From the Bike Blog in the Guardian today.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2013/jan/10/cycling-high-visibility-safe-fluorescent
Maybe it's about time we cyclists had either a yellow or blue flashing beacon on our heads or hats?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Why cycling in high-vis may be not as safe as you think
(10 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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I think that backs up what many of us already knew.
In some circumstances a hi-viz jacket will be more visible than a black jacket;
In some circumstances a black jacket will be more visible than a hi-viz jacket;
It all depends on what's around you, the quality of light, and so on;
What we really need is some sort of anti-chameleon jacket.Or, in short, wear what you want, ride safe.
Posted 11 years ago # -
quite an interesting piece
journalist arguing for nuances to be investigated
quotes the TRL report as saying [hi viz] may not always work [for motorcyclists] dependent on background of the environment and that white or even black might be more suitable colour to stand out from certain backgrounds. also that these backgrounds can change over a journey. A hi viz green, black and white mixture like a hi viz camoflage jacket might be best? [that last bit is me not the journo]
We have had hi-viz discussions before, this link is reasonably impartial tho journo confesses to a 'mistake' on his police cycle test viz-a-vis not wearing a hi-viz vest
Posted 11 years ago # -
Thanks for the link.
"But – and this is the key – don't head out there assuming you'll automatically be seen just because you've dressed head to toe in incandescent yellow."I usually start wearing my high-viz in the winter as a default. But I'm starting to be aware that even though it appears to be impossible not to see me, it doesn't quite achieve that.
I was turning onto Gillespie Place on my bike and didn't spot a cyclist approaching on my first-look, only on my second "double check" did I notice him: Even though he was in high-vis, light (not blinking), etc. I was doing the old "looking for cars" mistake I guess? It's made me try even harder when looking, but also more likely to assume people haven't seen me.
On a side note, I feel the high-vis some how makes cars-drivers more polite! I'm sure I'm let in more, and receive more courtesy. I don't know if it's because of the link people make with police-in-high-vis or because they feel I must be a responsible-citizen, or maybe the high-vis means I'm just higher up their thought queue?
Posted 11 years ago # -
My reasoning(not necessarily reasonable) on the matter: http://uberuce.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/does-a-pontiff-poop-in-the-woods/
Posted 11 years ago # -
Intriguing logic Uberuce!
Over the summer the road near my parent's house was reduced from 40mph->30mph. Traffic calming was also installed: some raised road sections and a bollard/island thing put in, so cars coming into the village had to give way to those coming out. It definitely seems to have slowed traffic, and I think traffic noise and general horribleness has reduced a little bit.
The bollard/island thing has a massive fluorescent, yellow/reflective panel in the middle. Warning signs exist before reaching it to tell drivers there's an obstacle ahead and rumble strips on the road to remind them again. And yet, it was run into 3 times in as many months after it was installed. It has now been made even bigger and brighter and moved slightly.
No one (as far as I know) was seriously injured in the collisions, and I think maybe Uberuce's logic applies well here: This collision object has meant several people maybe now don't drive or take more care? If they don't notice a massive 6 foot high reflective (sign posted) wall in front of them, what chance that they'll spot a pedestrian or cyclist?
Maybe more collidable objects should be placed on roads?! (They do it with cycle paths: A black bollard is a key design feature of UK cycle paths I believe?)
[somewhat tongue-in-cheek :]
Posted 11 years ago # -
I seem to recall someone on another forum saying that in the US you can get points on your licence for things like running into such a bollard. You need more points before you lose your licence. The logic, as the poster explained it, is that if you are incapable of avoiding large yellow bollards and the like, then you must be deemed incapable of avoiding smaller and more vulnerable things like children and cyclists.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Somewhere down south someone had the bright idea entering a traffic calmed street of making the bollards in the shape of young children to drive home the message.
Within a week one had been flattened.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Do you mean this type: "kidAlert" ? I've seen them in the Netherlands but not yet in the UK. It did have the intended effect on me the first time I saw it, for a split-second I thought a (bright yellow) child was going to run across the road.
Of course, the next time a child in hi-viz crosses the road at that point I'll subconsciously ignore it...
Posted 11 years ago #
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