High-viz jackets.

[stevevw]

 

[MacB]

Just out of interest, and reverting for a moment to the original point...

I got an Altura Nightvision etc., and went out this morning in the cold and damp. Smashing jacket, although at 3XL I'm pushing the size limits. I like it, so thanks for the recommendations.


Allen.

Same as mine then, but mine's loose, so I make no comment on your size

I get the feeling Mike stalks Hack, or vice versa, on the forum, but deep down they probably love each other

 

[BentMikey]

Of course I love Hackers!

 

[BentMikey]

p.s. 3XL? That must be hiviz even without the colours and reflectives!!




j/k...

 

[threebikesmcginty]

3XL?! - that's a high-viz marquee, no offence!!!

 

[HF2300]

Hi Mikey, been AWOL from this thread because we lost internet for 24 hours - it seems to have moved on in the meanwhile. I started writing a detailed refutation of your arguments, but to be honest life's too short (especially if you're not wearing high vis! ).

I think you can pick situations in which high vis doesn't help - equally, I think you can pick situations where it does. As Allen and others have said, though, the 'anti' argument seems to rely on postulating an 'either high vis / or (cyclecraft, lights etc.)' situation, and that isn't the case.

Personally, I think that high vis is a useful adjunct to (and not a substitute for) good roadcraft and adequate lighting, and research and personal experience backs that up - and if it only helps 5% of the time, that 5% is worth having.

 

[Neilwoo123]

F**k ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys, I think you are all having a fight over different things!

1, Hi Viz i.e bright yellow ect does not make any difference at night. FACT

2, Reflective materials (often found on hi Viz) make a world of difference. FACT

Don't confuse Hi Viz with Reflective

Regards

 

[fossyant]

Well, as BM, pointed out, someone managed to pull out on a banana ...... high viz, lights, etc means nothing.

Keep your wits about you..... especially if you like to push the speed up....had three pull outs on me today...... one got a "WOW".... as I was 23-25 on the flat and the back end started sliding on braking...., it was a double sandwich - i.e. left right despite loads of lights on......

Shortly later a driver tried to turn from the oncoming lane - a "what" hand signal was enough - he stopped, and apologised....

Then shortly after, another side road - driver pulled 2 feet past the cycle lane....I'm belting along (in the lane)....... I leave braking until late by now (hissed off), slew the back end out, then glare at him as I pull out to ride past.... the ass then tries to drive into me...missed.ha..ha..

Be careful.....

PS anyone invented the missile launcher yet.....

 

[MacB]

p.s. 3XL? That must be hiviz even without the colours and reflectives!!




j/k...

Harsh but fair, harsh but fair

 

[hackbike 666]

Just out of interest, and reverting for a moment to the original point...

I got an Altura Nightvision etc., and went out this morning in the cold and damp. Smashing jacket, although at 3XL I'm pushing the size limits. I like it, so thanks for the recommendations.


Allen.

Sorry to hijack your thread.

 

[summerdays]

I've said it before I don't see the need to wear hi-viz all year round. I vary it depending on the light levels.

In winter time in poor daylight I find that yellow nightvision jacket or work provided ones are good, when going in and out of shadows cast by tall buildings. Lights don't really show up loads due to the car lights around at the same time, though they help.

Hi Vis is not an alternative to road craft/positioning, and lights, it is an optional addition.

Mikey - why do lots of folk have to wear Hi-Viz for their work: for example AA men (I think), police, railway staff, lollypop ladies etc. And for those organisations it has to meet certain specifications.

 

[Cubist]

I've said it before I don't see the need to wear hi-viz all year round. I vary it depending on the light levels.

In winter time in poor daylight I find that yellow nightvision jacket or work provided ones are good, when going in and out of shadows cast by tall buildings. Lights don't really show up loads due to the car lights around at the same time, though they help.

Hi Vis is not an alternative to road craft/positioning, and lights, it is an optional addition.

Mikey - why do lots of folk have to wear Hi-Viz for their work: for example AA men (I think), police, railway staff, lollypop ladies etc. And for those organisations it has to meet certain specifications.

Police and other hi-viz has an abundance of reflective scotchlite striping. It picks up car lights very well. Thus I think we need to differentiate between a jacket that is bright yellow or whether it has a lot of reflective trim. (You'll be entertained to know that one of the reasons police officers wear it is because it gets them noticed, thus apparently reassuring the public who ask for more police to be visible on the streets.)

Without wanting to inflame any debates or start any rows, think about the way insurance companies work. Whether or not hi-viz works to make you noticed, when all goes horribly wrong and a car takes you out, the question will be asked about whether you were wearing hi-viz.

I read a tip somewhere on here or some other lighting thread, which suggested mounting a flashing led on the bars facing the rider, thus giving the reflective trim on your jacket something to reflect without relying on the angle of car headlights.

 

[purplepolly]

I read a tip somewhere on here or some other lighting thread, which suggested mounting a flashing led on the bars facing the rider, thus giving the reflective trim on your jacket something to reflect without relying on the angle of car headlights.

I still don't understand why people are so concerned about headlight angles. Since this thread has started I've been checking this on my way home and my bike lights (angled slightly left and slightly down) always light up reflectives on the other side of the road (even 4 lane roads) and more than a cars stopping distance away. Ok, a car waiting at a left hand side road won't light up the relfectives, but on a busy urban road, there's usually oncoming traffic to do the job.

I agree it's no replacement for good lights and sensible cycling, but jackets cover a large area that's higher up than most lights. Unless you're wearing lights all around your helmet, then this does make you more visible in heavy traffic. As car driver and a bus passenger I've often spotted hi-viz vests ahead at night when the bike lights are hidden by surrounding cars.

 

[Origamist]

Why? When it is not a legal requirement to wear hi-vis. In an incident it is a question usually of who should have given way to who, not down to if you was wearing hi-vis.

The collision report film used by the police lists (under Impairment and Distraction):"Cyclist wearing dark clothing at night" as a contributory factor...

Cubist, I read an article that noted some criminals had now started to wear Hi Viz...!

 

[hackbike 666]

Mikey - why do lots of folk have to wear Hi-Viz for their work: for example AA men (I think), police, railway staff, lollypop ladies etc. And for those organisations it has to meet certain specifications.

I wear it all year round in my job because apparently it makes me invisible.