GOOD QUALITY TORCHES/LIGHTS

[downfader]

Nothing helps if drivers don't look.... !!

LOL

 

[John the Monkey]

Nothing helps if drivers don't see.... !!

...or when they see you but decide to go anyway...

 

[Origamist]

If it made no difference why can you buy tyres with refective walls ?
to make you buy their product...dont mean ta say it works !
think abouyt it as a car driver at a t junction, if you dont see the front light your not gonna see the side lights, Im not saying dont use them im just saying I dont recon they are a lot of use....thats all really

I don't think they are "a lot" of use, but I still employ them. Incremental conspicuity aids should not be lightly dismissed as cyclists have a small visual footprint.

 

[BentMikey]

ITYM small intimidation footprint....

You should see the difference in the way drivers treat me when I'm skating on the roads. Option one is in lycra and speed skates. Option two is in hockey kit carrying gloves and and an ice/inline hockey stick.

 

[Origamist]

ITYM small intimidation footprint....

You should see the difference in the way drivers treat me when I'm skating on the roads. Option one is in lycra and speed skates. Option two is in hockey kit carrying gloves and and an ice/inline hockey stick.

That is a different matter and less do do with "intimidation" IMO and more to do with notions of "difference" and the "other".

 

[BentMikey]

You wouldn't be saying that if you saw the drivers' reactions for yourself.

 

[Origamist]

You wouldn't be saying that if you saw the drivers' reactions for yourself.

I would. Strap an inflatable sex doll to your back when you skate, kitted out in normal clothes (so it looks like your giving someone a piggy back). See how much room and passing distance you are given then. You're not intimidating other road users, you are an extaoridinary presence on the road and this is why you will catch people's attention and they will act differently. In fact, do the test twice, once with a naked sex doll and once with a clothed doll (borrow Bollo's) - see if you are treated any different then. By the way, I'm not joking.

 

[MacB]

inflatable sex dolls to test drivers awareness, now why hasn't someone else thought of that

 

[BentMikey]

No, I'm sure you wouldn't, because I don't believe you've seen driver reactions to a hockey skater. The fear is obvious from many, but not all.

 

[Origamist]

No, I'm sure you wouldn't, because I don't believe you've seen driver reactions to a hockey skater. The fear is obvious from many, but not all.

Fear or surprise?

 

[BentMikey]

I'm not saying your effect is non-existant, but the fear effect that hockey skaters cause is almost certainly rather stronger. Even plain ordinary skaters are regarded with worry and fear by some of the general population, but add a hockey stick to an otherwise normal skater and you have an amazing difference.

 

[BentMikey]

I think I actually recall seeing one nutter skating down the Serpentine Road dressed as superman, with a naked blow up doll strapped to his back. That got a raised eyebrow!

 

[Origamist]

I'm not saying your effect is non-existant, but the fear effect that hockey skaters cause is almost certainly rather stronger. Even plain ordinary skaters are regarded with worry and fear by some of the general population, but add a hockey stick to an otherwise normal skater and you have an amazing difference.

As I've said I think you would notice a smilar effect with a life-sized doll strapped to your back, but I'm happy to let this OT debate fizzle out.

 

[Origamist]

This is actually true and one of the reasons why I wear a full face balaclava on my commute sometimes(when it is cold enough). People think twice about pulling out on you if look like a terrorist.

Or they might see you as even less of a human being and treat you accordingly.

 

[Origamist]

Is the pint half empty with you? It's not all that bad

I'm a cheery soul, really...it's just worth considering all angles and making an informed decision.