U
User482
Guest
I have a hi viz coat, reflective stickers on my bike, and decent lights. Drivers still claim that they didn't see me. I don't think there's any more I can reasonably do.
Reflective Paint
- Thread starter galaxy1
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
tdr1nka
Taking the biscuit
- Location
- SE London, Bandit Country
User482 said:
I agree, I work on the principle that if I am potentially more visable, then all the better.
Should(and fingers crossed I won't)I be involved in an accident that was a drivers fault, I imagine that Police would be more sympathetic to a cyclist(like myself)dressed like a Christmas Tree, than one wearing all black and carrying a few single lights.
T x
ffs
the hi viz might help someone see me that wouldn't have otherwise yeah?
and as long as I ride as usual, as if I wasn't wearing hi viz it can't be a bad thing and it might indeed help surely? given the constant complaint is that drivers don;t see cyclists?
the anti safety argument amazes me every time
helmets and hi viz eh? it's a wonder that there's anyone left alive wearing either
I wear the nightvision jacker and two full on rear lights and it's very apparent how much better and earlier most other road users see me now
the hi viz might help someone see me that wouldn't have otherwise yeah?
and as long as I ride as usual, as if I wasn't wearing hi viz it can't be a bad thing and it might indeed help surely? given the constant complaint is that drivers don;t see cyclists?
the anti safety argument amazes me every time
helmets and hi viz eh? it's a wonder that there's anyone left alive wearing either
I wear the nightvision jacker and two full on rear lights and it's very apparent how much better and earlier most other road users see me now
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Tynan, did you ever consider that my argument is actually pro-safety? Because it is, though I'm not suggesting that makes you anti-safety.
andygates
New Member
I hate to say it, but painting a bike hi-viz will probably serve merely to sharpen up the chip on your shoulder... when you next get SMIDSY'd (and you will, because eventually they just don't look or their eyes aren't connected to their brain) there will be a bitterness and bile detonation sufficient to wipe out all vertebrate life in Europe. 
They don't see because they don't see, not because you're not visible. It's a numbers game, a simple lottery we play every time we ride in traffic. A hi-viz paint job is really just a dashboard Madonna: a prayer to good fortune on the roads.
They don't see because they don't see, not because you're not visible. It's a numbers game, a simple lottery we play every time we ride in traffic. A hi-viz paint job is really just a dashboard Madonna: a prayer to good fortune on the roads.
BentMikey said:
Lets disagree then Mikey, I'm reading you as saying that Hi Viz is or can be less safe than not using it, just like the anti helmet brigade saying that they're useless at best, that they're safer without one
People can break their own skulls and kill themselves with my blessing but it hacks me off to see them post it and maybe convince others that don't really want to wear helmets or hi viz because it's not 'cool'
Amanda P
Legendary Member
- Location
- York. Well, York-ish...
Arch said:
Nor mine. Mrs Uncle Phil almost got wiped out on the bridge over the A64. The driver of a council lorry tried to pass her as he approached the summit of the bridge. Guess which way he swerved when he met the oncoming car?
Seriously, watch that bridge, however visible you are, especially approaching York from Stockton on't' Forest; I've had near misses there too.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
The problem specifically with HiViz is that it doesn't do much for your visibility, and yet it brings on risk compensation. That will tend to either make the safety benefit nil, or make it slightly more dangerous through your own actions. And as Andy says, it'll up your anger when you get another SMIDSY.
It's nothing to do with coolness, it's all about misplaced effort towards safety. There's a reason it's known as urban camouflage.
It's nothing to do with coolness, it's all about misplaced effort towards safety. There's a reason it's known as urban camouflage.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
That's one of the few situations where I think the safety equation might swing positive for hiviz, due to the very high closing speed of drivers.
If you really want to be seen, ride a recumbent. It's far more effective than Hiviz, but perhaps only because there are so very few recumbent riders.
If you really want to be seen, ride a recumbent. It's far more effective than Hiviz, but perhaps only because there are so very few recumbent riders.
BentMikey said:
wow, go on then, show any sort of proof at all for any of those statements, I don't agree with any of them at all
hi viz doesn't do anything for visibility?
it sounds exactly like a sophist argument for people that don't want o wear hi viz
and people wearing regular kit are less angry when they're knocked off their bike for no fault of their own?
From my "car driver" opinion, I'm all for hi viz, much easier to see at a distance (in daylight of course!) and therefore you can compensate for speed and road positioning etc much further in advance. Same goes for a well lit and reflective cyclist at night- spotted much earlier.
I personally don't agree that Hi-Viz can make you more lax in your approach to your own safety. Certainly not for me anyways. If you've made the effort to wear hi-viz and get kitted out with proper lights, then your probably the type that takes your safety very seriously and is on the look out for trouble. I'm always on the defensive and always anticipate that a car is going to pull out in front of me, or cross over right in front of me etc. It's a nice change for when they don't!
As always it's the minority that spoil it for the majority. There is always going to be that car driver that doesn't see the cyclist lit up like a christmas tree, or the cyclist that will take unnecessary risks with theor own safety (more out of ignorance than anything else I think. There are a lot if ignorant people about).
I personally don't agree that Hi-Viz can make you more lax in your approach to your own safety. Certainly not for me anyways. If you've made the effort to wear hi-viz and get kitted out with proper lights, then your probably the type that takes your safety very seriously and is on the look out for trouble. I'm always on the defensive and always anticipate that a car is going to pull out in front of me, or cross over right in front of me etc. It's a nice change for when they don't!
As always it's the minority that spoil it for the majority. There is always going to be that car driver that doesn't see the cyclist lit up like a christmas tree, or the cyclist that will take unnecessary risks with theor own safety (more out of ignorance than anything else I think. There are a lot if ignorant people about).
