Moving flashing lights and reflective clothing

[mickle]

It's all about communication innit. The info you want to get across to other road users is what you are (a cyclist), where you are on the road, your direction of travel and your speed. In my view (and in addition to the obvious legal lighting reqs for riding at night), the best way of achieving this is is to use the moving parts of the bike to paint a moving picture in the beam of any vehicle approaching you.

I stick retro-reflective tape squares on my rim surface between each spoke half way around my wheels. This offers almost 360 degrees of flashing / moving imagery powered by the lights of any vehicle approaching you. Those little clip on spoke reflectors do the same job but are more effective from 90 degrees approach angle. Bear in mind that, for the most part, headlights and drivers perception is targeted at the road a short distance in front of their vehicle. Additionally, in a driver's mind something low down in their field of vision/perception registers as *close to* - whilst objects higher up in their field of vision register as *further away*. They're more likely to react to something perceived as closer to them. Pedal reflectors, reflective tape on the front and rear surfaces of cranks, ankle bands - all of these things add to the moving picture.

I use at least two lights both front and rear - as a failsafe. Flash attracts attention, steady makes it easier for an approaching driver to judge your position and speed. Dynamo (hub) lights are set up to run constantly so you can really count on them to be there if/when your battery equipped lights run low.

Anything which makes your bike look different or unusual in the dark must help I think, so different coloured reflective tape, those spoke mounted LED lights etc. Anything to shake the dozy driver out of their complacency and make them pay attention.

 

[cyberknight]

We can do as much as we can to be visible, but if a driver doesn't look, then you are getting run over. I've had two major accidents where a driver didn't even look, just drove through me. At least with a row of lights and bright visible clothing, you can say 'go to spec savers'.

indeed , i was knocked off on a bright day whilst on a white bike dressed in bright colours

 

[Fastpedaller]

indeed , i was knocked off on a bright day whilst on a white bike dressed in bright colours

Took much glare with that lot?

 

[Oldhippy]

Dynamo lights always on, that's it for me.

 

[simongt]

indeed , i was knocked off on a bright day whilst on a white bike dressed in bright colours

Similar here when I was knocked off a few years back. It was broad daylight, I was wearing a bright yellow long sleeve top & bash hat and the driver didn't see me because his attention was focused elsewhere.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Those little clip on spoke reflectors do the same job but are more effective from 90 degrees approach angle. Bear in mind that, for the most part, headlights and drivers perception is targeted at the road a short distance in front of their vehicle. Additionally, in a driver's mind something low down in their field of vision/perception registers as *close to* - whilst objects higher up in their field of vision register as *further away*. They're more likely to react to something perceived as closer to them. Pedal reflectors, reflective tape on the front and rear surfaces of cranks, ankle bands - all of these things add to the moving picture.

I use at least two lights both front and rear - as a failsafe. Flash attracts attention, steady makes it easier for an approaching driver to judge your position and speed. Dynamo (hub) lights are set up to run constantly so you can really count on them to be there if/when your battery equipped lights run low.

Hence my reflective mudflaps. & a red reflector on the rear

5 rear lights, as a 'fail-safe', but.......... despite the 3 rechargeables being charged on different days, 2 'lost light' on the same ride home

 

[roley poley]

I have a collection of different coloured ankle bands i have accumulated over time ...maybe the green worn on starboard (right) and the red on port (left) may help ?? Shut up you twit roley and go make supper for the family

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I would get some ankle straps and some spoke reflector or something
but I better wait until after Christmas so I have something easy for someone to get me if they ask!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Just thought - which is a change for me

I have reflectors on my wheels!!!

I forgot I had them - they just came with the bike

but do remember the front one coming off at one point and me putting it back on

I presume they are still there!
I will have to check


as with a lot of other things - they might have saved me loads of time
as may the hi-vis jacket and vest


but you never know about the things where someone saw you
you only remember the ones where they didn;t

 

[blackrat]

Hi all
I was reading this
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/hi-vis-is-not-silver-bullet-for-cycling-safety

And I was thinking that maybe a snap on or velcro ankle strap - bit like cycle clips - would be a good idea

Any opinions

or idea of things that work well

seems like something useful at this time of year?

Randonneuring (Audax) requires the ankle straps. In fact, they demand just about everything imaginable that will make the rider visible.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Randonneuring (Audax) requires the ankle straps. In fact, they demand just about everything imaginable that will make the rider visible.

Only in the USA, that's not universal.

 

[Drago]

Im still i big fan of the sequined ball gown to make myself visible.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Im still i big fan of the sequined ball gown to make myself visible.

 

[Drago]

It clearly works. I've never been knocked off my bike, although I've received several marriage proposals.

 

[PaulSB]

On Mondays I have to join the commuter traffic to Manchester as I go to collect my granddaughter.

Problems on the M61 today meant I chose to use an urban route via A and B roads. On a dark, drizzly morning I saw three riders with lights, each dressed head to toe in black. Every other rider had lights but probably half had dirty hi-viz. None of the riders were truly visible.

Is it any wonder?