Invisibility
Sometimes when I’m riding I feel like I have a certain superhero power. Which turns out isn’t all that super.
Because I’m not made of steel.
And even if I could find a use for this superpower…
…it still wouldn’t solve anything.
Invisibility is dangerous. I want drivers to see me, I want their attention.
But even if I tried all this it wouldn’t solve the problem. I’m the elephant on the road, costume or not.
Can’t say I miss cycling in the States. Go Dutch! Just get on yer bike and go (riding, shopping, on a date, to work, …). No helmet. No cars. Kids on the bike are cool.
This is funny because it is so true which makes it kind of sad. I live in a college town and a while ago someone in the bike lane got hit by a car turning right. The guy the whole time blamed the cyclist who would have been hard to miss because it was during the day, in a school zone (speed limit 15 so the cyclist was biking next to him) and the cyclist was wearing a pretty bright orange jersey.
The guy then had the audacity to demand the cyclist pay for the scratches on his car. Fortuantley he was wearing a helmet and just got a few scratches.
-Aaron, recently watched leadville bike race
So true, but I refuse to wear such high visy stuff, but am tempted to get a banner or vest for night time riding. I’ve got the super bright lights, still doesn’t matter. Bicycle are considered vehicles, must by law follow traffic laws etc, so I expect drivers to know and do the same. It’s not like cyclists are invisible. I live in a rural area, and I do see overly safety cautious people WALKING with visy vests on during the day. That is a bit much and speaks more of fear than any actual risk.
Heather, agreed, we should not be required to wear fright wigs and giant clown shoes.
Visibility and communication, as so many have pointed out, need to be appropriate, and can demand confidence.
1) taking away the immunity of the driver – frequent shoulder checking = ‘I see you’ – flag off side = ‘you crowd me, your precious paintjob is at risk’
2) Really acting like a vehicle. Signalling your stops, taking the centre of the lane whenever you say you need to = more respect. Seriously.
3) bringing out the big guns to remove the excuse of ‘I didn’t notice’ – a car drivers attention has *much* competition at night (what, 200 lights in my field of vision and you think that dollarstore light cuts it?) Again, reflectors bounce back the biggest light on the road, those of the car. Better if its wobbly to catch attention. $20 USB bike strobes to scare drivers into thinking these is an ambulance approaching. Whatever is appropriate.
I am late to this party, I know, but visibility is so paramount. I drive a ‘bent trike, Catrike Expedition. I have flashing lights fore and aft and two large wind socks … US Flag motif on the right (of course) and Maryland Flag motif on the left. If you don’t see me, get off your phone. Oh and cameras.
My ride is, was a Velomobile Quest. About 3′ tall, 30″ wide and 9.5″ long. It had head lights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals and four way flashers when needed. I also mounted and extra 800 lumens off the front and a 700 lumen red flasher facing rearward. When I’m rolling I run lights night and day. It is a fully enclosed vehicle that had become my primary mode of year round transportation with 32,000 miles in the last 4.5 years.
Two months ago today at a three way stop “T” intersection on narrow two lane roads with low speed limits, I had come to a stop and with no traffic in sight taken a left hand turn. I had made the turn and was in the middle of the travel lane when a pickup truck that had run the stop sign to my rear side swiped me on my right hand side. He said that he hadn’t seen me which was bull shit because if he hadn’t seen me he would have run me over. He must of been half way off the road in an attempt to pass but because of boulders and a fence along the side of the road he entered my physical space by a good 6″ taking out the side of my Velomobile.
Being well lit and controlling the lane means nothing when dealing idiots.
It’s the same victim blaming mentality that nearly all Americans have. “Hey! She was asking for it!”