Cycling visibility

[Stonehead]

One thing that has become apparent from my dealings with police and solicitors following the crash, is that it's very clear that the onus is on the cyclist to prove that they were sufficiently visible.

I think drivers should have to pay more attention and spot the bleeding obvious, but if you're a cyclist hit by a motor vehicle it's not the way the system works.

I'm now moving up from two rear lights to three, including a flashing one on my head. Cyclecraft may say more than one is unnecessary, but given the views of the police and solicitors I'd prefer to look like a mobile Christmas tree!

I'm also adding extra, automotive reflectors to the bike (automotive reflectors reflect more light from a given surface area than cycle reflectors). I already exceed the minimum legal requirements with three rearward and two front reflectors, plus reflective strips.

I'm now moving up to six rearward red reflectors, at least one and possibly two orange reflectors to each side, and four forward white reflectors. I also plan to add reflective chevrons to the existing high-vis and reflective panels. (My tyres also have reflective stripes!)

I currently wear a reflective sam brown belt. I intend moving up to a jacket with reflective strips, overtrousers with reflective strips, gloves with reflective strips, a new sam brown, and reflective ankle cuffs. (All have high-vis material for daylight visibility as well.)

So far, I look like this...



If I get hit again, no one is going to accuse me of not being sufficiently visible!

[hamster]

Nah, they'll probably accuse you of dazzling them instead!

Hope you're on the mend.

[ina]

Obviously gearing up for Christmas... You'll be putting that guy in Fife (I think) with his millions of lights on the house to shame! Even now I'd say anybody who doesn't see you obviously has his or her eyes closed.

Btw, I have a helmet with four little blinking lights in the vents... Feel really flash with that.

[Chickenlady]

You just have to do it! You need to be as safe as possible, notwithstanding murderous people in vans.

I saw a woman riding on the road at dusk tonight wearing all dark colours and with no lights at all. The other evening I saw a cyclist similarly attired almost get knocked down crossing a road in the dark. Do these people have a deathwish?

[snapdragon]

Have you considered Motorcycle gear Stoney? I know it all seems black but waterproof/warm and high viz with reflective strips is available - and with safety armour to protect bones and such
justincase

[yugogypsy]

Rick will be upgrading to have a light on his bike front and rear as well as one on his helmet and reflective strips on his jacket.

You might want to add a BIG braking light so people can clearly when you're coming to a stop and upgrading your signals.

Hope all is going well
Lois

[Stonehead]

I just find it appalling that the onus is so heavily on the cyclist to prove they were sufficiently visible. Does the same thing apply to pedestrians? I suspect not.

It's a bit like being asked after a robbery, "prove that you didn't draw the robber's attention to yourself". Except that I have to prove that I was noticeable, of course.

Why should it automatically be the cyclist's fault and the cyclist's responsibility to show the were visible? When I drive the Land Rover, I try to drive with due care and attention at all times, rather than adopt the blase tunnel vision that seems to affect a lot of drivers.

[Shirley]

I think all road users should have an equal responsibility to ensure that they are visible... when I'm on the road I like to think that I'm cyclist aware rather than just trying to reach my destination as quickly as I possibly can.

Biker gear might not be such a bad idea actually - certainly in the winter months. All that leather too

[Stonehead]

I think all road users should have an equal responsibility to ensure that they are visible... when I'm on the road I like to think that I'm cyclist aware rather than just trying to reach my destination as quickly as I possibly can.

It's not equal, though, as my interviews with police and solicitors have shown.

If a car hits yours, or you hit another one, then the police ask about visibility (day/night, fog, rain, smoke, etc), if your lights were on, and they may take a look at the cars to check lighting. That's about it.

But as a cyclist, I was questioned in detail about exactly which lights I had, their positoning and their brightness; what reflectors I had and where; what additional reflective/high vis panels I had, what clothing I was wearing; what sam browne I was wearing; and so on.

It didn't matter that the van driver had definitely seen me as indicated by his/her having pulled across the white lines to pass me and then having drawn level with me. What mattered was whether I'd made myself sufficiently visible.

To put it another way, if the same logic was to applied to motor vehicles, then they would all have to be marked in much the same way as emergency vehciles - with high-vis and fluorescent panels on the sides and back, many more reflectors, perhaps with an orange flashing beacon on the roof as well as low and high-mounted tail and brake lights, etc.

And don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with cyclists (and horse riders and pedestrians) bein required to make an effort to be visible. I just think the onus sits rather too heavily on vulnerable road users to be seen, rather than being on drivers making the effort to pay attention.

[Stonehead]

All that leather too

I used to wear lace-up leather trousers...

...but boiler suits seem to get me more fanmail!

[ina]

I just think the onus sits rather too heavily on vulnerable road users to be seen, rather than being on drivers making the effort to pay attention.

That's a British thing, I believe. They are simply still not used to cyclists. In other European countries it's mostly the motorist who gets blamed - even if you could say that both did something wrong! But as the stronger, the motorist has kind of the duty to take more care.

[yugogypsy]

Just as bad over here folks.

On my donkey cart, I have to have a slow moving vehicle sign, reflectors and a flag(don't take it out at night) and I've got to get some more lights and reflectors for my own bike too.
Lois

[hamster]

I just think the onus sits rather too heavily on vulnerable road users to be seen, rather than being on drivers making the effort to pay attention.

That's a British thing, I believe. They are simply still not used to cyclists. In other European countries it's mostly the motorist who gets blamed - even if you could say that both did something wrong! But as the stronger, the motorist has kind of the duty to take more care.

Also, when you consider how many cyclists go around with no lights on in dark clothes, it sadly isn't an unreasonable assumption for the police to make. It's really annoying for those of use who stop at red lights and make ourselves visible that all cyclists get tarred with the same brush.

[ina]

Just as bad over here folks.

Maybe it's the English language then...

Hamster, of course cyclists have a duty to be visible. But then, if you were cycling without lights in Germany, you'd get pulled over by the police double quick! There are laws as to what kind of light you need on your bike; as long as you've got that (and every bike has to be sold with these kind of lights and reflectors fitted), you're OK. I couldn't believe it when I bought my first bike here, and there were no lights on it... And no mudguards, no carrier, no stand either - all that is standard in Germany.

[Smooth Hound]

i was reading about your accident on neeps, and am glad you are back on your feet, personally if i were riding a bike on these small roads i would wear a flourecent jacket and a yellow flashing light on the top of my helmet, i agree the responsibility should lie with car or in your case van drivers to be more waryof whats round the corner, but the reality is is that they ingeneral dont, and it will always be the bike rider that comes off worse. when my son turned 16 , because we live in the middle of nowhere i bought him an old c50 to get around on, because i was slow of course people were over taking continuously, and always cutting him up as happened with you, so i put a flashing yellow light on his back box. it worked i think because if you see yellow flashing from round a corner then it gets your attention , it could be a breakdown a digger or anything,so as people in general dont give a damn about hurting otheres , as long as it doesnt hld then up that is, then you are giving them the message that they could be hurt if they are not careful. it seems to work anyway