Just wondering out loud

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

OK - this is just for thought but I can't help thinking cyclists are not helping themselves when it comes to being seen.

Yesterday when I was out for a ride, I came across probably 10 other cyclists during the 32 miles. Of the 11 (including myself), I was the only one with lights on (I left around 3:15pm and got back around 5:45pm). The rest did not even have any lights attached to their bikes. The weather here was bright sunny patches which given my route was almost entirely country lanes/rural A roads lined with trees causing that in/out of bright light issues, left cyclists not particularly visible, and when the sun went behind a cloud, it was dull and overcast and even cars of the wrong colour failed to stand out. Of the 10 others, only 1 had a hi viz top on (I have to confess I had taken mine off because I was too warm), so that leaves 9 out of the 11 cyclists with no hi-viz and no lights on country lanes that are a rat run and often more dangerous (IMO) than the bigger A roads around here such as the A556 and A49. Once I hit the A49 I put my hi viz top back on (A49 = national speedlimit but usually easier and safer to cycle than the country lanes between M56 and Cuddington for those who know the area).

I'm just back from taking my OH to work (returning home at 8am) and of the +15 cyclists I passed during the hour round trip (from dawn to full light, from needing main beam to see anything to cursing idiots in cars without lights on) slightly more cyclists (5?) had some form of hi-viz on themselves or more often a rucksack (I say some form, because some it was useless IMO), 2 had lights on and really stood out, the rest well put bluntly were accidents waiting to happen, dark shadows, grey objects or one lunatic on a road bike wearing black from head to toe that came straight out from a junction on the left without stopping and relying on me taking avoiding action despite the fact that he had clearly looked at me just so he didn't have to slow down at his give way lines.

So I'm curious, how many of you actually have lights on your bikes for your commutes/rides at this moment in time? How many of you wear some form of hi-viz? I'm just curious here because around here at least, I kinda feel that cyclists are not really helping cycling in general.

I will point out that as a car driver I tend to live with my headlight on permanately, but that is because I am on my 3rd green car and find fewer people try killing me or themselves if I have them on, than when I didn't - green car syndrome does exist...

 

[Marshmallow_Fluff]

You're right! I was thinking exactly the same only last week and talking about it with my mate. The conclusion of our conversation (along with a quite big sample taken from having our coffee by the Route 51 packed with cyclists..) was that -surprisingly enough- at least around here, the commuters appear to be a lot more irresponsible than the recreational cyclists. The later tend to do things properly for some reason: helmets on, mittens, lights, hi-viz tops, jackets or gillets.. However the commuters (also drawing my conclusion from a quite big sample that is using the same route with me when I'm walking my dogs in the morning) appear a lot less concerned about their visibility and/or safety.. Not a clue why so though! I would expect the oposite to be honest!
As for me, I usually have some sort of hi viz on top and the lights are on when it gets darker..

 

[fossyant]

Voted lights.

Hiviz really doesn't make much impact personally - not keen on all black myself so stick to bright red or blue tops.

I use my "eye searing" lights in poor weather/dull conditions/low sun or of course in the dark. !

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

While I wouldn't panic about not having lights on, I can't see them doing any harm so I've got into the habit of always using them. Every couple of days I recharge the batteries and I'm ready to go. When the odd cyclist or driver calls out ''Oi mate, your light's on!'' I simply comfort myself with the thought that at least they'd seen me.

 

[Drago]

Lights if visibility deviates far from normal daylight.

I wear some hi vis, but only because some of my jackets and tops are hi vis. Even a lot of my black kit has reflective highlights, but my commuter is plastered in reflective stickers sobi don't worry much about reflective clothing at night.

 

[snorri]

Light pollution can be a distraction with as many negatives as positives regarding road safety.

 

[Night Train]

I don't think it 'should' be necessary but not all road users are as attentive to others on the road.
As when driving, I will use lights when the weather is poor or light fading. (I suspect that in poor daylight a brighter light is more effective.)
I also wear a yellow hi-viz fleece coat with Scotchlite stripes and have sewn big patches of Scotchlite on the backs of my gloves and have it on the ends of my bar grips and on my spokes.
For warmer weather wear I have a lighter weight Orange hi-viz waterproof.

I think it does make me more visible, if I am seen, but I don't know if it changes vehicle driver attitudes or awareness one way or the other.

I would love to go back to that childhood ability of cycling miles, in traffic, with nothing more 'hi-viz' then chrome mudguards but I am too risk averse in my old age.

 

[wormo]

I was out near where you were cycling on Sunday morning whilst it was still foggy and was surprised how many people did not have lights on.

Got to say tho loads of cars did not have lights on either.

 

[jonny jeez]

Lights unless its raining hard and is dark, then I may use a high viz, Altura night vision type Jacket, that I keep in the office

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I was out near where you were cycling on Sunday morning whilst it was still foggy and was surprised how many people did not have lights on.

Got to say tho loads of cars did not have lights on either.

yep that got me as well. especially the one that nearly ran into the back of another which had stopped for a red traffic light (which itself was not visible until it changed to red&amber... cleared up around Sandbach, but along sections of the A556 it was impossible to hold 50mph safely which meets legal requirements for rear fog lamps and some people didn't even have any lights on - but then only 1 of the 8 or so cyclists I saw had lights on and none had hi-viz and it was certainly needed and they were not visible either. Journey over to my mum's took much longer than it should have done and saw 2 near misses as a result, got to test the car's horn as well!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

One area where I think many cyclists are missing a trick is with pedal reflectors. I've read a few accounts by drivers saying that the orange up-and-down reflectors are very effective at alerting them to a bike up ahead. Yet very few pedals actually have them, despite them being a legal requirement after dusk.

One one bike I've kept the little clip in platform ones that came with a new set of Shimano SPD pedals. But they're only practicable on double-sided pedals. I've yet to come across reflectors that can be added to single-sided SPDs.

 

[ianrauk]

No hi viz ever. It doth offend mine eye © Greg Collins

My commute uniform is usually all black unless I am wearing a Cycle Chat jersey.
If raining I use a black Montane which has reflective.
In the cold winter a black Altura Night Vision which also has reflective.

Lights on (2 front, 2 rear - 1 static, 1 flashing) if raining, fog, dusk or dark but not during the day.

 

[tyred]

All of my regularly used bikes have dynamo lighting and I use it when I feel it necessary. I couldn't be bothered with removable battery lights and the like. When I go out in my car, I don't need to remember to take lights and batteries with me, don't see why my bike should be any different.

 

[Saluki]

Just about to get a hi-viz jacket, funds haven't allowed just lately for a new jacket.
We have our little flashers, front and rear on when riding. Our proper lights just before dusk. Unless we are going through a 'tree tunnel' when we turn our lights on as well.

We also have arm band flashing things which are very bright and can be seen quite a way off. Packrat (hubby) said that he could see my band, flashing away when I was 1/4 mile away down the drive and he was still on the road.

 

[byegad]

I only use lights at night or when we get a Haar blow in off the North Sea. I usually have enough reflective flashes on my clothing and the clothing itself is a visible, without being garish, colour. Riding a recumbent trike (I also use a reflective ribbon on a flag pole on my lower two.) makes you stick out like a sore thumb anyway so really anything else is overkill.

Nothing will make you 100% safe but I feel I'm safe enough.