Re: bike light optics

On 4/3/2024 4:59 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

Zen Cycle <funkmaster@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 4/3/2024 3:40 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:

On 4/3/2024 3:02 PM, sms wrote:

On 4/1/2024 5:31 AM, Zen Cycle wrote:

>
It's not uncommon in this area for low branches to encroach on
multi-use/recreational trails.

>
Things are different in the Youngstown Ohio area. The trees grow
differently and the branches know not to encroach.

>
Those with memories know I've been talking mostly about roads.
>
But I wonder: If a recreational trail had a branch hanging so low as to
be a hazard, why wouldn't it be cleared? A branch low enough to hit the
head of a typical cyclist would cause any tall pedestrian to have to duck.

>
By whom, and under what impetus? In europe they have infrastructure to
deal with it. Anywhere I've seen in my area, complaints for trail
maintenance depend on how bored the local DPW is.
>

>

 Rather depends on the trail, and who owned the land and responsibility for
maintenance.
 A council park trail would be reasonable quick, though one I do pass and
have grazed the helmet on the branches is realistic not intended for
commuters or bike at all, has multiple areas where you need a bike with
some volume in the tires ie need a CX/Gravel/hybrid at the bare minimum to
cope with mud wet roots and so on.
 Private land owners is a duty to keep the right of way accessible but low
branches aren’t likely to be high priority.

As I understand it, British and American laws vary greatly regarding public rights-of-way. I've read that if a historic walking path crosses an English farmer's land, he cannot prevent people using it. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) But in America, the default seems to be "No Trespassing."
To illustrate: Our local state senator was in the news recently. He lives in a rural area, on some acreage. Some young guys said they were on adjacent property, planning to hunt. Our senator said no, they were across the boundary and on his property. They claimed he shot at them. He said it was just a warning shot.

Is also Sustrans “national cycle network” which though Sustrans have
managed to get access, sign posts installed as a charity they don’t have
the funds for maintenance nor often own the land so the surfaces vary ie
maybe anything from a sign on a road to tarmac surfaced old railway to a
chalk road.
 But certainly urban and suburban trails I’ve not encountered low branches,
the one near Hounslow Heath is arguably beyond your normal leisure cyclist,
etc.

We can discuss an entire spectrum of places to ride bike, from normal vehicle lanes (which I prefer) through bike lanes, "protected" bike lanes, paved bike paths, walking paths, rocky mountain bike challenges, etc.
But please recall, I was talking about whether bike lights with a proper StVZO cutoff beam was adequate for normal road use - and specifically, that one was very unlikely to smack one's head on a substantial low hanging branch.
--
- Frank Krygowski