Sydney Councils to Switch off Street lights!!!

[icytailmark (Mark)]

just saw on the news that some councils may not be able to afford to keep the street lights on. How awesome is that for sydney astronomers!!!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by icytailmark

just saw on the news that some councils may not be able to afford to keep the street lights on. How awesome is that for sydney astronomers!!!

Does it apply to the RTA as well? There are a few street lights on the local main road which would be vastly improved by being turned off.

Taking a gas axe to the poles seems a bit excessive.

[pgc hunter]

Great news. Here's hoping that Melbourne councils run out of money aswell!

[el_draco (Rom)]

There are at least 22 other ways to achieve the same outcome I suspect ....

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Bloody stupid idea! I make no appology for my language!

I was almost killed being driven in a street with street lights switched off, along with my dad, sister, uncle and two other cousins. My uncle didn't see a parked lorry because the car coming in the opposite direction had their high beams on. My uncle flashed his beams, and BLOODY HELL! Just managed to swerve and avoid the truck.

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Bloody stupid idea! I make no appology for my language!

I was almost killed being driven in a street with street lights switched off, along with my dad, sister, uncle and two other cousins. My uncle didn't see a parked lorry because the car coming in the opposite direction had their high beams on. My uncle flashed his beams, and BLOODY HELL! Just managed to swerve and avoid the truck.

That would be entirely the fault of the moron who was driving with his high beams, not due to lack of streetlights.

[M54 (Molly)]

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Bloody stupid idea! I make no appology for my language!

I was almost killed being driven in a street with street lights switched off, along with my dad, sister, uncle and two other cousins. My uncle didn't see a parked lorry because the car coming in the opposite direction had their high beams on. My uncle flashed his beams, and BLOODY HELL! Just managed to swerve and avoid the truck.

A very lucky escape Alexander!

Yes, as much as we'd like less light interference while observing, there are security and safety issues to think of.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Bloody stupid idea! I make no appology for my language!

I was almost killed being driven in a street with street lights switched off, along with my dad, sister, uncle and two other cousins. My uncle didn't see a parked lorry because the car coming in the opposite direction had their high beams on. My uncle flashed his beams, and BLOODY HELL! Just managed to swerve and avoid the truck.

I haven't checked the road rules lately, but a truck stopped on any part of the road after dark used to be required to display parking and clearance lights.

If the councils and RTA had even the slightest consideration for light pollution they would be cheaper to run and make better use of the light.

Do four street lights really need to illuminate my back yard, after passing across neighbouring properties and through my boundary trees, from about 80 metres away?

[Jules76 (Julian)]

How much difference is it really going to make though? Sure it will be good if your in the immediate area, as it will cut down the amount of stray light entering your telescope. But your still going to be looking at the same light polluted washed out sky just like anyone else in the city.

It's a start I guess.

[Wavytone]

To make a difference:

1) Big companies need to be persuaded to switch off the lights in buildings after hours. Most still don't, even though the building management systems have had that capability for the past 30 years.

2) Architects need to be re-educated to STOP lighting up the exteriors of posh buildings with lights pointing up, or at least put a timer on that kills them at say 10pm. It's one of the worst contributors.

Applies to everything from the coathanger, the opera house, most landmarks in the city as well as many apartment blocks.

3) All councils need to be persuaded to lights off at say 11pm, same as closing time for the pubs.

4) The RTA needs to be reminded that cars have headlights, and that we are trained to drive down roads at night without streetlights. Why the RTA persists in plastering motorways and freeways with absurd light levels defeats me.

[marki]

5) Move to rural block. Sorry but I agree with those who have expressed safety concerns. You cannot observe if you are dead or someone has nicked your scope.....

Mark

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Do we need street lights to drive safely?
of course not.
Think of the roads that have the fastest speed limit in the country!
Like the F3.
No street lights on over 90% of it.
To me, that says something!

Streetlights only serve to make it safe for pedestrians at night (because most dont carry torches) and idiot bike riders who chose to put their safety in the hands of the poor motorist.

I would like to see fewer.

Now, if we can only organise blackouts to occur on clear dark nights.
That would be something.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Originally Posted by el_draco

There are at least 22 other ways to achieve the same outcome I suspect ....

As Paul Simon once sang....
Rom, can you please tell me about the other 22 ways.....

[tornado33]

Yes our cities are grossly over illuminated. This is the best news ever, id like to see the streetlights go off, permanently. I have a 1 watt LED torch that throws a beam across the street. if every streetlight bulb was replaced with a 1 watt LED with a fully shielded reflector, it would produce enough light to illuminate the area underneath, but not fill the sky with light and not cost a lot to run, but hey, that makes sense and with our governments and councils, making sense is outlawed, its a hanging offense!
Scott

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Allan_L

As Paul Simon once sang....
Rom, can you please tell me about the other 22 ways.....

He left out the exponent. Divide by 100.

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Wavytone

To make a difference:


4) The RTA needs to be reminded that cars have headlights, and that we are trained to drive down roads at night without streetlights. Why the RTA persists in plastering motorways and freeways with absurd light levels defeats me.

Hi,

Can't agree, much as I'd love dark skies in my backyard.

There is is probably a study somewhere relating traffic densities to safe lighting levels.

I think driving the M2 or the M5 at 8pm on a winter weekday without the RTA's lights would be very hairy.

BTW a person was killed in a dark backstreet in my suburb a few years back when the driver hit an unlit rubbish skip at the kerb. Stripped the passenger's side panels off the car. I don't know what a single incident can prove though.

Regards

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by tornado33

Yes our cities are grossly over illuminated. This is the best news ever, id like to see the streetlights go off, permanently. I have a 1 watt LED torch that throws a beam across the street. if every streetlight bulb was replaced with a 1 watt LED with a fully shielded reflector, it would produce enough light to illuminate the area underneath, but not fill the sky with light and not cost a lot to run, but hey, that makes sense and with our governments and councils, making sense is outlawed, its a hanging offense!
Scott

I agree, better reflectors and LED Lights (we dont need light facing our backyards and space). I have a 1 watt lamp too that throws a fantanstic amount of light without the filter in-place.

[Steffen]

If all street lights in Sydney were converted to shoe box designs (shining only down, not sideways or even up) light pollution would drop markedly and drivers wouldn't have to put up with so much glare.

Cheers
Steffen.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

It's long been known that full cut-off reflectors and efficient bulbs are the way to keep everyone happy. Put the light only where it is needed and don't make it too bright (that only creates glare and dark shadow areas). I know of one location on a major road where they have full cut-offs and it's great. As you approach at night the sky is still dark above but the intersection is well lit.

[renormalised (Carl)]

The general public need to be educated on effective lighting and light pollution. That way, they can make the councils spend the money on the better lighting...but they need to be educated to the extent that they know when the councils are trying to pull a swifty on them by making out that it'll cost too much to do and that they'll have to "pass on the costs" to the consumer.