To ask everyone to remind.... [cycling related]

[GnomeDePlume]

themselves, their partners, children, lodgers, siblings that they need to wear hi vis and have lights on if any part of their journey involves cycling on the roads.

Driving to work this morning in the dark I found myself behind someone on his bike, no lights, no hi vis. I only spotted him because a house light picked him out for a moment. Otherwise he was near invisible.

[Sirzy]

same goes for pedestrians and runners to!

[UserX]

And dogs.

[UserX]

Also, did you not have your lights on OP?

[polarpercy]

Advice is to be visible not wear hi-vis. Lights are the mandatory bit. If you only just picked him out you should get your lights checked and slow down to match the conditions.

Perhaps we can add car drivers - put your lights on, indicate, don't left hook and pass close.

[GnomeDePlume]

UserX yes of course I had my lights on but driving in town they are not on full beam. This cyclist was in dull coloured clothing, nothing reflective. Street lights were heavily shaded by trees so essentially he disappeared once he was outside the range of my headlights.

[polarpercy]

Then you should consider getting your bulbs checked it's no excuse and not the cyclists fault - although if they had no reflector or rear red light then that is different.

My husband has been lit up like a christmas tree and still had the pathetic excuse of 'I didn't see you'

[GnomeDePlume]

Headlights are fine thanks, car has just gone through MOT.

[polarpercy]

Then you need to slow down for the darker conditions rather than make excuses

[GnomeDePlume]

polarpercy he had no rear light, no reflective material at all.

I didnt nearly run into him, I was paying attention but outside the range of my headlights he disappeared completely.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Polar, she just said he had no lights which includes the rear one.

[polarpercy]

So in this instance the cyclist was not using lights - although you would be amazed at what car drivers think cyclists should have as rear lights.

Even without lights you should be able to pick out your surroundings so we return to slow down. You are aware it is ok for car drivers to not always do the maximum speed

[Lethaldrizzle]

Can I also remind all drivers not to drive too close to my bike and not to suddenly turn left in from of me. We all have to share the roads.

[abbsisspartacus]

Car drivers/ passengers also remember to use the Dutch reach when getting out which means using your opposite hand to open the door puts you in the best position to check for bikes

[applesandpears33]

The OP said in her original post the cyclist didn't have any lights on. I think it is good to remind anyone who is cycling to remember their lights. I say this as someone who drives, cycles and walks. I sometimes wonder if cyclists realise just how difficult it can be to see them if they don't have lights.

[GnomeDePlume]

polarpercy you seem to be determined to turn this into something it wasnt. My thread was prompted because this morning I saw a cyclist going along in the dark in dull coloured clothing with no lights or hi vis about his person. I was struck by just how invisible and vulnerable he was. At no point was he in any danger from me.

[QuestionableMouse]

I've had this happen too. Car in question was about 4 hours old (it was brand new and I'd just picked it up.)

Everyone using the roads has a duty to make themselves visible. It's not hard to put something reflective on or fit lights.

[polarpercy]

Your words I only spotted him because... means you were a potential danger.

I'm not turning this into anything. You started a thread telling cyclists to wear hi-vis - they do not need to. This type of thread ends up following the standard mumsnet anti-cyclist rant where people come up with more and more reasons to blame them.

[noblegiraffe]

I’ve seen cyclists in the dark with no lights, no helmet, dark hoodies, those low bicycles weaving very fast down the middle of the hill outside my house, veering into the next road with no signals. But of course it would be a car driver’s fault if they didn’t see them.

[AuntieStella]

I think OP is entirely right to remind people to maximise their visibility.

My running club has just included a reminder in its regular email.

I'm awaiting my Wiggle order, which includes a fetching neon yellow, lightweight showerproof running jacket.

[megletthesecond]

Cyclists without lights and headphones should have their bikes taken off them.

And I say that as a mostly pedestrian who has to watch poor drivers having to avoid the idiots.

[Bekabeech]

My husband is a cyclist - and he agrees some cyclists have a death wish.

Some cyclists go out at twilight/in the dark wearing dark clothes, skipping lights, no reflector etc. And might even cycle the wrong way up a one way street. They are next to invisible.
If they get themselves killed/injured they will also cause some poor car driver years of trauma.
Pedestrians tend to keep to the pavement, get out of the way of cars, and often use torches etc on country roads.

If I drove always assuming there was a cyclist ahead waiting to loom out at me, I would be driving around at 20 miles an hour or less.

And this isn't about all cyclists, plenty wear hi vis, use body reflectors, have big lights etc. etc. to make themselves as visible as possible.

[Farahilda]

"You started a thread telling cyclists to wear hi-vis - they do not need to."

No, it doesn't have to be high-vis.

Because the Highway Code specifies:

"Light clothing – Light and fluorescent clothing will help you to stand out in daylight and poor light.
"Reflective accessories – Strips on the helmet, as well as armbands and ankle bands will help you be seen in the dark."

It is utterly wrong to say that cyclists should not follow that part of the code, simply because it is not an offence if they don't.

[chickenowner]

I can't believe that people are attacking the OP!

She makes an important point and those of you trying to blame her are being ridiculous.

[ShotsFired]

Hi vis is useless in the dark anyway. I assume you mean reflective?
(There is also strong arguments to point out that the sheer proliferation of hi vis on every man and his dog now is starting to render it useless anyway.)

While we're at it, could you tell white van drivers not to pass me on the brown of a hill at speed, so closely I can touch them, and then deliberately hold down their washer jets so it sprays in my face?

Or that Jag driver who similarly buzzed me and held down his horn when I took primary position because the gutter, where he thought I should be, was a potholed liability and I would probably have been under his wheels instead of next to them?

Or
Or
Or

Everyone has stories about how ALL CYCLISTS are a menace. But they aren't the ones killing hundreds and injuring thousands of people every year.

I try to remember that when I am driving in my car and see a road user who is more vulnerable than I am in my fast-moving metal tank.