Monday will be the first time I’ve worked n Menands since the time change.

I started working up in Menands after Martin Luther King Jr Day last winter, and was able to ride my bike into work come the last week of January because there was just enough daylight at end of day with the lights I felt comfortable riding down to the express bus stop, roughly two miles from work. Then come President’s Day, when it was snow-free enough, there was enough light to ride all the way home.

This autumn, after the time change, I plan to continue to ride to work as much as possible, and then ride down to the express bus stop. I ordered extra back up lights for my bike, so I always have a set charged and ready to go, with maximum brightness for safety. I will continue to wear the blaze orange safety vest, and be up to two flashing taillights which I was at until one failed a few months back. I also want to get more DOT tape — particularly white DOT tape to add to front of my bike to improve reflectivity on the sites and front

I don’t love idea of riding down to express bus at dusk or even at dark, but what is the alternative? Not riding to work? I probably won’t do the Water Street bridge but instead take Erie Boulevard (which unfortunately is unlighted) over to Broadway. But with lights and caution it should be relatively safe. While it’s true that it’s harder for drivers to see you at night, it’s also true it’s easier for you to spot oncoming cars due to the headlights.