I'm more-or-less a casual bike commuter. I'm mostly picking up my kid from daycare. But while my "commute" is short, I've got precious cargo on board. I didn't want to switch to a car just because it's dark out, but I wanted to be damn sure I'm visible out there.
I read about people using the Pro-viz biking jackets and started looking around for high-viz jackets. I ended up with this Mountain Warehouse Jacket, and I'd recommend it to anyone. It's supposed to be waterproof, but I haven't tested that. I really only want it to be obnoxiously reflective, and it definitely succeeds there. So, if you're looking for something affordable, I'd start there.
by njslacker