Trying to promote the use of lights (at UNI)

[thomas]

This has been fairly effective within the home student population - I find that foreign students are far more likely to ride ninja (and on the pavement) around here. I've had a word with a few and usually their response is that they weren't sure where to get some.

You can buy lights from the post office. My flat mate (who is foreign) got her new bike and didn't have a set, when I saw she got back at night I encouraged her to get some and she got some the day after, before riding again. I think they're £12 (not sure), but they did the job. There isn't enough emphasise on getting lights though...the post office does have a sign out side, but the text isn't very large (just says, we sell bike lights or something). Even the dry cleaning sign is larger!

Thanks for making me aware about the join initiative, if appropriate I'll use the information! Hopefully get a response from the UNI travel lady within the next few days.

It wouldn't be that hard to run a campaign. I think I could get student newspaper interested, they posted my letter of complaint (rant) on Norwich's drivers so would no doubt help with a campaign...and that would just be one way of running it!

let you know what responses I get! I suppose this thread should really be in the campaigning forum -whooops!

 

[User169]

University police!!??? Encouraging them to come and fine a few non-lit cyclists??!!

Good god, I can't believe what I'm reading. I'm glad though that you weren't at UEA when I was cycling in that area.

Do you report students for other offences to the fuzz, I assume students still consume the odd drug or two for example, or do you just have a hardon for cyclists?

 

[thomas]

University police!!??? Encouraging them to come and fine a few non-lit cyclists??!!

Good god, I can't believe what I'm reading. I'm glad though that you weren't at UEA when I was cycling in that area.

Do you report students for other offences to the fuzz, I assume students still consume the odd drug or two for example, or do you just have a hardon for cyclists?

lol. I don't quite know what to say. If you'd read the rest of the posts and not just the title you would have realised I've not been in touch with the local police. It's also a lot more than a few, it's a very large amount and one of the main exits goes out onto a very busy main road. As for trying to get more students to use lights when it's pitch black and they're impossible to be seen, I really don't see why that is so bad?

I would prefer students were encouraged to get lights and got them under their own steam, but ideas of dropping fines to people do buy lights might also work.

I'd much rather get the "fuzz" to tell a few people off, than have a student run over.

 

[wafflycat]

In the past, UEABUG have done promotions about the necessity of using lights via the BUG website.

Nag them to put something in Concrete on this periodically. Currently Sainsburys at Longwater is selling basic front & rear blinkies for less and £2 a light (some less than £1 a light..). Fine for a basic 'being seen' light in Norwich street lighting. Well, better than nothing, anyhow. Most of the bigger supermarkets do lights which are cheap and adequate 'be seen by' lights for urban use. Push them to see if they can get some funding to buy in a job lot of basic lights to then sell on campus, such as on the days when 'Dr Bike' is about. I'm sure that they could get stuff in that would be more affordable than the ones in the post office on campus. Years ago I gave UEABUG the link to the Hampshire County Council Road Safety shop where you can buy lights, reflectives etc at a *cheap* cost..

http://www.hants.gov.uk/shop/home.php?cat=265

You don't have to live in Hampshire to be able to buy from there either.

I'm sure some enterprising person could do a basic poster as to why lights are needed, where they can get them and have put up all over campus.

 

[BentMikey]

You guys do realise that a long time ago the CTC campaigned against the introduction of compulsory rear lights? Reflectors yes, but the logic was that drivers need to be looking where they are going, and that expecting cyclists to have lights would have the effect that drivers would drive much faster than they should be doing, relying on others to show their presence on the road instead of travelling at a speed at which they can stop in the distance they can see to be clear.

What do we have now? A car culture that expects the victims to be responsible for their own safety with drivers travelling far too fast for the conditions. I've no argument with us needing front lights.

 

[wafflycat]

That is the case, BM, but it is also the case that it is the LAW requiring cyclists to use lights when cycling in the dark. So we can hand-wring about the use of them, but the bottom line is that basic 'be seen' lights can be got at very little cost, affordable even by students, and that basic outlay may well be the thing that stops an errant motorist getting away with hitting a cyclist by using the "I'm sorry mate, I didn't see you. If only you'd have been using lights" excuse/reason.

 

[wafflycat]

And FWIW, there's some p!$$poor cyclists coming on & off campus at UEA, and whether I'm walking, cycling or driving round there (& I do all three) I prefer to be able to see the ninja-twits in plenty of time to take evasive action when necessary. The plus side is that there are so many cyclists in the area, that the safety in numbers thing does seem to work - it seems that cyclists are expected and expected to be p!$$poor road users.. but saying that, I really, really wouldn't want to hit one. When driving there I'm *particularly* aware of such cyclists, but my experience is that if a cyclist is hit there, it may not be the fault of the driver all the time, as some of the cycling is of such a poor standard. It isn't a simple case of two wheels good, four wheels bad.

 

[hackbike 666]

If they haven't got lights then that's their lookout,im not going for this self righteousness ballcocks anymore.

I asked a work colleague about my lights and how visible I was and I got a favorable reply.If it was a work colleague without lights though I would have a quiet word.

I think it's the same with RLJing,just let them get on with it and just worry about what I am doing.

 

[thomas]

And FWIW, there's some p!$$poor cyclists coming on & off campus at UEA, and whether I'm walking, cycling or driving round there (& I do all three) I prefer to be able to see the ninja-twits in plenty of time to take evasive action when necessary. The plus side is that there are so many cyclists in the area, that the safety in numbers thing does seem to work - it seems that cyclists are expected and expected to be p!$$poor road users.. but saying that, I really, really wouldn't want to hit one. When driving there I'm *particularly* aware of such cyclists, but my experience is that if a cyclist is hit there, it may not be the fault of the driver all the time, as some of the cycling is of such a poor standard. It isn't a simple case of two wheels good, four wheels bad.

I can second that, some student's cycling is worrying! If you walk on the shared path outside Earlham high school the people on bikes never seem to realise there are people there and I imagine a few people have had to jump out of their way. I don't think it helps that some people haven't ridden a bike before so are learning on busy roads.

I've complained to two bus companies about coming too close to me, but both times I've mentioned that when being on a (different companies') bus some drivers really do realise that some of the cyclists are stupid and don't overtake at pinch points (that the cyclist hasn't seen).

BM: I can appreciate the argument and I can see the logic. It really annoys me when people don't use sidelights when it's only slightly dark and it annoys me even more when people have fogs on rain or shine! However, we know people don't pay enough attention on the roads and like Wafflycat said, it can remove the "i didn't see you excuse" for lack of attention.

I think it's the same with RLJing,just let them get on with it and just worry about what I am doing.

It's just been really annoying me recently but yeah, I worry about myself over the lives of idiots.

Nag them to put something in Concrete on this periodically. Currently Sainsburys at Longwater is selling basic front & rear blinkies for less and £2 a light (some less than £1 a light..).

Is that the one a little bit away from the UNI (go left out of UNI drive, then right onto the duel carriage way about 5 miles away?)...I know the way there on nice, country lanes so I might go get a few sets . Cheap enough to throw away. The one in town might do some, have to look when I'm working at the weekend. Cheers

 

[Arch]

I think it's the same with RLJing,just let them get on with it and just worry about what I am doing.

Trouble is, it all comes back down to people using the actions of the idiots to tar the rest of us... I know it's maybe a dead loss, but sometimes it is worth trying to make it better all round. The odd campaign to educate and reinforce to a large group is a good thing. Whether you take on a personal one to one crusade is up to you...

I saw a chap yesterday, BTW, with two flashing red lights. Great, except one of them was on the front!

 

[hackbike 666]

Arch I see every combination on my 4 and 5am commutes and as I say it's not my worry.

The attitude is very wrong in this country anyway so no doubt motorists would find something else to get the hump with anyway.

 

[marinyork]

If you find a source of cheap lights it is worth publicising and letting students know about. Trouble is that the source of cheap lights can dry up so it's not universally true throughout the country at all times. So much more the better for you letting others know.

 

[hackbike 666]

I don't think it's students at 4 in the morning.

Trouble is at that age you are untouchable but when you have been through a bit of life and had a serious illness then you begin to realise you are not invincible.Plus the fact you heal faster if you do come off.

 

[Arch]

The attitude is very wrong in this country anyway so no doubt motorists would find something else to get the hump with anyway.

No doubt, but if we chip away at all their stock responces, they have to think harder...

For a source of cheap lights - my local pound shop nearly always has them in. Ok, they aren't the best, but they are lights! I think most cities have a pound shop these days.

 

[hackbike 666]

No doubt, but if we chip away at all their stock responces, they have to think harder...

For a source of cheap lights - my local pound shop nearly always has them in. Ok, they aren't the best, but they are lights! I think most cities have a pound shop these days.

Why aren't the parents installing these values or have we really lost control that they can hang around in gangs on trains and around railways stations and start drinking at a very young age,that's if they aren't doing something stronger.These same parents are the people who drive out there without any regard to yours or mine safety.

Mobile phone useage may be an example of this,that's if it isn't a second pinching dangerous overtake.

What BM insinuated and im tending to agree,The Car is The King.

Yeah another point.Why does the victim always get a $h1**y deal?