skyline at night (that must be an aircraft we’re looking at) and serves to call attention against a sea of steady lights in the background. It’s very easy for the airplane to blend in otherwise. Even some racecars pulse their brakelights automatically to draw the attention of fellow racers. Finally, as a driver in sometimes poorly lit areas compounded with a rather avid local bicycling culture, I have found that bicycles equipped with rear-facing red blinking LEDs really help distinguish the bike against the background. The best setups had a light on the back of their helmets as well, which does the most to aid depth perception.
Planes typically do not overtake each other at night on a width limited road.
Blinking indeed helps identifying object as a bicycle, that is undeniable.
Blinking also makes it significantly more difficult to assess bicycle’s exact speed and position at poor visibility conditions, especially while overtaking it, when not supported by another, constant light source indicator.
I do not understand why having an additional, always on light is such a controversial thing to do for many people. If it’s all about safety, then having it is in worst case scenario an extra protection.
I’d agree: more lighting is better, and an easily recognisable arrangement of constant lights would help with depth perception. The farther apart from each other, the better. Defending the use of blinking lights as a very important addition is my aim here.
Counterpoint: blinking lights are in fact installed on airplanes both large and small. Red beacon lights blink, and so do high intensity white strobe lights. The variation helps identify the source of lights against a busy city skyline at night (that must be an aircraft we’re looking at) and serves to call attention against a sea of steady lights in the background. It’s very easy for the airplane to blend in otherwise. Even some racecars pulse their brakelights automatically to draw the attention of fellow racers. Finally, as a driver in sometimes poorly lit areas compounded with a rather avid local bicycling culture, I have found that bicycles equipped with rear-facing red blinking LEDs really help distinguish the bike against the background. The best setups had a light on the back of their helmets as well, which does the most to aid depth perception.
Planes typically do not overtake each other at night on a width limited road.
Blinking indeed helps identifying object as a bicycle, that is undeniable.
Blinking also makes it significantly more difficult to assess bicycle’s exact speed and position at poor visibility conditions, especially while overtaking it, when not supported by another, constant light source indicator.
I do not understand why having an additional, always on light is such a controversial thing to do for many people. If it’s all about safety, then having it is in worst case scenario an extra protection.
I’d agree: more lighting is better, and an easily recognisable arrangement of constant lights would help with depth perception. The farther apart from each other, the better. Defending the use of blinking lights as a very important addition is my aim here.