Too many Lights in TV

[maybe]

Maybe it's because I was born and raised in the country with no neighbors, but I think we have more night lighting here than is necessary. It is hard to see many stars on a clear night. Just how much lighting we have was really driven home to me a couple nights ago, when the power went out here around midnight for 1/2 hour. I went outside into the street. All the street lights, and all other lights, were out for not only my street, but adjoining streets as well, from as best as I could see by looking in between houses. Despite this, I could clearly see all of the street and individual houses, and would have felt comfortable riding a bike with no lights [except for the car factor of course!]. The sky was completely overcast, and power was out, yet my neighborhood was lit that well by excess light given off by nearby, but not visible, homes, streets, and businesses that produced a glow in the sky. The clouds might have actually made my street brighter than it would have been on a clear night, due to the clouds reflecting back light from other areas. Yeah, most folks feel safer with well lit streets and homes, and I can live with that, but I think motion activated lights would help out a great deal on that.

Oh, btw, this is not the start of any ban the lights campaign! Just my thoughts.

[2BNTV]

I usually are up in the early morning before the sun comes out and it's dark.

I have had no trouble seeing all the stars. The city where I came from seem to hide all the stars. Maybe with the power outage, the sky was illuminated better, so the stars were more visible. Could it be a lack of pollution in the air? Was it a full moon?

I believe all lamp post are sensored, but not motion senoered, so I guess don't understand your point of view as I find lighted streets to be more safe especially if driving.

[kittygilchrist]

Yes! Too many eye-pricking bright lamppost lights...why not soft lights?

[Topspinmo]

I think it depends on where you live? In my are not all that lite up after I get out of the housing area. I agree some lights can be tone down some, but remember we are getting old and cataract's limit vision or blur vision. IMO makes since to have certain areas lite up?

Where I come from you had limited vision of stars do to the city lights and of course full moon also limits star gazing. I haven't seen total star darkness since I was kid living small town. Even here I think Orlando lights limit star gazing.

[nkrifats]

After living in country and having no street lighting. I am happy with the lights. Especially when walking at night.

[pbkmaine]

Flagstaff, Arizona, which has an observatory, has a shielded light ordinance. The lights must shine downward only. It lets you see the stars. I wish we had that here.

[Bogie Shooter]

Can hardly wait for what will come next...........................

[Indydealmaker]

This thread is sponsored by The Villages Burglary Association.:1rotfl:

[billethkid]

it has taken 77 years for me to come across a too many lights issue!!

Suggests to me it is a page 12 priority (for consideration).:laugh:

[rhsgypsylady]

Some posters here may think there are too many lights in TV. I, on the other hand, don't think there is enough lighting on the multi modal paths, especially when driving at night, and especially since there are no high beams on golf cart lights. Does anyone else have the problem of maneuvering the paths when it is pitch black or am I the only one that has trouble seeing at night?

[BarryRX]

I don't think it's an insignificant problem at all, and light pollution has been discussed in the news for many years. When I was a child I was able to look up at the night sky and see an infinite number of stars. Now, light from large cities and communities makes it hard to see as many stars and I think we may have all lost a little sense of our place in the universe because of it.

[DigitalGranny]

I don't think there are too many lights -at least in our part of TV. Also agree that the multi-modal paths could use more lighting. May be that's why I saw a car stuck on one of them last week?

[Chi-Town]

Chicago converted its street lights to sodium vapor in the mid 70s. They were more energy efficient, but the orange glow created light polution and the sky was a bleached orange. I was disappointed that The Villages had these also, but they had become commonplace everywhere.

Now Chicago is converting the lights to metal-halide which are more energy efficient, longer lasting, just as bright, and without the sky glow. Hopefully, other municipalities will follow.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-08-06/news/chi-chicago-starts-replacing-lights-that-have-shrouded-city-in-orange-glow-20110806_1_sodium-vapor-new-lights-orange-glow

[JB in TV]

I don't think it's an insignificant problem at all, and light pollution has been discussed in the news for many years. When I was a child I was able to look up at the night sky and see an infinite number of stars. Now, light from large cities and communities makes it hard to see as many stars and I think we may have all lost a little sense of our place in the universe because of it.

When I was a child I could also see many stars...I could also read the newspaper in a dimly lit area, and could hear the high pitched sound a tv made when operating with the volume turned down. As we age, we have different abilities, and different needs. More light makes it easier to see things as we age.

To address the OPs unstated but infered question, I believe the level of lighting in TV is appropriate for the needs of the population. I'll post my own question...Is it more important to see stars or to provide lighting for security?

[maybe]

This thread is sponsored by The Villages Burglary Association.:1rotfl:

I cannot see any reason why a dark street and house would encourage more burglaries than we currently have if each house had motion dedectors that triggered bright lights to go on. The burglar's presence would be much more noticeable than when every house is equally lit with dim lights, as they are now. I do wonder if any studies have been on this. I am open to the results of any such studies.

[KathieI]

My opinion is, there are not enough street lights and what there is definitely is not bright enough. Have you driven at night and tried to see street names on the signs? I've literally had to turn on my brights and practically aim them at the street sign to hopefully be able to read the name. Of course, this is only when I'm in an area that I'm not familiar with, but there are times when its dusk and I'm turning a corner, only to have a cart right there that I didn't see because the street light is half way down the block. This is a senior community with aging eyes, I think the lights should be brighter and better directed. This is not going to change anything, it is what it is and I'm willing to live with it.

Looking at the stars is nice, but not when it comes to what's more important, safety or dreaming... Just MHO.

[Bizdoc]

I'm an Alaskan who misses the stars and Northern Lights.

However, I realize the safety issues and am glad for the street lights here.

[lovsthosebigdogs]

This thread is sponsored by The Villages Burglary Association.:1rotfl:

I can always find a laugh here somewhere.

[maybe]

My opinion is, there are not enough street lights and what there is definitely is not bright enough. Have you driven at night and tried to see street names on the signs? I've literally had to turn on my brights and practically aim them at the street sign to hopefully be able to read the name. Of course, this is only when I'm in an area that I'm not familiar with, but there are times when its dusk and I'm turning a corner, only to have a cart right there that I didn't see because the street light is half way down the block. This is a senior community with aging eyes, I think the lights should be brighter and better directed. This is not going to change anything, it is what it is and I'm willing to live with it.

Looking at the stars is nice, but not when it comes to what's more important, safety or dreaming... Just MHO.

I agree street signs can be hard to read at night. It would be better to have a mini, lamp post type, light on top of the street signs rather than the super bright street lights down the block. I hate to think of how much energy would be wasted if they added more street lights. Meanwhile, some people do carry flashlights for seeing such things as street signs at night.

I realize that most people here came from cities or towns with street lights, and simply have different expectations than I do. I am not trying to change the current lights. I had often walked home a few blocks from a friend's house to my last home up north in the dark. When there was no moon, I could not even see the road. I centered myself on the road by looking up at the sky, which would be framed by the "100% black" trees on each side of the road! I admit I was just a bit conscious of the downside of encountering an unseen skunk! That's why I preferred having a flashlight if I knew in advance I'd be returning home after dark.

[Stdole]

Actually there are no walking or crossing lights at Sumter Landing near the Square... e.g... when you walk out of Panera Bread and cross the street
you are on you own... neither you or the driver can see you!!

[manaboutown]

I cannot see any reason why a dark street and house would encourage more burglaries than we currently have if each house had motion dedectors that triggered bright lights to go on. The burglar's presence would be much more noticeable than when every house is equally lit with dim lights, as they are now. I do wonder if any studies have been on this. I am open to the results of any such studies.

More lights would probably not reduce the number of daylight burglaries.

[downeaster]

Some posters here may think there are too many lights in TV. I, on the other hand, don't think there is enough lighting on the multi modal paths, especially when driving at night, and especially since there are no high beams on golf cart lights. Does anyone else have the problem of maneuvering the paths when it is pitch black or am I the only one that has trouble seeing at night?

You are not alone, gypsylady. Driving a cart at night requires a lot of attention. I try to avoid driving my cart at night and when I do I drive well below the 20MPH limit. That may annoy some of the faster, and decidedly wreck-less, dangerous and possibly impaired, drivers.

[joldnol]

pbk, Tucson has one too because of Kitt Peak's proximity

[patfla06]

This thread is sponsored by The Villages Burglary Association.:1rotfl:

Funny! I was thinking along those same lines.

[patfla06]

Seriously, the original poster is right.
When I can't sleep I'll go into one of our spare
rooms and read or watch t.v.
My neighbor's lamppost light hits that side and blinds
weren't keeping the light out. I put up curtains and
it made the room bearable.

I do miss being able to see the stars and night sky.
Had that in Tampa and I loved sitting on my lanai
and looking at the stars.

[striveforhealth]

I'm fine with the streetlights and probably more on the multi-modal paths, but am not a fan of lampost lights that I can't turn off. Yes...I know I can take the bulb out, but it's such a loooong walk out there. :-)

[Topspinmo]

Only light pollution I see are those annoying and blinding Halogen 100000 candlesticks lights added to the front of golf carts. Course the owner can see but he blinds on coming traffic. or the jacked up SUVs and trucks halogen lights blinding cars. IMO there should be standard height for all lights and brightness limit. So if you jack your truck up 3 feet you have to lower you lights 3 feet to drive street legal. OK my rant over!

[2BNTV]

I think street signs should be staggered. I have seen many instances of where they are at the same height, hiding one's ability to see the side street sign.

Even during the day it is difficult but at night, it is impossible to know what street to turn into, unless one already knows their way.

I was going to put this on the survey, but I couldn't get past the voluminous list of questions.