I was folding my bike up at Livingston North station this evening when a very polite and pleasant lady came and spoke to me. She told me that she & her husband had passed me in their car as I was cycling on the way there, and they had felt that I was not very visible at all. I have two lights, and she agreed that she could see them, but she still felt that I could be more visible, and wondered if I had something reflective to wear.
The conversation was entirely polite - I thanked her for speaking to me and I do think that she was genuinely trying to be helpful, and so I'm left feeling a bit conflicted. I do have two identical Cateye rear lights (and actually I wonder if all I need is some new batteries, taking a bit of a look at them when I got home I think that might be a plan); but I other than that I wear a long black coat and a grey hat (and today I had black trousers on, too). So I do make some demands of drivers to notice me.
I've been having a few issues on that stretch of road recently too - it is the bit just after the roadworks where cars are accelerating away after being "held up" behind me while going through the one-way section (at least I assume that's where they passed me). I've had a few alarming moments there.
(Actually, I think there might be a street light out along there, too. I'll have to have a proper look tomorrow.)
I've got a perfectly good tabard with reflectives on it - I just chose to stop wearing it, on the basis that I shouldn't have to dress up like an idiot to cycle on the road. Do I just admit defeat and wear it? Or shall I save up for a brighter rear light in the New Year?
What would you do?