Mr Taxi Driver - the Fashion Police

[Rhythm Thief]

I'm going to irk a few people on here, but when I'm driving, I find cyclists who wear reflectives with big Scotchlite tapes a lot more visible than those with lights alone.

In a urban environment there are many lights (cars, street lights, shops) and a cyclists light (no matter how good), gets lost in their environment.

There isn’t much else that mirrors a builder’s waistcoat.

And, yes that taxi driver should be paying more attention

This is my experience too. Lights are good, but reflectives and lights are better.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

It's true, I see the lit ones sooner, but I see the unlit ones too, no matter what they are wearing.

It is possible to miss a badly or non lit person until the last minute, esp with other lights behind them. But I suspect in about 90% of cases, it's down to people actually not looking properly. Like really properly.

This is true enough. However, with the best will in the world, sometimes people don't look well enough to see something which isn't lit. Only last night, I caused an (unlit) cyclist to brake very sharply indeed by beginning to pull out of the yard onto the main A38 Bristol Road in Gloucester. I saw him once my cab was out in the road and stopped very quickly, but by then he'd stopped and waved me out.
Now, I grant you that I should have seen him before pulling out, but at the same time, there's a lot to look out for at any junction when you're in a lorry - I have to check four rear view mirrors, for a start, and watch the trailer in the nearside mirror as I pull away - so even a cyclist aware driver like me can sometimes miss anyone who hasn't made at least some effort to be seen. If this chap had had even a single flashing LED on the front of his bike, he'd have stood out enough for me to have registered his presence. It's sometimes not enough to just be seen (because I could see him, under the streetlights) in an uran environment, you're competing with lots of other lights and sometimes you need to actively grab people's attention.

 

[mumbo jumbo]

I think if i had to choose between hiViz / reflective clothing or lights I would have more confidence with the former. However I do both; HiViz jacket with builders bib on top, flashing rear light, fixed light on handlebar, and a head torch.


I would be interested in what others think of head torch use, as a driver I have never seen a cyclist wearing a head torch so not sure of its effect. My theory is if I am staring at someone about to cross my path, either ped or motorist I know at least one light is fully visible to them. Its worked so far :-)

Now this might be just my imagination but I reckon van drivers etc give me more room if I have the builders hiViz type bib on then if I am dressed up like a cyclist. thoughts?

I don't cycle dressed as a builder so I can't really comment on the last point but, lights on helmets . . . essential part of my "kit". I have two pairs of those Electron Backupz lights: two white forward facing; two red rear facing. All set to blinking. Numerous people (mainly other cyclists) have told me how effective they are. They complement the front Joystick (steady / blinking, depending on light conditions) plus seatpost mounted Blackburn (steady) and pannier mounted [something-else] (blinking). Works well for me.

mj

 

[Dan B]

Now this might be just my imagination but I reckon van drivers etc give me more room if I have the builders hiViz type bib on then if I am dressed up like a cyclist. thoughts?

Such little research as has been done on the topic so far indicates that drivers tend to give more room to cyclist they perceive as "less competent" or "less serious", whereas the helmets-and-lycra lot get fewer allowances made for them. Which would tend to agree with your imagination.

 

[Arch]

While we're on the subject of back up lights, may I recommend:

Skullies:

http://www.highonbikes.com/skully-novelty-rear-bike-bicycle-light-laa878.html

I have a pair, white with white eyes and red with red. They run on a pair of CR2032 button cells each, and they are really bright. Mine have done two all night rides, and a couple of months of commuting, and are still going strong.

And the best bit is the fixing - the rubber straps just wind round whatever bit of tube is to hand, and then hook over the little bones at the base of the skull, so they adapt easily to different sizes of tube or anything - even on a rack, you could wrap each 'arm' round twice or something. I've never done it, but I suspect one could even wear them as rings....

Not the cheapest backups in the world, but I love them.

(cheaper at on-one, but out of stock)

 

[Norm]

I was complimented on my lighting tonight by a chap I passed heading across town this evening. I slowed for a quick chat with the chap (he turned into his house about 1/2 mile later) and he said that he was always getting drivers pull out on one particularly nasty roundabout (Twin Bridges in Bracknell if anyone knows it). I suggested the best thing to stop that was a head torch, just a quick glance at the potential offender is enough to ensure there is no possibility that they didn't see you.

I do have a lot of lights, though, but that's because around 2/3 of my journey is on unlit roads with 60mph limits. I get a lot more room at night than I do during the day although that could be as much down to the lighter traffic as anything else. However, I'd say that 75% of cars which pass from behind at night cross completely to the other side of the road.

Loving the new Exposure Flash, an excellent and tiny front "be seen" light.

 

[Jim_Noir]

I ride with high viz jacket, hump back pack cover, three rear lights (a smart one, a Cateye TL-610 , a Cateye TL-LD1100), night vision cycling tights.... yet someone still ran into the back of me saying they didn't see me! Might as well saved all that cash and rode ninja anyways!

 

[Jim_Noir]

Have to say the place I get most room on my commute is the roads around Glasgow airport, there are zero street lights and the cars blast along... yet I get loads of space... is it then they see you more on unlit roads. Also is red not the best colour to wear to be seen? They have always said it's the safest colour of car.

 

[snapper_37]

Skullies:

Love em Arch. Thanks for link - just bought a blue one for me and a red for the dog's harness. Will be great for walks in the dark!

 

[snapper_37]

I would be interested in what others think of head torch use

I see 2 cyclists on my morning commute, both with head torches. Although we are on opposite sides of a dual carriageway, they do look effective.

 

[dellzeqq]

anybody who can't see a cyclist in those Altura night vision trousers shouldn't be driving

 

[Jezston]

I would be interested in what others think of head torch use, as a driver I have never seen a cyclist wearing a head torch so not sure of its effect. My theory is if I am staring at someone about to cross my path, either ped or motorist I know at least one light is fully visible to them. Its worked so far :-)

I once was in a car with my mum and sister driving through london and was asking them what they thought of the appearance and behaviours of various cyclists we passed to get some ideas of such things from a drivers perspective. One thing that stuck out was a chap with a simple flasher on the front of his helmet - I always thought such things would be annoying to drivers as they might be more in their eyes but they both thought it was a great idea as you could tell far more what they are and what they are doing.

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I've got a mixture of different lights and reflective clothing etc and I was never sure how I looked to drivers so I actually got my hubby to drive behind me and video me so I could see!!!

We tried it from all different angles etc and it made me feel a lot more confident when I saw the footage played back - cos I woz well bright!!

(How funny would it have been if he had driven into me whilst concentrating on the filming though! LOL )

 

[Arch]

Love em Arch. Thanks for link - just bought a blue one for me and a red for the dog's harness. Will be great for walks in the dark!

Excellent! I hope you like them as much as I do.

It's the ability to fit them to any tube on any bike that really suits me, but I like the little skull shape too!

 

[cyberknight]

I was complimented on my lighting tonight by a chap I passed heading across town this evening. I slowed for a quick chat with the chap (he turned into his house about 1/2 mile later) and he said that he was always getting drivers pull out on one particularly nasty roundabout (Twin Bridges in Bracknell if anyone knows it). I suggested the best thing to stop that was a head torch, just a quick glance at the potential offender is enough to ensure there is no possibility that they didn't see you.

I do have a lot of lights, though, but that's because around 2/3 of my journey is on unlit roads with 60mph limits. I get a lot more room at night than I do during the day although that could be as much down to the lighter traffic as anything else. However, I'd say that 75% of cars which pass from behind at night cross completely to the other side of the road.

Loving the new Exposure Flash, an excellent and tiny front "be seen" light.

J had a similar experience waiting at a roundabout to turn right when the car on my left wound down his window and thanked me for having good lights !
Your route sounds a lot like mine too ....

I have not got the exposure but i have posted piccies of my reflective s in the past along with lights and its

"What bit of me did you not see? " if i were to get a close call.

Today was too warm for my windproof so i had a white cycling top,those aldi arm bands with leds and my sam browne on as well as the stuff on the bike and i had only 1 bad moment which is at a mini-roundabout when people always try to beat me as i turn right.
Heck i have the magicshine on flash and i sparkle , you saw me because i have been in the middle of the road indicating for the last 50 yards but you just cant be assed to wait 2 seconds ......