Edinburgh Bikes & Reflective Clothing

[Fnaar]

A short film:

 

[Lanzecki]

Thanks for sharing. Very useful.

My wife laughs at the level of reflective clothing and the reflective spoke clips. I should show her this.

 

[fimm]

The "everyday clothing" one didn't seem to have a rear light? I don't feel the need to look like a bin-man, but I do have lights on my bike...

 

[Fnaar]

Yeah but the point is made though, isn't it, that shiny is better than non shiny.

 

[Steve Saunders]

Very enlightening

 

[fimm]

Yeah but the point is made though, isn't it, that shiny is better than non shiny.

Yes, but I don't want to dress up like a bin man, and don't see why I should have to, especially in town where there's a decent amount of street lighting. What I do do is make sure that the lights on my bike are adequate, and the lights in that video are not adequate, therefore implying that one "must" wear cycling-specific gear in order to be seen. Not the case.

 

[Fnaar]

Fair enough Fimm, and I agree with the premise of what you have said. Lights are important, and perhaps the vid doesn't do that bit fairly (I have nowt to do with the vid by the way, it just appeared on my facebook page, and I thought I'd share it). Personally though, if commuting through Newcastle, then out into Northumberland, in the dark, I am as lit up and as gaudy as a Christmas tree.

 

[MrJamie]

All it really shows is that reflectives are more visable than non-reflectives if you have utterly terrible bike lighting. If theyd done the test again with powerful lights the reflectives IMHO would have been of much less benefit. Theyve also chose a camera lighting setup that lights the reflectives without lighting the road or non reflective stuff, unlike car headlights.

Interesting to note though that when the cyclist turned around even with the full reflectives, if you didnt already know he was mid-turn it was quite difficult to judge what was he was doing and even which way he was pointing.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

In the 3rd example there is no external light source as in the first two (or it is much diminished) and they've switched off his flashing front light. I'd say someone wants the 3rd option to look more risky so they can sell more reflective clothing.


GC

 

[Rafferty]

I LOVE reflective clothing.
Raff.

 

[DrLex]

Rather than reflective clothing, I use a reflective Sam Browne on top.

(Also love the 3m spoke reflectors for good side-on visibility, but no picture to post.)

 

[growingvegetables]

Hmmm - everything in me likes the film and its message, except for the nagging small doubt based on the last couple of days numpties ................ kinda gives idiots a better target to aim for.

 

[Lanzecki]

It was a demonstration of reflective material V's non reflective not lights.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

That doesn't alter the fact that the test conditions should be consistent throughout. Use the same lights or, even better, no lights on the cycles.


GC

 

[Lanzecki]

No lights for sure. It's after all a demo of reflective material V's none. At least the discussion would be directed at that, and not at the inconsistant lighting.

Internet forums do it again.