To think that lots of cyclists in London don't realise how invisible they are?

[CruCru]

I wonder whether lots of them don't drive and so don't realise how difficult they are to see at night? Driving along the Euston Road, I keep seeing cyclists wearing black coats, dark trousers, no helmet, tiny light.

Clearly as a driver it's my responsibility to see other road users (cyclists, pedestrians, horses, other cars) but I really wish cyclists would at least wear a yellow strip at night.

[MrsBertMacklin]

Agreed, in that I had a near miss with a bike that I knew was behind me because I'd passed it, but it then disappeared as I had to turn left. Had absolutely no idea where it was even after checking my blind spot.

But for balance, the amount of cars on the M25 this morning with no lamps on, in dawn light with mist, was NUTS. So many drivers who I think, believe that their headlamps are for them to see, not for others to see them.

[McColonel]

YANBU. I cycle to work every day and always have lights on and hi vis clothing. Even in bright sunlight a cyclist can be almost invisible in a shadow, especially if the driver is looking into the sun. Cyclists that don't do everything possible to give motorists the best chance of seeing them are fucking idiots.

[JeffsanArsehole]

Yanbu

In the low light the other day I barely saw one who was wearing a yellow jacket as he blended into the bright yellow trees and bushes he was passing. Fuck knows what it would have been like in normal clothes.

[Mistigri]

I cycled to work in London everyday for 5 years and you'd be amazed at how many drivers seem unable to see you even if you are lit up like a Christmas tree.

So in London I'm not sure how much difference it makes tbh but on poorly lit roads it's essential to be visible. My husband (who is a long-time cyclist as well as a car driver) nearly took out a cyclist on an unlit road near us recently, cyclist was in dark clothes with no lights on a fairly narrow road with no speed limit.

[originalmavis]

Try driving through Hyde Park. Badly lit road and cyclists all in black (headphones on) with no lights riding on the road (when there are tracks on both sides). Sometimes you even get bloody rollerskaters, skiers, kids on hoverboards, tourists wobbling on Boris bikes, skateboarders... Get a bloody high viz tabard and a light! And some road sense while you're at it.

[CruCru]

My brother has a fluorescent yellow jacket which lights up when he switches it on. So brilliant.

[SantanaLopez]

I'm not in London but YANBU!

I live on quite a windy section of road and there is going to be a really nasty accident here eventually. So many of the cyclists just are not dressed properly. You can't see them at all.

[catfordbetty]

I keep seeing cyclists wearing black coats, dark trousers, no helmet, tiny light.

How would a helmet make them more visible?

[Narp]

I totally agree

DH cycles and wears a fluoro jacket, has a laser light, and reflective bits and bobs on his shoes, clothes and bag

I think that, maybe especially in London, because public transport is so good, that there are lots of cyclists who have never driven and have no idea how invisible they are

[catfordbetty]

Try driving through Hyde Park. Badly lit road and cyclists all in black (headphones on)

How would using headphones make them less visible?

[Narp]

catford

I imagine that what she meant was that, not only can't people see them, but they can'y hear, and in the vent of an accident, they are more likely to sustain a head injury.

[Narp]

event of an accident

[originalmavis]

No it's because they are in a wee world of their own and swing out to overtake other bikes without even realising theres a car behond them. Unless they have flashing headphones, no they wouldn't make them more visible.

[Narp]

... that too...

[originalmavis]

I've seen a few peering at their phones too. It's their bloody necks! It's so dark and soggy right now.

[catfordbetty]

The arguments around cycle helmets are complex but there is little evidence that they provide much protection against head injury. You can hear less traffic noise in your car (with windows up and radio on) than can a cyclist using headphones.

[Narp]

I just knew this was going to be about helmets. Which was not the point. But whatever

[originalmavis]

But there's a ton of steel around you in the car whereas on a bike its you, a bit of lycra then the tarmac.

Not sure about helmets (i know that people are passionate either way) but one friend was on a coma after being knocked off his bike and bashing his head. He was off work for a year and the doctors told him that a helmet would have saved him a lot of the injury.

[CrohnicallyAspie]

One cycled over the road in front of me earlier tonight. Not an actual crossing, just after a roundabout, it was dark and raining, and with me seeing him side on the reflectors weren't even facing me. It wasn't exactly a near miss, but it was unnerving to see movement just to my right and then realise it was a cyclist on a black bike, dressed head to toe in dark clothing, and I didn't even see him till he had nearly crossed the road.

[catfordbetty]

I just knew this was going to be about helmets. Which was not the point. But whatever

The OP mentions helmets.

[TinyMonkey]

I'm a London cyclist and ninja cyclists all in black, on a black bike, with no lights drive me mad. However, I also feel the same about pedestrians in dark clothing at this time of year.

[ArtyKitty]

Not just London. I cycle to work and am finding it frustrating at 5.30 pm alternating between cyclists with no lights and those who think its ok to use super bright off road mountain biking lights on narrow unlit cycle / pedestrian paths and blind you completely! Grrrr!

[whois]

I once had a near miss with a black man dressed in black jeans and a black hoody, with his hoody up, in the dark, in the rain. No lights. No reflexive bits.

Luckily I drive and bike so can appreciate both from the other view point. At night it's really important to wear fluro and have good/multiple light. Don't like the super fucking bright ones tho, they aren't angled down like car lights and really bother my eyes when I'm biking and people with them are coming towards me or I'm stuck behind someone with a stupidly bright tail light.

[Jeffreythegiraffe]

It's the ones cycling along with headphones in completely oblivious, that I despair at.