Ben Pfaff wrote:
Kristian M Zoerhoff writes:

AFAIK, headlights are required in all 50 states when
*operating* a bicycle at night, but are not required as
equipment on a *new* bicycle, so virtually no bikes come with
them. Since bicyclists are often invisble to local law
enforcement(literally as well as figuratively), no one really
forces them to get lights.

I'm not sure that it would help to require them on new bicycles:
in California, all new bicycles are required to come equipped
with reflectors on both wheels and on the pedals, yet many new
bicycles are sold without them.

They do show up well a lot of the time. It would not have helped much
in this case, since he was coming towards me at a 90 degree angle and no
lights were shining on his pedals.