BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I don't know anything about the legal issues, but I would say just use them on your fingers. Its best to stick with the red lights on the back, white lights on the front convention to avoid confusion.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter173/s173.3.html seems to have the rules.

It says "A vehicle, other than those identified in this chapter, may not be equipped with lights or systems identical or similar to those specified by this subsection...." And flashing blue lights are mentioned as being for certain emergency vehicles.

On the other hand, it also says "Hazard warning systems and turn signals are not considered flashing lights for the purposes of this chapter." And elsewhere it says a hazard warning system means "Driver-controlled flashing front and rear lights used to warn approaching motorists when a vehicle is broken down or is traveling at a slow speed." So perhaps you could argue that a bike traveling at a slow speed with flashing blue lights is merely using its hazard warning system.

I'm with Steven. Blue lights that function more as decoration seem not to be a problem. Appearing to impersonate a police vehicle, especially a police bicycle, would be.

but it I just click them on when I'm turning, I don't think that would be a problem. I'm not sure. Maybe if I run into a police bicycle, I'll bring it up to them and see what they say.

OTOH, impersinating a police bicycle gets you all kind of room when cars pass. Or maybe it was just that all the rude motorists were watching the game, because Wednesday night, everybody was treating me with super duper respect and room and politeness for two hours of riding through 3 municipalities. I just had on a yellow jacket, black pants (+balaclava+gloves), flashing pedals, front headlight, and a black bag on the rear rack. I didn't think I was impersinating a cop, but my mom asked if I got my gear the same place the bike-cops do. No blue lights either.

RF - the blue flashers on emergency vehicles are pretty specific looking. I think you'd be in the clear as long as they don't looke like that. The point is you're not supposed to look like an emergency vehicle. You're on a bike. I think confusing people who can't tell bike from cop car (and thus getting the respect they would afford a cop car) is just bonus icing on the moron cake (I've never seen bike-cop lights, but ditto). Totally different from my idea to take a police flashing light and mount it to my rear rack = breaking the law.

used them today, they fit over my giant fuzzy gloves, and it was easy enough to click them on and off when turning, even when turning from liberty to 27th and then immediately to penn.

I like them

For a while I bout "Fingerlights"

http://www.houseofrave.com/ultra-led-finger-lights.html

They are really good to have on your hand. It's easy to signal turns. Great to indicate to a car when you want them to stop or go.

I've never had a car do the "No-I-won'to-go-unless-you-put your foot down" thing when I've waved them through a stop sign with a finger lgiht.

The trouble is they are really REALLY poorly made. About half of them fail in the first 5 minutes. I've had maybe two dozen of these things and never have I had one that works long enough to wear out the battery.

I stopped using tham because it seemed there was only a 50-50 chance of one that I put on when I left my house working when I needed it to.

Maybe the vibrations that go through the handlebars to the lights are bad for them? I don't know.

I'm only turning mine on when I anticipate a turn. and they look kind of like that, but instead of a silicone band, it velcros to itself.

The one's I had velcroed as well. I'm guessing (but I coudl be wrong) that turning them on and off isn't a good idea - the switch will give out LONG before the battery goes dead, even if you leave them on.

Of courese, they may have gotten their manufacturing chops better together.

If I can I'd buy some more.

I taped two red and two green fingerlights to my spokes for the last two flock rides to be x-massy. They are dim, but still running after about six hours of use. I think the tape is better made than the light though, but hey they're were only four for a buck.

and thus getting the respect they would afford a cop car

Wouldn't it be nice if they would afford everyone the same respect, not just the people with guns and Tazers and a mutual defense pact.