Green flashlight legal on bikes?

[Anzycpethian]

I’m planning since months to get a green Glo-Toob to have it on my body while driving my bike in California.

I want green because I think it would be usable as backup emergency signal emitting light outdoors and I don’t feel comfortable with white because I don’t want to blind or confuse car drivers since I’m planning to have the thing on the back of my body. Red would be an alternative but for the use of an outdoor emergency light the visibility over far distance is way lower then green. Plus green light is supposedly (can anyone confirm this?) invisible to game that I wouldn’t want to attract or make run away.
Enough blablabla….

Is operating a green light on a bicycle legal in CA?
I gave up my research concerning that since I had not one single result with my case…

[Hobbyfotograaf]

In Belgium only white or yellow light is allowed on the front of the bike, and red at the back.

It could be different in California, but it seems logical that they have about the same rules as in Belgium.

[para-frame]

As long as your bike also meets the minimum requirements,

(1) A lamp emitting a white light that, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway, sidewalk, or bikeway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle.

(2) A red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.

(3) A white or yellow reflector on each pedal, shoe, or ankle visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet.

(4) A white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles that are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors.

(e) A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle, may be used in lieu of the lamp required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).

And the light you are using in conjunction with, but not in place of, the aforementioned required lights does not violate this section,

b) No person shall display a steady or flashing blue warning light on a bicycle or motorized bicycle except as authorized under subdivision (a).

You are good to go.

[kramer5150]

I am generally not a road-cyclist, although sometimes I use my MTB to cycle to the local light rail and take that to the office.

Legal or not, thinking about it logically I wouldn’t wan’t any green light on me or my bike. Green is ALWAYS associated with go (IE step on the gas), and red is just the opposite. The general population has been taught and pre-conditioned to think this way behind the wheel. There are a lot of stupid people, arrogant, agressive, easily irritated/confused, road rage…etc. IE, the kind of mentality that is most dangerous to road cyclists.

These are the kinds of minds we share the road with. I for one would advise against it. You’re better off (safer) sticking with white lighting in front and red in back. What happens when an easily confused driver approaches an intersection and they see your green light infront of them?

[saypat]

I have a white Lithium Glo-Toob. It is one of my favorite light products. I run it on a li-ion cell. It would be pretty cool if it had selectable colors…

Right now on my bike I hang a Life Gear Glow flashlight from my seat. It has a red flashing mode that will flash for a rated 400 hours! I use (3) AA rechargeables. This is a great light, and very functional, reasonable:

http://www.lifegear.com/flashlights/glow-flashlight.html

[TadpolePilot]

:bigsmile: :bigsmile:
Same for Texas.
You are correct.
One should stick to what is standard.
0:) 0:) 0:)

[Misfire]

I’m gonna have to agree with the rest of the gang here—I’d stick with red for any lights that are pointing backwards.

[para-frame]

@kramer5150

I am generally not a road-cyclist, although sometimes I use my MTB to cycle to the local light rail and take that to the office.

Legal or not, thinking about it logically I wouldn’t wan’t any green light on me or my bike. Green is ALWAYS associated with go (IE step on the gas), and red is just the opposite. The general population has been taught and pre-conditioned to think this way behind the wheel. There are a lot of stupid people, arrogant, agressive, easily irritated/confused, road rage…etc. IE, the kind of mentality that is most dangerous to road cyclists.

These are the kinds of minds we share the road with. I for one would advise against it. You’re better off (safer) sticking with white lighting in front and red in back. What happens when an easily confused driver approaches an intersection and they see your green light infront of them?

After reading Kramer5150s (I like the name, I transported way too many 5150s when I worked BLS) I agree fully. Just because it is LEGAL doesn’t make it SMART.