As the calendar cycles toward the winter solstice, darkness arrives earlier each afternoon and dark, cloudy days become more common. Fog and rain further limit visibility. Under these low light conditions it is critical for cyclists to be seen by motorists, pedestrians and even other cyclists.

Readers have asked me to address the issue of bicyclist invisibility during the darker hours of the winter months. I understand their concern as I regularly see bicyclists riding at dusk or during evening hours without proper lighting or bright clothing. It's miraculous that there are not more accidents involving night riders.

I discussed bicycle lighting in my column earlier this year. However, it is timely to review this subject again.

If you use your bicycle exclusively for day-time excursions then bright clothing might be adequate. But if your ventures extend into twilight or darkness, cyclists should be prepared by carrying some form of illumination with them, either on the bike or in a bike bag or pack. Cyclists can illuminate their presence with reflectors, blinking lights in the rear, white lights in the front or a combination of the two.

Bicycle lights serve three primary purposes:

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• To help the rider see the road ahead.
• To be seen by others quickly and easily.
• To help oncoming motorists identify the direction the cyclist is traveling in (white lights are on the front of the bicycle, red or yellow behind).

The Consumer Product Safety Commission requires all new bicycles to have a forward facing white reflector on the front of the bicycle, sideways facing white reflectors on each wheel, a red reflector mounted on the rear, and yellow reflectors mounted on the front and back of each pedal.

Reflectors are often the first thing that the bike loses after it arrives at the new owner's home. Reflectors aren't "cool." They add weight to the bike and can get in the way of mounting or using other equipment. However, reflectors do serve a purpose, and I recommend against removing all reflectors.

Reflectors work extremely well when the approaching vehicle has a good light, and not at all for pedestrians and other unlit cyclists. The light must be directed at the reflector and be in line with the eyes of the viewer. Amber reflectors are significantly brighter than the red reflectors.

A minimum level of safety for riding in the dark requires some kind of light attached to both the front and rear of your bike. You need to see the road ahead and be seen by other users of the road. Most bicycle lighting is fairly inexpensive and can be purchased at bike shops or stores that sell bicycle equipment. Here are a few important things to know about lights that are sold for cycling.

The most common light on the market today is the LED. They are normally inexpensive, have a long battery life, and are very visible and efficient. They last indefinitely with a charged battery.

LED lights have a narrow angle and must be pointed straight back to be seen well. They are not very effective if they are hung angled downward off a bike bag or a piece of clothing.

Although LED lights are bright in darkness, they diminish when illuminated. When viewed from the side, at about a 20 degree angle, visibility of LED lights significantly diminishes. This is why it is important to have reflectors or reflective tape. Some LED rear lights have built in reflectors.

I highly recommend flashing/pulsating LED lights for the rear of the bike because they are highly attention-grabbing, and also announce that the vehicle is a bicycle.

If you plan on commuting a lot in the dim or dark hours, I recommend a quartz-halogen headlight powered by a rechargeable battery on the front of your bike, an LED flashing/pulsating tail light and a flashing/pulsating LED front light.

I also recommend that commuters purchase some reflective tape and attach it to cycling clothes, a day pack and various parts of the bicycle. The bright strips of tape on sleeves, shoes, backs of legs or back of a coat can prompt drivers to give bicyclists more passing distance.

When cyclists provide good lighting and can be easily recognized at night, the dimly lit or dark hours become much safer for them. If you are invisible to others with whom you are sharing the road, you are likely to end up in an accident. So light yourself up and be seen.

Bicycling enthusiast Bob Korfhage of Phoenix is a former president of Siskiyou Velo bicycle club. To read his March 17 column on night cycling, go to www.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/0317/life/stories/03life.htm.