Bicycle lights

Safe Cycling with Good Bicycle Lighting

Good bicycle lighting is essential for your safety and visibility in traffic. It ensures that you can see the road well and that others can notice you in time. For those looking to buy the best bicycle lighting, it is important to first understand the available options and which ones best suit your cycling needs. Here you can read more about what safe bicycle lighting entails, the types available, and how to choose and maintain the right bicycle lighting.
 

Mandatory Bicycle Lighting in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, bicycle lighting is mandatory in low visibility and at night. You must use a white or yellow front light and a red rear light. Both lights must be continuously on and should not blink. The lights can be mounted on the bicycle or carried separately, for example, on clothing or a bag, as long as they are clearly visible and shine the correct color forward and backward. In addition to lighting, reflectors are mandatory: red at the back, white or yellow on the wheels or tires, and orange on the pedals. Extra lighting is allowed as long as it does not dazzle or cause confusion. Colors such as blue or green are not permitted. Whether you use battery lighting, dynamo lighting, or a rechargeable lamp does not matter. The lighting must meet the requirements and be clearly visible to other road users. This increases safety in traffic.
 

What is Safe Bicycle Lighting?

Safe bicycle lighting ensures that you are clearly visible to other road users, both during the day and at night. Dutch law requires that your bicycle be equipped with a properly functioning front light (white or yellow) and a rear light (red). Both lights must be continuously on and should not blink. Additionally, your bicycle must have reflectors on the wheels and pedals so that you remain visible even without light.

However, safe lighting goes beyond just complying with the law. Quality bicycle lighting is bright enough to make you visible, even in poor weather or dark streets. For rides on unlit roads, powerful LED bicycle lighting is indispensable. These lights not only provide a high light output but also focused illumination so you can see everything clearly. Bicycle lighting with a sensor can also be handy, as it automatically turns on at dusk or darkness, ensuring you always have good light without having to think about it.

Bicycle lighting with a sensor works by automatically turning on when certain environmental conditions change, such as the amount of light or movement. The built-in sensor detects, for example, when it starts to get dark, or when you are cycling in a tunnel. Based on this, the lighting turns on and off by itself. This way, you are always visible without having to manually operate the lights.

There are two common types of sensors in bicycle lighting:
1.    Light sensor: This sensor measures the ambient light and automatically turns the lamp on at dusk, darkness, or poor visibility, and off when there is sufficient light. This is useful during rides where you constantly switch between light and dark, such as through wooded areas or tunnels.
2.    Motion sensor: This sensor turns the lighting on when you start cycling and turns it off once the bicycle has been stationary for a certain period. This prevents unnecessary battery consumption when the bicycle is not in use.
Bicycle lighting with a sensor is very practical because it enhances your safety without you having to worry about turning the lights on or off. It ensures that you are always visible at the right moment, without relying on manual operation.

A good option for extra safety is bicycle lighting with a built-in reflector. This combines active light with passive visibility. The reflector, for example, reflects the light from car headlights, making you stand out even when the light is off. This provides an extra layer of safety and ensures that you meet the legal requirements for both lighting and reflectors. This way, you are better visible in various lighting conditions, reducing the chance of accidents.
 

Visibility in Traffic

Visibility in traffic is crucial, especially in poorly lit areas or during rain and fog. Bright, well-placed bicycle lighting greatly increases your visibility. It is important that your lighting is aimed in such a way that you do not blind others but that you are still clearly noticeable in traffic. Reflectors on your bicycle, clothing, or bags can also contribute to better visibility, especially in combination with active lighting.
 

What Types of Bicycle Lighting Are There?

There are various types of bicycle lighting, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
•    Battery-powered bicycle lighting: These headlights and taillights operate on AA or AAA batteries and are often inexpensive and easy to install. The downside is that you need to replace the batteries when they run out.
•    Rechargeable bicycle lighting: This bicycle lighting is equipped with a built-in battery and can be charged via USB. They are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than battery lamps, but you do need to charge them regularly.
•    Dynamo-powered lighting: These headlights and taillights work via a dynamo that generates energy while you cycle. You know the classic dynamo next to your front wheel. But there is also lighting powered by your hub dynamo. The advantage is that you never have to replace batteries or recharge. The downside is that your lighting may be weaker when you cycle slowly.
•   Bicycle lighting with sensor: This modern bicycle lighting automatically turns on at dusk or when it gets dark. This ensures that you are always visible, even if you forget to turn on the lighting.
•    Fixed-mounted bicycle lighting: This type of bicycle light is permanently attached to your bicycle and is often found in dynamo or electric systems. The advantage is that you do not have to take them with you or remove them; you are always ready to go. With e-bikes, you often encounter this type of headlights and taillights. Specific bicycle lighting for e-bikes is often compatible with the bicycle's electrical system and can be directly connected to the battery.
 

What Bicycle Lighting Do I Need?

What bicycle lighting you need depends on your cycling routine and where you often ride. Do you often cycle in the city where there is a lot of street lighting? Then a simple set of bicycle lighting is often sufficient.
Do you ride long distances in the dark or in remote areas? Then your bicycle needs lighting that is extra powerful. Think of rechargeable LED lamps with a higher lumen count, so you have good visibility of the road and other road users.
If you often cycle in changing light conditions, such as during dusk or sudden darkness, bicycle lighting with a sensor is a smart option. For city cyclists who often leave their bicycles outside, fixed-mounted bicycle lighting is handy, as they are securely attached and difficult to steal.
 

What Are Lux and Lumen? 

In bicycle lighting, both lux and lumen are used to describe the performance of the lamp, but they measure different aspects of light:

What is Lumen in Bicycle Lighting?

Lumen (lm) indicates how much total light a bicycle lamp emits in all directions. The higher the number of lumens, the more light the lamp generates. This is especially useful if you want to know how bright the lamp is. For bicycle lighting, the number of lumens varies depending on the use: a simple city bike lamp can have around 100 lumens, while powerful lamps for dark or unlit roads can reach 600 lumens or more.

What is Lux in Bicycle Lighting?

Lux (lx) measures the amount of light that falls on a specific surface, and thus indicates how concentrated that light is. It is not just about how much light a lamp produces (as with lumens) but also how that light is distributed. In bicycle lighting, the lux value indicates how far and wide the light reaches on the road. A higher lux value means that the light shines stronger and more focused on the road, which is especially useful for having good visibility over longer distances.

The Difference in Practice:

•    Lumen tells you how bright the bicycle lamp is.
•    Lux indicates how well the bicycle lamp illuminates the road.
A lamp with a high number of lumens can emit a wide light, but if the lux value is low, that light may be too dispersed to effectively illuminate the road. Therefore, both values are important when choosing the right bicycle lighting.
 

Installation and Maintenance

Installing bicycle lighting must be done securely so that the lamp does not vibrate or come loose while cycling. Many modern lamps have easy-to-install click systems or rubber mounting straps. This allows you to quickly attach and detach the lamp. With dynamo or fixed-mounted lighting, you need to pay close attention to the wiring, which can be susceptible to wear or damage.
Good maintenance extends the lifespan of your bicycle lighting. Make sure to clean the lamps regularly, especially in wet or muddy conditions. Also, check whether the batteries or batteries are sufficiently charged and replace broken parts immediately to prevent being left without light while cycling.