No lights at night and wearing black

[BentMikey]

Looking forward to User3143's contribution on this thread.

And me...


Although in fairness, the impression I got was that he did that only once in a while as a skills building exercise, rather than riding without lights all the time. I'm not as against the idea as many on here, though I wouldn't do that and it's obviously illegal.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i passed such a chap on a bso last night. pointed out (politely and in a friendly manner) that he was hard to see in the dark. whether or not it made any difference i don't know, but he'll have seen my three rear lights as i overtook.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I've actually heard someone explain why they wear matt black and camo gear whilst riding.

They reasoned that our brains see, register, and ignore big bright things, because they are big and visible so not a threat, but dark hard to see things are more dangerous, so our brains take notice.

Not too sure about the logic of it all though.

I suppose it's the difference between being visible and being seen (or noticed is maybe a better word). BM, was it you making the distinction between the two a week or so ago on a thread in "Know How" ??

I go for the light myself up nice and bright so I'm visible approach, coupled with the "what the f*** is that?" effect.

 

[zacklaws]

Its virtually every morning going to work on the cycle track that I meet someone coming the opposite way with no lights and dressed in black. Usually its the postman, if I'm lucky I see him silhouetted by cars from behind him. Twice I have nearly had a head on with him but because he can see me with all my lights he takes evasive action at the last moment and swerves onto the road. Yesterday morning he apperead out of nowhere again, I thought he had a light as I could see a faint orange glow very close up and as we passed saw that he had a faint light.......covered up by his mailbag!!! and as for his rear light it could not be seen from less than 20 yards away it was that dim.

Then there's this other lad completely in black, on rare occasions sometimes he has a light and if I do not see him approaching by being silhouetted I get the shock of my life as we get close up.......he always has his light pointing vertically downwards at the ground directly in front of and on his wheel so from the front you see nothing, till you are on top of him.

I just cannot understand peoples mentality at times. I believe its a case of "I don't need lights because you have lights and I can see you"

 

[Tynan]

horrid and I hate it, I frightened myself a few times on the bike when I've come up fast behind someone slow with no nothing to see other than a shadowy outline

I came within and ace of running a child down some years ago, minding my own business driving the car late at night and the wife in the passenger seat spotted before me a young coloured kid kneeling down in the middle of the lane doing up his shoe laces, almost nothing of him to see

 

[domd1979]

I always get confused on here with what people mean by hi-vis....! I take it to mean fluorescent yellow (or orange) with silver reflective strips. The fluorescent yellow doesn't make much difference of a night, but the reflective strips do, and vice versa for the day time.

Here's an example where hiviz yellow is useless:.

 

[Randochap]

It wasnt untill i noticed she had no lights that i spoke up and pointed this out to her. I then had to explain to her that she was invisible to me in these conditions. No lights and wearing black she was an accident waiting to happen.

Did you inquire if she's signed up as an organ donor?

 

[freewheelwilly]

Sounds like a classic case of looking but not seeing. Could the OP possibly explain where he was going on the mini rounabout i.e straight on, turning right/left and where the cyclist was coming from.

edit: also if there was any street lighting,

I was going straight over and she came from my right hand side - exactly were i was looking for any oncoming traffic. there was street lighting but its pretty ineffective therefore darker than most london streets. it had also just began to rain.

 

[gbb]

I was going straight over and she came from my right hand side - exactly were i was looking for any oncoming traffic. there was street lighting but its pretty ineffective therefore darker than most london streets. it had also just began to rain.

I can back freewheel on this kind of situation.
Almost exactly the same circumstances...waiting for a break in the traffic, all the cars are lit up of course..see a gap, start to go....fcuk me, whats that

I didnt see the cyclist, his bike, of course he had no lights...i just detected his shadow in the road....just

I actually wrote into the local papers letter page about it...and headed it something like 'you dont know how close you came to eating hospital food'

 

[fossyant]

Did you inquire if she's signed up as an organ donor?

Someone on here said a mate who was a Paramedic thought cyclists were 'healthy organ donors' - ah well probably right.

I've very often nearly run into Ninja's on my bike.....

 

[fossyant]

What was your approach speed? and did you drive to the conditions e.g be a bit more careful because it is raining? Finally whereabouts was the cyclist in relation to you as you entered the roundabout. (think of a clock e.g slightly to the right at the 2 o'clock position or straight ahead of me at midday?

Very good....., but the OP has openly admitted he was a bit surprised, despite being 'cycle aware' how hard it is to see a ninja, never mind a lit one !!!

TBH, I think it is terribly hard to see many cyclists when driving in poor weather ..... does worry me too !!! Much of it is down to reflective properties of rain on windows, and it obscuring peripheral view...... think about it next time you are out in the car.... most none cyclist drivers don't, but it has me on edge !

 

[sadjack]

I cant believe that there is a debate going on about "its dark so hi viz clothing is no better than dark clothing"

 

[atbman]

Fluorescent material is only useful during daylight. The only really useful material is reflective.

I have come to the conclusion that, for some people, cycling damages the brain.

 

[BentMikey]

Fluorescent material is only useful during daylight. The only really useful material is reflective.

I have come to the conclusion that, for some people, cycling damages the brain.

+1, but you owe me a new keyboard!

And in addition to that, the reflectives don't always work. They depend on there being a light source shining from the observer towards the cyclist, and that that light is at least roughly along the line between the eyes of the observer and the cyclist. That's not the case for a driver at a roundabout, looking off to his right towards a cyclist, for example. In other situations, though, the retro-reflectives work brilliantly, but then I don't think you need any more than bike reflectors and lights anyway.

 

[hackbike 666]

1. Obvious.
2. No smidy's during the night and I do quite a bit of night commuting.Early morning/late night.
3. As number 2 but for daytime.(Touchwood)
4, Bright clothing is better during the night and day for that matter.

Reflective during the night and Bright colours during the day.

5.Why did I bother posting this?