This video is a bit over-explicit (repeating usually is) but we can't
say that this is something we haven't been thinking about. (Are you
with us on that double negating?) As we have entered the dark months here in the North,
our bike rides have become filled with meetings with these bicyclists riding
around with these crazy lights. A super strong headlight, not completely
unlike those anti-bombplane searchlights used during WW II. Sometimes blinking
at an epilepsy-causing rate, sometimes aimed obliquely forward to the
right for a maximum blinding effect, sometimes completed with an equally
strong headlamp. And we're not talking about rides in the wilds here,
we're talking about the second largest city. (This video we think was
filmed in Stockholm, though.)
About ten years or so ago this was not a problem, because either you had a (regular) battery-powered headlight, or that headlight was powered by a dynamo, and these lights simply weren't that strong. It wasn't unusual to have these lights mounted on the front fork either, instead of on the handlebar, which seems to be the most common place today. But as the headlights have become stronger, more effective and have moved from the front fork to the handlebar this is an epidemic.
So what is this?
Overcompensating? Thoughtlessness? Biggest and strongest headlight wins?
There is not that much of a pattern here, but two groups are
over-represented as far as we can see: "Average" middle-aged women and
male bicyclists on cyclo-cross or "serious" commuting hybrid bikes, with
full gear - tights, clipless pedals, panniers and all.
No matter what the reason is: Dip your headlights. And keep that bloody headlamp out of our faces!
(And if you have any ideas how to counteract this, please let us know! The only way we have now is shouting "Dip the lights!", and we don't really like to shout at people.)
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