In praise of the earlyend of daylight savings
I'm not a fan of the proposal to extend daylight saving into April. Already, mornings are very dark when I head off to work. In April, it would still be dark until 7.30am.
As I regularly cycle to work, riding in the dark is a hazard. Despite having lights front and back and enough reflective gear to cover half of my body you have more near misses (although I've managed to avoid accidents) in the gloom than you do during daylight.
Let's face it - some people can barely see cyclists in daylight hours!
As I regularly cycle to work, riding in the dark is a hazard. Despite having lights front and back and enough reflective gear to cover half of my body you have more near misses (although I've managed to avoid accidents) in the gloom than you do during daylight.
Let's face it - some people can barely see cyclists in daylight hours!
posted by Michael at
3:58 PM
7 Comments:
Neither am I - every year it screws up about three weeks of my life with having to get up an hour earlier before I get use to it.
I would be happy if the canned the whole thing all together.
If people want to enjoy long summer evenings they should just get up an hour earlier themselves, rather than imposing their wants on all of us.
By
Anonymous, at 11:15 AM
Haha, anonymous. You're assuming "all of us" is a majority.
Sorry Michael, I'm all for extending it. We don't get as much benefit from it as we used to because December is no longer part of summer, so it makes sense to make the best of the good weather while it sticks around.
Personally, I don't care if it's dark first thing in the morning. I can see how it affects you though. Do you wear a reflective vest?
By
Richard, at 11:33 AM
Richard
No I am not assuming that 'all of us' is a majority.
I am well aware that I am in a minority with daylight savings.
At a guess maybe 10-20% of the population.
If you want to enjoy a long summer evening why can't you just get up an hour early? Or is that to difficult!
By
Anonymous, at 12:18 PM
Haha, because the length of my evening is dictated by when I get home from work, not when I get up.
Seems strange that you acknowledge that your views are only indicative of 10-20% of the population, yet you seem to resent the majority imposing their wills on you. Heard of democracy?
By
Richard, at 4:01 PM
Richard - don't apologise for having an opinion!
The legal requirement (which I always meet) for cycling in the dark hours are:
One white or amber light to the front, cen be flashing or steady.
One red or amber light to the rear, can be flashing or steady.
One red reflector, rear facing.
Either reflectors on the pedals, or reflective bands worn on the ankles.
In addition, I wear a reflective bum flap.
P.S. 80% imposing their will on the rest is mob rule. Democracy is the choosing of representatives to a ruling body.
By
Michael, at 7:57 PM
Yeah, the apology was more along the lines of "sorry for posting a dissenting comment on your blog for the millionth time".
Surely, the 80% impose their wills on the 20% via the ballot box? I don't think anyone's going to run around with torches and pitchforks over this one :)
By
Richard, at 9:02 AM
It's the suffering I am talking about - it equates to toture, i.e. Sleep deprivation, etc, etc.
Nice for the 80% to impose there will on the 20% I suppose.
I think I will write to the UN and Amensty International.
By
Anonymous, at 2:56 PM
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