photo by Phil
“Dear PoPville,
Just had another cyclist scold me (last night), while we were both in motion on Georgia Ave, about my lack of a rear light. However, my bike has both a flashing LED front light and a rear reflector. I know that bike safety is a common topic here, so I thought it would be worth calling out two points:
1) Each bike, when in use at night, is required to have a front lamp and a red reflector on the rear. A rear light is NOT required, but is recommended. A helpful resource is the DC Bike Law Pocket Guide
2) Don’t yell at other cyclist while in motion in traffic! Distractions are dangerous
Language from the Pocket Guide:
Does a bike need lights when being ridden at night?
Yes. Section 1204.2 states, Each bicycle, when in use at night, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a steady or flashing white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500 ft.) to the front and with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet (50 ft.) to three hundred feet (300 ft.) to the rear when directly in front of upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. Section 1204.3 says, “A lamp emitting a steady or flashing red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500 ft.) to the rear may be used in lieu of the red reflector.”
[Note from WABA] Technically DC law states that when in use at night, a bike should have a front light and a rear reflector, but WABA and DDOT recommend using a rear red flashing light as well.”