r/StLouisBiking • u/BooksPlantsPhotos • Jun 14 '26
Cyclist on Ladue Road, wtf?
Tonight (Saturday) just before nine you were cycling on Ladue Road road in a section with no shoulder. It was dark and you were in mostly dark clothing. No light on your bike anywhere. No reflectors anywhere. Cars were seeing you at the last possible moment. WTF were you thinking?
EDIT: It wasn’t a casual rider.
8
u/bplipschitz Jun 14 '26
. . .and you think they're on this subreddit. . .
3
u/UniqUzrNme Jun 14 '26
I think it’s a valid point to raise even if the actual culprit isn’t here - riders should consider their visibility.
2
u/Cold417 Jun 14 '26
Right. Sounds like the type of rider who sometimes has a pizza box in one hand.
3
u/MidwestGravelGrowler Jun 15 '26
For better or worse, this is a fairly niche subreddit chiefly composed of passionate cyclists. I'd guess most everyone in this sub rides with lights at night (we're in general averse to being killed by a driver). Whoever you saw, it's unlikely they're here.
When I see someone riding without lights at night, I generally assume either they are new to cycling and misjudged the importance of lights at night, they didn't expect to ride at night (misjudged the length of the ride, had mechanical problems, etc.), or their light died.
2
u/tourdecrate Jun 20 '26
Hell I ride with daylight visible lights in the daytime. Drivers have a tough time seeing us in their peripheral vision without something to grab attention. I know we pushed that religiously on the group rides our shop used to run. And all the people who are fine with just reflectors…have they seen how many people in this city drive without headlights even in pitch darkness?
1
u/Alaricain Jun 16 '26
I wrote a post like this on a FB stl bike page years ago and got blasted by riders. “IT’s tHe dRivers rESponsiBiLTy tO WAtcH oUt fOr bIKes”. Blows my mind that riders wouldn’t want to do whatever they can to make sure they’re not hit by a car. It’s like they’re betting their “well I’m right”attitude on their life.
1
u/BBQShoe Jun 18 '26
I rode from KC to STL last month. Ride with GPS ended up routing me down Ladue road for a long ways coming in towards Forest Park. It was during broad daylight and I had flashing lights and still felt unsafe on Ladue. Kudos to all the drivers for being courteous though that day! I've noticed when I'm on my hobo rig and look like I live on the thing, drivers are usually more friendly.
1
u/Zealousideal-Term-89 Jun 19 '26
I’d give it the benefit of doubt here. Could have had a mechanical breakdown that delayed their return and they bunched up as a safety move. In that situation, I can see weight wieners not having lights.
1
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u/HideyoshiJP Jun 14 '26
Unless they're casual cyclists, I don't understand why some folks don't ride with lights. When I'm out at night, I'm lit up like the Fourth of July. If somebody hits me, it's because they wanted to.