BicyclingWA goes on to saycyclist was riding home at twilight when knocked off her bike sustaining injuries and severely damaging the bike. Police cautioned the cyclist for not having lights on her bike "after sunset", yet the cyclist believed reflectors and visible helmet were in her favour.
[my emphasis]The WA road traffic code states that cyclists must have adequate lighting in the hours of darkness, but does beg the question of whether twilight constitutes "hours of darkness".
The WA road traffic code actually requires bicycles (it distinguishes between bicycles and motor vehicles but the same applies to motor vehicles to have their lights on during the hours of darkness ...
and hours of darkness are defined in regulation 3 as ...224. Lights and other equipment on bicycles
(1) A person shall not ride a bicycle during the hours of darkness, or in hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility, unless the bicycle, or the rider, displays —
hours of darkness means the hours falling between sunset, on one day, and sunrise, on the succeeding day
All this seems pretty clear cut to me yet BWA has an issue with "twilight". This is from an cycling organisation wishing to lobby on safety issues on our behalf. I find this quite concerning.
In the post BicyclingWA goes on to discuss visibility further using material from Bicycling Victoria which refers to "research" which brings into question the roll of high visibility amongst other points. Not once is the "research" referenced or identified in some way to allow for its veracity to be ascertained. To me this is very shoddy way to present a position on a cyclist safety and in my view brings into question their ability to talk on cyclists behalf on safety matters. All research should be properly referenced to allow proper review of their "advice" and position.
Thoughts?
Andrew