Trying to promote the use of lights (at UNI)

[John the Monkey]

Cab's post from some time ago seems (to me) to be the definitive statement on why drivers hate cyclists.

...And so many people are thus angry, tetchy and irritable in their cars all day that we've got a sort of national acceptance of bad road behaviour as the norm. It is expected that people will get angry at others who are different, its even tacity encouraged by referring to incidents of thuggish abuse as 'road rage'; people say 'Oh, I totally road raged at him...' as if yelling obscenities from a car window is just one of those things....

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=239842&postcount=11

On the RLJ ers - a couple of the buggers have nearly ridden into me (on my bike), on occasion - they're a pain in the arse.

 

[hackbike 666]

...And so many people are thus angry, tetchy and irritable in their cars all day that we've got a sort of national acceptance of bad road behaviour as the norm. It is expected that people will get angry at others who are different, its even tacity encouraged by referring to incidents of thuggish abuse as 'road rage'; people say 'Oh, I totally road raged at him...' as if yelling obscenities from a car window is just one of those things....

Yeah I recognise that so I try and keep it calm out there.I used to be aggressive towards motorists for years although I did lose it a bit (twice) on Monday.The ice brings out the worst in me.

 

[thomas]

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.

There is a poundland. I think they might sell lights but I'm not 100% sure, might have a look at the weekend as I'll be in town anyway. Bought some cheap rechargeable batteries there though so I don't have to worry about the cost of replacing batteries in my lights now ..no more flashing blinkers

 

[hackbike 666]

Nah lights are no good,the old pound will be going on the next spliff.

 

[BentMikey]

If you cared about the safety of these cyclists, then a more effective approach might be to campaign for cycling lessons along bikeability lines. Make them council funded, compulsory, etc., and that will have a much bigger effect. Plus it might get them using and thinking about lights.

 

[mickle]

Hello. The Community Interest Company I work for supplies cheap (but good) light sets for students @ Birmingham UNI. If you are interested.

Also, because you still haven't answered; How do you actually know there are cyclists riding around at night without lights? Can you smell them or something?

 

[hackbike 666]

No I can see them.

 

[thomas]

Hello. The Community Interest Company I work for supplies cheap (but good) light sets for students @ Birmingham UNI. If you are interested.

Also, because you still haven't answered; How do you actually know there are cyclists riding around at night without lights? Can you smell them or something?

I did actually.

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=569187&postcount=8

I've not actually sat somewhere and counted, I'm not that sad, just noticed it when going around campus.

 

[mickle]

Sorry Thomas, I'm being deliberately obtuse. My point is that you can see them even without lights. It put me in mind of the guy who spoke to me from his car one day when I was riding a recumbent; 'I can't see you riding that thing'! he said. To which I replied, 'Who are you fecking talking to then?'

 

[BentMikey]

Sorry Thomas, I'm being deliberately obtuse. My point is that you can see them even without lights. It put me in mind of the guy who spoke to me from his car one day when I was riding a recumbent; 'I can't see you riding that thing'! he said. To which I replied, 'Who are you fecking talking to then?'

LOL! (c) Patrick Field:

"Don't talk to invisible people else men in white coats will come to take you away to the great white house". Apparently said to a rozzer who stopped him and the Lord Mayor on the A4 overpass or something.

 

[thomas]

Sorry Thomas, I'm being deliberately obtuse. My point is that you can see them even without lights. It put me in mind of the guy who spoke to me from his car one day when I was riding a recumbent; 'I can't see you riding that thing'! he said. To which I replied, 'Who are you fecking talking to then?'

I can see them, but they're very hard to see, especially on bits without lighting....never said they were invisible

 

[purplepolly]

I often spot cyclists without lights at night, usually I'm just on the other side of the road or a few meters away at a junction on my bike. They may well also be visible enough for an attentive driver in light traffic to avoid.

 

[thomas]

I think the lady from the UEA bug has the right idea (the lack of funds was a response I was expecting too)...or at least IMO. Still waiting from the other transport officer.

Looks like it might be easiest just to go to one of these drop in evenings, or forward them the email!

Just to say, BUG has no funds but we would support and publicise any
efforts to get more cyclists to use lights. Unlit cyclists are dangerous
and annoying and do nothing to help other road users' perceptions and
attitudes towards us. In the past UEA has had "be safe, be seen"
campaigns but usually around October when the dark evenings start.

Have you thought of going to one of the regular police drop in sessions
on campus and suggesting they have a crackdown? I agree that for many
people nothing short of a £30 fine will make them change their ways.

However, do remember that "cyclists leaving UEA" also includes a large
number from the hospital and research institutes who cycle across the
playing fields, so there is a limit on what a UEA campaign can achieve.

 

[D-Rider]

I often spot cyclists without lights at night, usually I'm just on the other side of the road or a few meters away at a junction on my bike. They may well also be visible enough for an attentive driver in light traffic to avoid.

A number of years ago, I was driving on an unlit section of road just outside of town. National speed limit applies and, knowing the section of road, I would have been doing about 55 - 60 mph.

I saw the cyclist, who didn't have lights or reflective clothing, when I was practically level with him. No time to react. He's alive today (assuming nobody else hit him) because he was cycling closer to the kerb than I was driving.... If he'd had a rear light I'd have seen him from some way back and there would have been no danger.

This incident really shook me - I still remember it vividly.

We need to make sure we're visible, simple as that.

 

[thomas]

I saw the cyclist, who didn't have lights or reflective clothing, when I was practically level with him. No time to react. He's alive today (assuming nobody else hit him) because he was cycling closer to the kerb than I was driving.... If he'd had a rear light I'd have seen him from some way back and there would have been no danger.

Part of the reason lack of lights annoys me is because along the Woking Road, back home which is also 60mph, I saw someone who wasn't so lucky. It's not a nice sight!