Things I've seen when riding my bike
- Thread starter MyQul
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There's nothing wrong with wearing a hi-viz jacket. I used to do when I rode me bike.
Extra lights, indicators, flashing arm bands and a hi-viz.
Be seen, be safe, as they used to say when I was a lad...
Now I ride a scooter and that's possibly even worse than on the bike, but that's another story...
Got nothing against cyclists wearing hi-viz, I do it myself. However, I do have a problem with people blaming cyclists if they aren't wearing it, when there's little to suggest it actually makes a quantifiable difference.
I dont wear hi-viz but do have lights
Would this be the case if the cycle was being ridden at night with no rear reflector or light?
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So, if it doesn't make a quantifiable difference why are you wearing one????? The more visible a cyclist is, the less chance he has of not being observed.
MyQul
Chairman of the Bored
The problem is, that many accidents occur when a cyclist is in a vehicle's blind spot. So it doesnt matter if your lit up like a christmas tree. From observing other cyclist I'm convinced that a large amount of them are completely unaware vehicles have blind spots
That is a good point, have you ever had a passenger in your car who is a driver and when approaching a junction will tell you it's clear or not without being asked a non driving passer wouldn't give it a thought.
Some drivers don't give it a thought or are totally oblivious to other road users....especially if you have a couple of yapping old ladies driving their Micra in front of you...too busy being nosey,flapping around and looking everywhere bar in the mirrors or straight ahead while doing 18 mph....does my head in!!
Some of my gear is high-viz, some of it isn't. I like to be able to chose and not have it prescribed, and then be blamed if a driver doesn't pay due care and attention.
Do you have a source for this? I'd wager that more accidents involving cyclists is down to lack of care from motorists and dangerous driving.
I'm not defending all cyclists, btw, but the numbers of careless cyclists is so insignificant that it shouldn't be used to create a victim-blaming attitude when it comes to making roads safer for all.
Piece on high-vis clothing - https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...sory-reduce-number-crashes-study-finds-374898
The summation is that high-vis may make you more visible but it doesn't reduce accidents as that is down to lack of care/poor driving.
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MyQul
Chairman of the Bored
Not really, I read something that stated lots of accident occur when motorist dont see a cyclist and do a left turn and run them over. I would think that If your in a vehicles blind spot, this is more likey to happen.
Im not blaming cyclist for their own accidents. I agree more accidents are caused by lack of care on the part of motorist (I got hit on the arm by a passing car's wing mirror this evening because a car got too close to me.) But the amount of other cyclist I see putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations because they dont seem to be aware of their suroundings is quite amazing. I think being aware of how the most common accidents occur can prevent you being a victim of one of those accidents yourself
I cycle in a defensive manner, and try to put myself in the car seat of the cars around me. Imagining what they will see and whether I am in a position that they will see me. I take it as a given there will alwaly be a certain percentage of numpties behind the wheel and do my best to account for this
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Clearly you don't encounter the same group of cyclists that I do as I ride and drive around the roads in my area. I sometimes think 'death wish' when I see some of them.
You are spot on there. The number of cyclists who seem to be of the opinion that they are invulnerable when they get on the saddle irrespective of where they are and what the traffic conditions are, is as you say amazing. And its all types, varying from the arrogant club types riding two abreast in a line of 30 bikes down a busy narrow road to 'youfs' riding with no lights etc as @Dutto said earlier .
Further its no good cyclists taking the holier than thou approach justifying what they perceive as their right to wear what they want, go what they want etc etc, cycling on UK roads is dangerous and they are responsible for their own safety at all times, irrespective of the fact that many motorists are not cycle friendly. So typically riding to be seen,whether it actually makes any difference or not, is still a no-brainer, you have done your best.
I have to say I used to cycle to work and cycle at the weekend, but over the years I noticed it got more and more dangerous on the roads. So I basically gave up. My sense of self preservation got the better of me.
Not cycle related, but to a point to make on how utterly retarded some car drivers are. Yesterday afternoon I was in my 12+foot van towing a 13+foot (including hitch etc) high sided trailer back to base and the feken snow came. The 20min drive back turned into an hour and a half slog. I was only a few mins from my destination but the traffic was slow and heavy and I could feel the front wheels loosing traction, and the front wheels starting to slide at the slightest touch of the brake. Less than 100 yard left to the turn off to my business property there is a merge and turn off an Island. I slowly filtered left off the island into the merge and turn, traffic crawling. I looked in my side mirror and I could see a car jumping the red light to get on the merge and turn. I signed with my arm and hand out the window for the car to slow down, but the stupid person speed up to pass me and the car in front to get ahead of us and hit the breaks to get in front. My heart was in my mouth as I had a vision of at least a 4 vehicle crunch. Best of all it was the female driver had little kids in the car....If it wasn't so treacherous outside my wife was about to go and give here a right talking too.
MyQul
Chairman of the Bored
What are they? Horse balaclava's?
I haven’t got a clue?
They are in the field just up from my house,I think they might be going to rob the post office
They are in the field just up from my house,I think they might be going to rob the post office
Dutto
Landlord.
Sorry, but I don't take ANY action on the basis of what ANY passenger says AFTER No.3 son said "Clear left ........"
".......... after the red car!"
Believing his first two words, I had moved forward about a yard before hitting the brakes to avoid a serious collision.
Spot on Dutto. Telling the magistrate that your passenger said it was all clear, won't stand up in court.
