Comment Re:Dubious assumptions are dubious (Score 1) 307
I don't think it's unreasonable to expect cyclists to have adequate lighting on their bikes at night.
Neither do I. Then again, until the streetlights were turned off in the places I've been talking about, most of them already did.
It's very rare that an entire journey would have street lighting at any time of night.
Around here, it's completely expected. The local authorities have put huge emphasis on promoting cycling in Cambridge over the past decades, and both the streets and the major cycle/pedestrian paths are normally lit during the dark hours, making cycling one of the most efficient and sustainable ways to get around the city. Turning off significant amounts of lighting is a surprisingly cycle-hostile and retrograde step, until you realise it's a different level of local council responsible for making that decision.
Then again, I live in a village with green fields on all sides.
I suspect both the priorities and the expectations in rural areas are quite different to those in densely populated cities or suburbs. I probably wouldn't buy a small hatchback if I lived in the middle of nowhere or a huge 4x4 for driving around the city either.