Moving flashing lights and reflective clothing

[ebikeerwidnes]

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?

 

[oxoman]

2 things colleagues used say made them know it was me they were driving behind when I cycled to work everyday was spoke reflectors and a tiny LED light on my lazer helmet that appear to move up and down as I pedalled in. Still use them today but work elsewhere so no colleagues going past me.

 

[13 rider]

GCN did a video on the subject of reflective clothing a year or so again and one of the conclusions I'm sure that reflective ankle bands worked the best because eyesight is drawn to movement so the reflective up and down as you pedal did get the drivers attention

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I think bright and/or hi-vis on moving bits work really well on a bike, so obvious place is lower legs and feet.

I have...
Retro-reflective PlanetX toe covers.
Bright yellow socks, one pair have retro-reflective bands.
Boardman retro-reflective gillet/jacket, but it's a bit boil inthe bag unless it's proper freezing or I'm taking it pretty easy.
Black arm warmers with bright yellow sections on outer top arm and inner lower arm.
Bright yellow PlanetX Das Boots
All my jerseys have some non-black colour on them, usually quite bright
Rear section of my "bordeaux red" Abus Gamechanger helmet is pink
etc.

 

[Drago]

The old DoT reviewed the numbers a while back and found no reduction in roadworker vs vehicle collisions attributable to hi vis.

As we've often said ourselves, the problem isnt one of consipucuity.

 

[teeonethousand]

I don’t ride in the dark because I don’t have to…but if I did I think I would wear lots of reflective bits and lights etc but I would also uplight myself. So, a small light or two facing up to/across me so that the reflective bits glowed all the time. Obviously not in my direct eyesight so downtube upwards, rear stay upwards, that sort of thing. It might also help with walkers spotting you because as we know they like to wear ninja dark gear and concentrate on phones whilst moving around.

 

[Ian H]

Front light, rear light (steady dynamo) and reflective bits (as supplied) on the shoes. Whatever clothing I'm wearing. Most cycling jackets have some kind of reflective trimming. No dazzle camouflage or seizure-inducing flashers.

 

[Drago]

A remember, of course, that standard yellow hi vis can actually have a camouflage effect in good sunlight in a rural environment, hence mountain rescue wearing red, etc.

The article indirectly raises a point so obvious that it goes over most people's heads - something done in intuitively in the name of safety rarely actually brings a sefty benefit, and can often make things worse (pver bright day time lights, for example.) If its not been unequivocally proven to keep you safer, it most likely won't no matter what the ingrained public perception may be.

 

[presta]

The brain has evolved to notice things that change and ignore the things that don't, it doesn't have enough power to process all the information all the time, so it uses most capacity where it yields the most benefit.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I put retro-reflective strips on the crank arms so that they face along the road and hence reflect headlights. I'm told that these are highly visible due to the flashing effect it produces. It's better than ankle reflection devices since they are a) always there and b) they flash as well as moving vertically.

 

[Chief Broom]

A cyclist recommended to me to wear a hi-viz jacket rather than my Sam Browne whilst riding on the A9 in the Highlands in the day. I dont see any point in that as visibility in the day is good enough [for me] to see a pheasant half a mile away. The drivers that do dangerous overtakes/manoeuvres know im there and its there attitude that needs changing not my attire! Obviously extra lights/clothing etc could help in other situations im not doubting that

 

[wiggydiggy]

The problem as I see is not that people don't see me, but that that they do see me and decide to act like a 'See You Next Tuesday'.

 

[mickle]

 

[Jenkins]

The problem these days is how do you differentiate yourself from the the sheer amount of light sources that cars have these days? Full time DRLs, LED headlights (even in the daytime), ever brighter and larger rear lights, full width light bars (front & rear), illuminated brand logos and the likes of BMW with the illuminated kidney grill surround.

 

[Ian H]

The problem these days is how do you differentiate yourself from the the sheer amount of light sources that cars have these days? Full time DRLs, LED headlights (even in the daytime), ever brighter and larger rear lights, full width light bars (front & rear), illuminated brand logos and the likes of BMW with the illuminated kidney grill surround.

Decent lights and don't breakup your recognisable human-shaped sillouette with random reflective, flashers and other confusing stuff.