I'm a new rider myself and I noticed the streetlight thing first-hand in South Tampa. An older guy in an Audi just went around me and helped us both out as I was sweatin my face off and he must have been getting frustrated himself.

As far as the rear-ended thing, I am constantly checking my rearviews and clicking my brakes even in the daytime just for the added effect. Oh, and FWIW, the 'DMV handbook' states that motorcycles should be in gear as often as possible while stopped in case you need to GTFO

Gear wise, I wear my textile jacket, helmet and gloves at a minimum. I have some icon riding jeans and icon boots that I got for free that I wear when I don't have to wear my scrubs to school/hospital. Yeah, if you thought regular jeans are like tissue paper, scrub pants are like anti-pants.

My roommates, one if whom is a rider himself, were laughing at me yesterday when I got home as I got stuck in rushhour traffic on 275N. Suffice to say, I was sweatin buckets again. But I really wouldn't go out in any less than what I mentioned earlier just for the safety issue.

Ride safe and maybe I'll see ya on the road...

-Al