Advice from the postman

[Arch]

Absolutely right they should, but we know it's a fact that most drivers (and I bet that includes us on here) drive along on 'autopilot' . Particularly when it's roads they know very well.

I still reckon that a recumbent, out of sheer oddness, will click a driver out of auto pilot way better than any 'normal' upright cyclist.

I know it's fanciful, but I'm basing this on my experience, and that of people I know.

The 'frontal' (or rear, I suppose), area of a trike is probably no less than a bike - it's lower, but wider. Lower a problem? Funny, we expect people to see the white lines and road markings, at a height of 0 cm....

 

[Auntie Helen]

I wondered how often the postie stopped ninja cyclists to warn them about what they are wearing. I think, once again, it's the oddness of a recumbent that made him talk to me.

There is no doubt some truth in the comments that I can be difficult to see, and that lights/hi-vis are helpful (which undoubtedly they are), but my personal experience of riding one, and of riding with others (my husband has one), is that they are far, far more obvious to car drivers. My husband always comments that when he gets back on his normal bike, cars seem to treat him with much less safety and concern.

I'm just mulling over how I might be able to add some high-vis to the back of the trike.

 

[Arch]

I'm just mulling over how I might be able to add some high-vis to the back of the trike.

If you have pound shop locally, they often have hi-vis waistcoats. Just drape one over your panniers and bungy it down...

 

[Arch]

Also at my local poundshop, they recently had velcro reflective ankle bands, with built in LEDs and a button battery. A couple of them stuck on a pannier would show up.

(I still reckon just being on a trike makes you stand out though).

 

[redjedi]

I'm just mulling over how I might be able to add some high-vis to the back of the trike.

I've got a roll of hi-viz reflective tape if you want it.

I bought it for the FNRttC but I couldn't think of anywhere to put it. I wasn't going to stick it on my bike frame and it would make a mess of my clothes.
It's very sticky so it's going to be permanent once it's on.

 

[Auntie Helen]

That's a kind offer, Redjedi.

What I meant earlier that it's not that it's hard getting hold of hi-vis stuff (as you have all ably proved), but it's difficult to know quite where to affix it.

Sometimes I use rack and panniers (as now), sometimes not.

Sometimes I have my sidepods hanging from the seat, sometimes not.

If I stuck reflective stuff on the seat it would be hidden much of the time.

If I drape something over the panniers, that's OK when panniers are in use but not much use when not.

So more mulling will take place, Î think!

 

[dellzeqq]

I think you're asking the wrong people. It's like asking a kestrel if he's seen the mouse. Damn right he's seen the mouse. Mice are important to him. Likewise - your fellow cyclists see other cyclists.

I don't have any trouble seeing recumbents, but they make me a little insecure. Actually, if it's Lee zipping along at such a rate that I can't catch the bugger it makes me a lot insecure, but that's a different thing. I'm speculating here, but I would imagine that it was the novelty, and the concomitant insecurity, that caused him to stop. But, whatever one rides it can't hurt to be in bright colours, and have a decent flashing rear light if it's a dull day.

 

[Arch]

If I drape something over the panniers, that's OK when panniers are in use but not much use when not.

So more mulling will take place, Î think!

Hang on, what happened to your orange hat?

(it was your hat, wasn't it...?)

Not much more hi-vis than that...

 

[Mr Pig]

I wince when I see people doing 30 on residential roads with parked cars either side.

Indeed, but the problem is that there is nothing to stop them. Speed limits don't work as at times like these you can drive extremely dangerously without breaking them. I'd make all drivers do hours on driving simulators. But more than that I'd make the results of mistakes on the simulator highly graphic so that they see what happens when you hit a kid.

 

[John the Monkey]

Indeed, but the problem is that there is nothing to stop them.

It'd be hugely difficult to enforce, and sadly, I think the only answer is for drivers to start giving a shoot, BEFORE they collide - something that seems vanishingly unlikely to happen over here.

There's a quote related to policing, along the lines of it being necessary, in all but the most restrictive states, for the populace to police themselves most of the time. Drivers, it seems to me, simply don't (for the most part - I accept that there are exceptions) and the consequences when this goes badly wrong are trifling in comparison to the damage and potential damage done.

 

[Auntie Helen]

Hang on, what happened to your orange hat?

(it was your hat, wasn't it...?)

Not much more hi-vis than that...

Yes, it was my hat, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to wear it yet I did find it in the drawer t'other day and thought, "I could wear this... nah...".

I have yet to find anyone who can wear it with aplomb. Apart from Lucy the dog.

 

[grhm]

Hmm, would the hat work with a helmet? (You're wearing one in your avatar)

I've got a yellow waterproof high-viz helmet cover - like this one or this - I found it by the side of the road one day.

I'm admit they're not the most fashionable items. I've only wore mine twice, both on evening CTC rides - the first time all evening, cos it was raining and getting dark - the second only when leaving the pub (along with a reflective Sam-Brown belt) as I was going home alone along dark country lanes.

 

[Auntie Helen]

No, the hat doesn't work with the helmet, but I don't always wear a helmet (although I tend to if it's cold/raining). Again, the helmet cover is a bit of a fashion no-no. It's better to have a couple of lights than to look even stupider than I do already on a trike!

 

[Arch]

Yes, it was my hat, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to wear it yet I did find it in the drawer t'other day and thought, "I could wear this... nah...".

I have yet to find anyone who can wear it with aplomb. Apart from Lucy the dog.

Get that pic blown up nice and big, laminate it, and stick on the back of the trike. Hi-vis, and the expression on the dog clearly says "I will not be impressed if you mess with me".

Only downside might be a slight aero-disadvantage....

 

[Crankarm]

AH have you thought of using one of those flashing yellow lights on top of a 5 ft pole like tractors and JCBs have to carry atop their cabs? Just a thought. I really do fear for your vulnerability on your recumbent. It's not as if you can easily look over your shoulder as on a normal bike which makes drivers pass with a lot more space in my experience.

How about two cars approaching fast from behind and the 2nd car pulls out to overtake the first expecting to cut in sharpish where you are......cripes! Haven't your panniers got a decent area of Scotchlite on them facing rearwards and sidewards? I would be trying to make myself as visible as possible on a recumbent when cycling on the roads. Respect to you as I couldn't ride one on the roads too scary.