It’s the time of year when the sun likes to go to bed earlier and earlier, daylight saving time is yet to take place and forgetting your lights is a major pain in the behind. Cycling without them is risky and illegal but the thought of your normal commute on foot is a real drag. I wouldn’t cycle on a road without them once the light is dimming but many people do.

In Oxford there are a worrying amount of cyclists who think it is okay to ride down a main road in dark clothes, no lights and often not even with any reflectors. Not that a reflector helps but it seems there are many cyclists who think they are adequate for cars to see them. They are not. I wonder if these cyclists are not drivers themselves. Once behind the wheel you can really see the problem when a dark shadow of a figure weaving its way down the road in front of you turns out to be a slow moving cyclist at the last minute. The law requires you have two lights, white for the front, red for the back and also it’s the law to have reflectors, red on the back and amber on your pedals.

I am forgetful so I prefer to install lights that you don’t have to bother detaching. Most of my bikes have permanent lights on them, one is a dynamo system powered by myself. It doesn’t have a stand light on the front however so I lose vision when I stop, not helpful on my preferred route down the Oxford canal. My new hybrid from Dutch manufacturers Gazelle comes with battery front and rear permanent lights, a wonderful idea which saves weight as hub dynamos can be weighty. My prettier bikes have permanent vintage looking lights or lights on the mudguard; even my Brompton carries a permanent rear light at least. I recently looked to purchase a permanent front light for my other bikes, a vintage silver lamp would have looked out of place so an ordinary led with permanent bracket was needed but try as I may there were no UK sellers for this item. I don’t like to be beaten so I ordered them from Germany. Germany has the strictest law when it comes to bicycles and lights so if you have one from Deutschland you are in safe hands.

If you have yet to sort your lights out you should do it soon, if not for your safety think of your pocket. The police have a little crackdown in Oxford for illegal unlit bicycles every year and it usually coincides with the clocks going back.

Get caught and you will receive a fine. It would be better to spend that money proactively.

And don’t forget to change your batteries, dim lights are as bad as no lights. In the city remember it’s not about seeing but being seen. Stay safe and light your bicycle up.