SMIDSY Avoidance

[XmisterIS]

I've just seen this video on YouTube:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQBubilSXU


Seems like a good idea to do the weave on a bicycle too, especially with a bright headlight at dusk/in the dark. I've certainly been SMIDSYed more on a bicycle than on my motorbike ... because you're even smaller on a bicycle than on a motorbike. And when the light levels get low in the evening, that's when SMIDSYs seem to happen the most.

 

[thomas]

It depends. If you start weaving at 10mph I think it might cause more problems than it'll solve. I think that weaving like that is probably easier to control on a motorbike.

I always used to just use my airzound as a SMIDSY stopper. If I saw a car at a side junction, or anything that I might have clicked in those hazard perception videos, I'd give a light tap of the airzound. This hopefully attracted the driver's attention and also because it was a horn stopped them from pulling out/ignoring 'just a cyclist'

 

[Norm]

The "looming" effect is fairly well known, and the reason that SMIDSYs happen with cars and buses, as well as bikes and motorbikes. I've even witnessed one which happened to a police car on the way to a call with all it's lights flashing and sirens blaring.

It's a good weapon to keep in your armoury, though it shouldn't be used exclusively. Airzounds, flashing torches and the like also help.

My personal soapbox is about the car manufacturers who abuse the regulations in the size of the a-pillars. In some cars, they are so thick that we could be bright yellow and playing the Marseillaise on a euphonium but be completely blocked by the car's structure.

 

[Origamist]

Motion camouflage has been discussed quite a few times:

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1002025&postcount=28

I go snake-like if I see a vehicle at a junction (at night, my light also catches the driver's eye with a weave), but I make sure I look behind first. Obviously this manouevre i's easier, if you're in the centre of the lane.

 

[upsidedown]

Interesting that, makes a lot of sense.

 

[Armegatron]

Watched this one a while back, and have been used the technique myself - unfortunatly either I was doing it wrong or it just isnt as good on a pedal bike and didnt really work. I tend towards the airzound and primary positioning, with strong eyecontact if possible.

 

[thomas]

Watched this one a while back, and have been used the technique myself - unfortunatly either I was doing it wrong or it just isnt as good on a pedal bike and didnt really work. I tend towards the airzound and primary positioning, with strong eyecontact if possible.

+1. That seems to be the best. I've shaken my head at people a couple of times when they look like they're about to go. They probably could of pulled out without effecting me, but better to train them to wait until after just encase

Going past junctions if I feel there's a risk of a SMIDSY I may take a very strong primary (like, be where a car's driver side wheel would be). This only really works on slower roads if you've got a bit of speed though.

 

[hackbike 666]

I don't have a problem with SMIDSY's and long may it continue.(Touch Wood)

 

[sheddy]

In addition to vehicles waiting to turn out, I also weave if a driver coming towards me intends to turn right (across me) into a side road.
Seems to work

 

[chap]

Great video, I don't have a motorbike but helpful nonetheless. I think one area the SMIDSY may be more specific to motorbikes is due to the speed however. As the chap mentions in the video, one minute you're invisible, the next you're very visible.

We tend to do about 8 - 25mph. I think the solution for this is to ensure variable blinky lighting. In general, cyclists tend to sort of weave anyway - especially when going at speed. The swerving, may just complicate matters, annoy those behind you, and make one more likely to meet that oil slick, pot hole, or piece of wet metal.

Not worth it in my opinion. I use blinkies. I intend to put 2 on, one at either side. This ought to do the trick, at least I hope.

 

[Bman]

I think its a good idea, but far from ideal.

I prefer to be prepared to stop if they were to pull out on me.

 

[hackbike 666]

The "looming" effect is fairly well known, and the reason that SMIDSYs happen with cars and buses, as well as bikes and motorbikes. I've even witnessed one which happened to a police car on the way to a call with all it's lights flashing and sirens blaring.

It's a good weapon to keep in your armoury, though it shouldn't be used exclusively. Airzounds, flashing torches and the like also help.

My personal soapbox is about the car manufacturers who abuse the regulations in the size of the a-pillars. In some cars, they are so thick that we could be bright yellow and playing the Marseillaise on a euphonium but be completely blocked by the car's structure.

Aye it does worry me when I can see that I have caught the drivers blind spot and im pretty sure they haven't seen me.

 

[Bristol Dave]

Over the past 4 months I have ridden with a light on my crash helmet. It is simply a flashing LED torch held on with cable ties. It has been my experience that this has stopped a SMIDSY, on average, twice a week.

BD

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i use a flashing head torch and look at the driver. i never had a smidsy doing that in three winters of commuting.

same technique worked in summer wearing shades, intimidating possibly…

 

[XmisterIS]

My personal soapbox is about the car manufacturers who abuse the regulations in the size of the a-pillars. In some cars, they are so thick that we could be bright yellow and playing the Marseillaise on a euphonium but be completely blocked by the car's structure.

Yes, this is very true. I drive a Mondeo and the A-pillar is huge! It means that I often have to movemy head back and forth to see round it. The trouble is that I see a LOT of drivers with big A-pillars who just sit there and look, without moving their head to see round the pillar.