Indicators!

[fcurran]

Has anyone or does anyone currently use any type of indicators and lights for their electric bike? If so what do you use and how would you rate them?

Thanks

Frank
Powabyke Ltd

 

[Ian]

I wouldn't be happy using indicators on a bicycle of any type, motorists don't expect to see indicators on bikes and would probably confuse them with flashing safety lights if they even even noticed them at all. If used in conjunction with flashing lights (which I and others use in daylight) they could be very confusing indeed .

I don't believe there is any substitute for big bold hand signals, that's what the highway code requires and it's what other road users expect to see. Fitting a bike with indicators may lure riders into thinking its an adequate form of signaling when fact it's not what motorists are looking out for.

 

[coops]

The Cycle Indicators -bargain? thread from earlier this year is the only mention here of indicators I can recall Frank - maybe a useful starting point . I might look into this myself too, now you mention it.

P.S. though the points Ian makes also occurred to my mind, and make me hesitant to do this. Maybe orange flashing lights on gloves though you wouldn't want them visible to other traffic until you signal, to avoid confusion sounds fiddly! . Also needs to be visible to front & rear...

Probably best to just make arms more visible, with no orange flashing at all...

Stuart.

 

[flecc]

I'm with Ian on this and think they're dangerous on two wheelers. Motorbikes get away with it by being faster than most things, but much slower bikes and e-bikes could be easily mistaken for something else by overtaking vehicle drivers.

In principle lighting is best only when it's clearly defined by law, in the Highway Code, and generally understood by all road users. Cyclists are already at a serious disadvantage in this respect with all manner of ersatz lighting and reflectors, so anything that adds to the confusion is undesirable.
.

 

[coops]

Do you think adding appropriately sized/shaped reflectives to the front & rear of jacket arms, for example (if not already present), might be a useful aid to visibility in low light, or might that confuse drivers too & best be avoided too?

(If also combined, for example, with the 'lighting the rider from behind with forward facing lights' idea, it should clearly indicate your intention to drivers?).

Stuart.

 

[Ian]

I think Stuart that anything reflective on a stuck out arm is a good thing, after all everyone knows what sticking an arm out is supposed to signal, unlike a flashing light close to the centre line which may or may not be a turn signal.

Yellow reflective armbands are readilly and cheaply available, I have a pair that I bought from Tesco. Ive seen many cyclists wearing high vis bomber jackets recently, not exactly high fashion but very functional and visible.. arms as well.

 

[coops]

Thanks Ian - I suppose anything approaching a 'standard' (maybe there is one already?) for reflectives, on the arms in this case, is helpful for recognition purposes by other road users, and those reflective armbands sound close to being that, and good that they're clearly visible from most angles - especially front & rear - regardless of exact arm position when indicating. Nice that they're cheap too, so little excuse for negligence .

Stuart.

 

[lectureral]

I have indicators on my bike (bought very cheaply on eBay) - also includes a brake light. I don't use them a lot (obviously the brake light goes on every time I brake) but they are useful occasionally - eg warning traffic that I am changing lanes for a right turn. I don't think they are confusing - I have them at saddle height and I think they are pretty intuitive for other drivers. They certainly seem to work - had a Newcastle bus slow down to let me change lanes yesterday.

 

[carpetbagger]

i thought indicators might be a good idea as long as they are bright enough.It can be difficult going uphill, turning right and using the throttle at the same time ! take a look at
BSOAB : Bicygnals front and rear bicycle light with wireless Left /Right Indicator lights and reflectors ,Our SKU: 790219 ,Manuf. SKU: BIC241 [790219] - £39.99 Inc VAT<br>£34.03 Ex VAT
although these are not 100% waterproof,so you wouldn't be able to drive down a canal !!

 

[flecc]

It can be difficult going uphill, turning right and using the throttle at the same time

This shows that it's bike dependent too, many bikes, like the eZee models for example, have left hand twistgrips so are not a problem for us in the UK to give right hand signals up hills.
.

 

[carpetbagger]

Maybe Frank is testing what the opinion on indicators is with a view to standard fitment on a new powabyke ....one step ahead of the field ?

 

[fcurran]

Maybe Frank is testing what the opinion on indicators is with a view to standard fitment on a new powabyke ....one step ahead of the field ?

Not quite!! We do get asked for them and, as some other manufacturers have them fitted as standard, I was wondering what people's opinions were. We have been testing a brand of light and indicator set with a view to selling them as an accessory and have so far had a mixture of fortunes. Personally I think we have just been unlucky, but was hoping to get feedback from other users.

Thank you for your replies so far, its very good information!

 

[JohnInStockie]

Well Frank I am of a different opinion. I think that adding indicators would be a good thing. I can see the arguments though, especially if the bike already is using a flashing red light, but I can still see the good in them.

This scenario for example:-

Dark night, raining / foggy, want to turn right across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic, with 2 lanes of following traffic behind you, and you come to a virtual stop in the middle of the road. In these situations its a good thing to be able to signal your desired intent to oncoming traffic without letting go of the handlebars.

Personally, I find that sometimes when signaling with my arm, that I need to 'leave it out' for longer and longer as many drivers simply have no concept of the highway code anymore, and simply either dont know or completely disregard cyclists signals (certainly the 4 x 4 that came within 3 inchs of me at about 35mph whilst I was overtaking a parked car after I had signalled showed this. But in that situation I doubt if anything other than me being in a car would have made a difference).

I would look favourably on the option of indicators on an ebike, so long as all of the lights were quality and not just 'noddy' lights like so many are. They need to be fit for purpose.

John

 

[DDmouse]

Or just get these gloves (as thought about in another post.....)

Expert Verdict

 

[JohnInStockie]

Or just get these gloves (as thought about in another post.....)

Expert Verdict

Good spot!

 

[Haku]

b3ta.com board

 

[Ettica]

I use the Bicygnals "Indicators"

and I find them very useful because I don't have to ride "one handed"

There is nothing worse than sticking your left arm out while travelling down an incline trying to slow yourself down with your front brake whilst avoiding grids, potholes and uneven road surfaces.

I find that in certain situations it is helpful to keep your hands on the handlebars so that in the event you have to brake suddenly you can use both front and rear brakes!

I say this because the above scenario happened to me and some idiot in a car decided to turn across me (oncoming)into the road I was indicating to go and instinctively I applied the front brake whilst trying to get my hand back on the left grip. I wobbled all over the place but managed to avoid the collision. I wear hi-viz all the time, arms and upper body all bright yellow but some people are just "cycle-blind". I am not saying that they would have seen me if I had been using my "indicators" but I would have been more in control with both hands firmly on both grips with fingers ready, hovering over the brake levers.

 

[drgcb]

I have rear indicators on my bike and really like them. As others have posted, you do feel much more in control with both hands on the bars and can signal earlier and longer. I have found in general that drivers seem to respect the signal and take more notice, rather than being confused by them. There are always some drivers, however . . . tails off into long rant

 

[Caph]

I tried the Bicygnals last winter but found that they kept coming off the bike. I ended up drilling holes through the top of the mounting bracket and then sticking R clips through them when the lights were attached. After corresponding with the manufacturers they eventually sent me the new brackets with retaining clips built in. This kept them on the brackets but I found the front bracket kept snapping on one side where it attached to the bike.

I eventually got through three front brackets on two different bikes (one with suspension and one without) before I gave up on these lights. Pity really because I found that traffic really did take notice of them especially at night and the battery life was fantastic.

Has anyone else had trouble keeping these lights on the bike, or does anyone have any tips or tricks for keeping them on the bike? I'd give them another go if I thought I could keep them on the bike.

 

[essexman]

I'd look very favourably on having them.

I want good indicators cos:
-At night my arm is not always very visible.
-Indicating right while going downhill is not always safe
-Sometimes hazards (oil\wind\ice) dictate that i need to keep my hands on the handlebars.
-I'd also use them a lot in the situations where i couldnt really be bothered or there wasnt time to indicate. eg those little wibbles we do to get round potholes\glass etc
-I would be very wary on relying on them in dense urban traffic and bright daylight.

I also believe in the 'drivers can be trained' theory. i commute on the same roads at the same time every day going towards an industrial park. There's only ever three other cyclists the motorists know us.

I agree with a lot of the comments on the forum about cars and indicators, but i think i'd use them a lot.