Sara_H
Guru
You're right, because we have a culture of irrational and unwarranted hatred and anger towards people on bikes in this country and those involved use excuses like the ones perpetuated in th OP. It stinks.
Cycling idiocy
- Thread starter James Blackwell
- Start date
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Tyke
Senior Member
Many motorbike riders use Lights in daylight making them easier to pick out among the unlit cars, if everyone has lights on then they lose this advantage and become harder to see. I know this happens at night when everyone has lights but traffic levels tend to be lower at night.
steveindenmark
Legendary Member
I find some of these arguements hard to take in.
I drove and rode motorbikes in England for 20+ years before moving to Denmark and in my opinion it is far safer to have lights on all the time.
However this does not apply to bikes and we are on cycle paths a lot of the time over here. But I do ride my Koga all the time with lights on but cannot say what safety effect it has.
By the way I wear a vis vest and am proud of it :0)
Steve
I drove and rode motorbikes in England for 20+ years before moving to Denmark and in my opinion it is far safer to have lights on all the time.
However this does not apply to bikes and we are on cycle paths a lot of the time over here. But I do ride my Koga all the time with lights on but cannot say what safety effect it has.
By the way I wear a vis vest and am proud of it :0)
Steve
That can lead to bad habits. I speak from experience. My car has a setting that switches the lights on in low light conditions, and I leave it in that setting. The garage that does my MOT doesn't and my after my last MOT it took me longer than it should have to realise I was a ninja driver.
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
I think day lights on motor bikes are a good thing, but the case for lights on other motor vehicles is very different.
As an ex-motorcyclist I'm not so sure. Where I come from it is mandatory for motorcyclists to ride with their lights on in the daytime. When all bikers do so, drivers become desensitised to the lights and you are as invisible as before.
The same is true of the wearing of hi-viz during daylight hours. Ian Walker has recently released a paper for peer review that shows that the visibility of the clothing you wear makes no difference to the space that drivers allow when passing. 1 - 2% of drivers will do a close pass regardless of whether you are wearing black or a luminous banana suit.
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steveindenmark
Legendary Member
It is the law in Denmark that all motorised vehicles must have their lights on all the time. No idea what a Ninja driver is.
Recycle, with regards to vis vests it is each to his own I think. They may not leave you any more overtaking space but in my opinion at least they have longer to aim at you because they see you sooner. ;0)
Steve
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Will
have
steveindenmark
Legendary Member
I will have to use Borgen as a teaching aïd for you all 
Steve
Steve
Yes and no. There is a bit of a hierarchy at work. In my opinion lights are a must after dark. But if somebody really can't be bothered to get lights then hi viz (or rather, the reflectives usually found on hi viz) may just help them avoid getting hit. And if they fail to have lights or hi viz, a helmet might prevent some harm should the worst happen. Might, I say. But I still prefer my lights in this hierarchy. Hence my bikes tend to look like a homage to Tron. Leaving as little as possible to chance.
Sara_H
Guru
Reflectives and hiviz are two different things.
Fair enough. Maybe just a case of semantics? I tend to conflate the two - I prefer to be highly visible day and night. But then my own take on hi viz is high contrast (current preference is black and white - hopefully fine unless I encounter a herd of zebras) or bold colours, rather than hideous dayglo.
Rancid
Active Member
- Location
- Saff Landin
last week i passed a bloke with no lights and dressed in a nice dark winter outfit.
i thought that swearing in front of the young child he had on pillion was justified given the circumstance.
i thought that swearing in front of the young child he had on pillion was justified given the circumstance.
steveindenmark
Legendary Member
No. They can actually drive in Denmark. The Danes dont have the English need to prove how big their balls are when they get in a car. Because most Danes cycle, they are more considerate to cyclists. It is very logical when you think about it. But a totally different mindset to what it is like in England.
Its strange, but I ride in one of the safest countries for riding in europe. I am seperated by wide, smooth cycle paths for most of my journeys and the drivers are very considerate. Yet I still wear a viz vest and show extra lights, as do a lot of Danes. I dont feel as though I am in danger or I have to do these extra things, I do it to help other road users see me better, and I am sure it does.
Steve
