Lights for city riding

Good lighting helps you see and be seen. This guide covers what to fit, how bright to go and where to mount it.

The basics of being seen

Ride with a white front light, a red rear light and reflectors on your bike at night or in poor visibility.

• Wear bright clothing during the day, plus reflective gear.
• A flashing red light on the bike, backpack or helmet increases your visibility.
• If you add a rear carrier, keep the rear reflector visible.
• Use lights in low visibility conditions even where they are not required by law.

Safety lights and high output lights

Lights fall into two broad groups.

• High output (250 lumens or more): usually rechargeable, brightest and pricier. They help you see the road or trail in nearly all conditions.
• Safety lights (under 250 lumens): help motorists see you in dim light. The brightest also work in daytime, but are usually not bright enough for night riding.
• A well lit bike has front, side and rear lights.

Beam and modes

• Narrow beams suit streetlit commutes. Wide beams suit dark roads and trails, giving better peripheral vision.
• Flashing modes use less battery than steady beams. Save flashing headlight modes for daytime.
• Many rechargeable lights offer several brightness levels, trading run time for intensity.

Where to mount

• Headlights: handlebar mounted, and many also mount on a helmet.
• Rear lights: pack, pocket, seatpost or rear rack.
• Side lights: spokes or frame. Spoke mounts are especially visible because they show the wheels moving.

Charging

• Rechargeable lights typically use lithium ion batteries and charge by power cord or USB.
• Charge before every use, because idle batteries lose charge.
• Look for a power light and a battery warning.