Grief At Work

[downfader]

1. send those messages to your HR department as they are a) encouraging an illegal activity and making light of a serious safety issue.

2. That jacket is covered in reflectives, it is designed for night usage. If she cant make out a lit up cyclist in reflectives she isnt looking. I agree with Mikey, searching for an excuse for her lack of attention. Many drivers also want to just drive on an autopilot and not think about the dangers or problems they may face.

3. You can increase your brightness levels if you wish. How well lit is the road you travel on, etc? Backpack covers, brighter lights, reflective bands on ankles and wrists etc. Let me tell you though, I do all of this and it generally doesnt make as much of a difference (as long as you're not a complete ninja)

 

[thelurker]

i think you're taking yourself and the replies too seriously. they're just having a josh with you, i doubt very much they actually want you to come to any harm. at least you got some response rather than nothing, at the very least the issue is in their subconcious.

be a cyclist, not a militant motorised-transport-hating cyclist and you will find cycling becomes more popular.

as someone said earlier, MTFU.

 

[fossyant]

Get an RSP Astrum or Mars 4.0 and she'll moan she's going blind next.

PS don't take it serious, I used to get that sort of crap when I worked at a construction company.... it's 'banter' designed to wind you up. If you reply back, post something humerous....

 

[thelurker]

it's 'banter' designed to wind you up. If you reply back, post something humerous....

exactly

 

[swee'pea99]

They're just a bunch of shitferbrains saddos - don't let it get to you. It's a shame you got no help with your initial enquiry, but so it goes. Try to get the bus reg & time if it happens again - the bus co can work it out from that, and most of them do actually take such behaviour quite seriously.

 

[Jezston]

Yeah, think you're right - no malicious intent - just I was most definitely not in a humourous mood this morning!

I wont be escalating any of this, don't think more grief on top of grief will help anyone. I already had a very low opinion of the 'LOL DIE' guy anyway - problem working in the video games industry, some people's usual social interaction is based around anonymous internet conversation and many seem to think internal emails at work are the same as 4chan.

Think I might get a hi-vis rucksack (or cover) anyway. I guess grey against grey in grey weather could be harder to see at long distances.

 

[PBancroft]

That little lot should be forwarded straight to your HR department, just as is. Don't your employers have any code of conduct?

Some of it sounds like joshing, some of it sounds like they mean it, or at least have fantasies that they would do it (e.g., hitting cyclists on the back of the head). That kind of comment deserves a quiet word about respect.

Personally I try to be as visible as possible when I'm on my bike. I have one of these in yellow, as well as two bright rear lights.

However it is possible that there are other things which are causing people to make close overtakes. Primary and Secondary is often debated here, but it does make a difference.

If it is the same bus driver, it may also be that he simply doesn't realise he's overtaking so near. As a professional he should, but that doesn't mean he does. You could contact the bus co. with a politely worded letter with the registration, time and road details explaining your concerns and asking for drivers to overtake carefully.

 

[BentMikey]

If you want to banter back, I'd tell them that you're getting a video camera like many cyclists now have, so their driving better be exemplary from now on. Can't see them liking that very much!

 

[upsidedown]

If you want to banter back, I'd tell them that you're getting a video camera like many cyclists now have, so their driving better be exemplary from now on. Can't see them liking that very much!

Very good !!

 

[marooncat]

Depending on how well you know them etc I would take them as them making an attempt at being humourious. Some are a bit OTT but I do not think there is any geniune malis in them.

Re the riding on Pavements, I have given up on this one. It is from people who do not have the confidence to cycle on the road themselves and do not understand why others feel it is safe to do this. I am lucky that the area i live in (a new town) has got a bylaw (or something) that you can ride on pavements and most paths are shared use ones anyhow meaning I could get my confidence up by cycling on these and using the roads when I felt "up to it"

 

[BentMikey]

I also agree it's banter. The problem I have with it is that it's very hard to take this stuff lightly. They don't see it as at all serious, but you and I feel like it's our lives they are just toying with.

I like the camera comment simply because it'll leave them thinking about being filmed every time they drive past you. They'll take more care around all cyclists, and they'll stay ever so slightly worried for many weeks or months. Maybe point out some choice youtube links as well?

 

[SavageHoutkop]

By backpack do you mean a rucksack? Might be worth getting a hi viz cover for that, as it will cover a fair amount of the reflectives on your jacket.

Agree with this. I have the luminous yellow verson of that jacket, but if there's a bag on your back, not gonna see it are they?
The light point is another entirely, if she can't see the high-vis fair game, but she should be able to see the lights! If it's dim outside but not dark enough for (car) lights the reflective stuff also won't be working as well as when it's properly dark.

As for the (idiots) on the email list, just ignore. Easier said than done...

 

[jimboalee]

Also on the other side of things - make sure the batteries on both lights are topped up and fresh.

It may be the case that you need at certain points to be further to the right to be seen.

High viz may not help really as you could be wearing it and still not be seen if you were too leftwards

At 50 metres, a cyclist riding 1.5 metres left of centre is two degrees away from a cyclist directly ahead.
Why would this difference in viewpoint render the leftward cyclist in a hi-viz invisible?

 

[ttcycle]

jim can we not start this again with the thread highjacking it's becoming tiresome - what I meant by that is you can be lit up like a christmas tree and high vized up to the eyeballs but if you're out of the line of vision of a motorist and they choose not to look to the left they will not see you.

I agree with downfader - used to wear a lot of high viz stuff but it makes small difference to visiblity -I stick with just the bike jacket with reflectives on it.

 

[johnsie]

Just out of interest, had one comment from a girl in my department who says I should be wearing a jacket more high-vis, as she often passes me and says she can't see me til the last minute despite flashing reds on my seatpost and backpack.

Currently wear one of these: https://www.bunneysbikes.com/product_images/c/altura_night_vision_jacket_graphite__30005.jpg - fair comment? Should I get something proper hi-vis?

I am surprised at her comment - I've got one in red for my commute - three quarters of which is on unlit roads - and mrs johnsie - who goes by on her drive to work - says its far better than hi-viz because of the reflective panels.

Maybe its different in the city with not so many high-beamers (high beam - an additional headlight setting that may not be familiar to city-dwellers for when there's no other traffic about!).

I also think this will be quite good in spring / autumn as the yellow jacket's visibility tends to be lost in hedges and such like.

Appreciate any more views