I like being a "darkwad"

[some seeing eye]

most red-colored lenses still allow the other colors through to some degree.

Not appreciably. A red (yellow, green, blue) LED is as close to a single wavelength you can get to without a laser. My headlamp has a clear lens, 2 white LEDs and a red LED that can be solid or blink. All switchable. Single AA.

You are going to be a vision and lighting expert in no time!

[Bob]

There's no amount of lighting that will keep some art car assholes from speeding through what Larry has designated as a "pedestrian city" and blaming pedestrians for getting in their way. AFAIK, since 1996, art car related deaths and serious injuries have involved drunk operators or passengers, not pedestrians. Feel free to correct me on this.

[portaplaya]

most red-colored lenses still allow the other colors through to some degree.

Not appreciably. A red (yellow, green, blue) LED is as close to a single wavelength you can get to without a laser...

Please note I said "red-colored lenses". Yes, LEDs are different, but that is not a counter to the statement I made.

I was envisioning red battery-powered Xmas lights or filters over white light sources. Thanks for pointing out that I should consider LEDs too.

[BBadger]

People still filter their white light sources, wasting light and power, instead of just buying the LEDs that produce the colors directly? Sheesh, what backwardsness.

[shroom]

Just dangle one of these things from your belt and try to be a conformist!

love these! and they aren't moop you can replace the batteries.

[theCryptofishist]

love these! and they aren't moop you can replace the batteries.

Of course, there are disposable look alikes, so be careful.

[shroom]

love these! and they aren't moop you can replace the batteries.

Of course, there are disposable look alikes, so be careful.

Don't want any of those!

[Earthwalker]

I've never been, so perhaps my comments are meaningless to you, but here's my thought:

You are one of nearly 60K people. Sorry if lights "ruin your experience", but it's really not just about you. It's about how annoying it is when you're walking in a parking lot and some jackhole comes around a corner going 20. Sure, he was paying attention and most likely would never have hit me, but how annoying is it to be walking along (or driving or skating) peacefully and all of a sudden you have to swerve, or even think you have to swerve, because some selfish person didn't want to have their vision affected by the bright lights??? Utilitarianism, man. Do what you want up to the point that it negatively affects others.

Point being, just because they'll never actually hit you, the fact that they all of a sudden think they're going to hit someone, and all the emotion and "buzz kill" that goes along with that, that's just lame.

PS-nice to meet you. Have a swell day

[CapSmashy]

[quote="portaplaya"Observation: When you say this is "not all about you" and then tell an anecdote about how you might run into me in the dark, you are turning this into all about you.
Additional Observation: If the bike rider can yell at me because he "can't see me", he must have remarkable hearing. (Or is exaggerating greatly.)[/quote]

The people I yelled at last year, the year before and the year before that while on my bike were yelled at they appeared in my headlamp beam, walking right in front of me on my bike. I clipped a person last year with my handlebar

I am lit up like a Christmas tree on my bike with color shift led's, a rotating beacon, etc, so you'd have to be blind not to see me coming towards you.

[RedHeaven]

OP, it seems as if you just need one more light to be legitimately lit. I don't like too much light either but I find if I have my front and back covered substantially, I am good. I wear an LED flashlight around my neck, and either 3 small glowsticks or 1 substantial other battery op light.

Try to get stuff that is non blinky, that helps me.....something solid. doesnt have to be your head lamp, just a good decent solid something. If you go with red or blue it should be less distracting for you, too.
Glowsticks around shoes or any shoe lights are pretty fun and not In Your face....

[Elorrum]

I bring little lights to gift, but haven't offered one to somebody I was just riding by and almost hit, yet. I don't want the confrontation about whether they don't want to be lit, or me saying they need to. Though I do think they need to. One night someone bumped into the back wheel of my trike, and gave me a rash of shit about not lighting it. UM, I had a blinking red light on the seat post, and lights in the spokes, but none were placed on the exact outer edge of the tire... Some folks ARE tripping. so rules vary. I like the light on top of my hat, or pointing to the ground so I am visible, but not blinded. I don't know how other people manage it, but having my headlight on while riding a bike, or walking, just illuminates all the dust motes in front of my face, and makes it hard to focus on where the light is illuminating the ground and areas ahead.

[portaplaya]

No one's going to be able to ride a bike in the soft playa this year anyway.

Artcars have headlights and pedestrians are easy to dodge. At least that's my theory for this year.

[motskyroonmatick]

Hi. My name is Motz and I'm a Darkwad.

It's an especially difficult experience when well intentioned people start snapping glow sticks and attaching them to me like they know what's right for me. I dislike it sooo much that I have to do a preemptive strike on myself for some minimal lighting just so I don't get attacked by these glow stick pushing people. It's depressing. People just don't understand us Darkwads. Try walking a mile in our shoes this year on the playa. You never know. It may bring out your hidden inner Darkwad. You may be one of us!