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.

That sounds like cani cross (usually a harness attached to a runner, but also now including attached to a bike)?

I was just searching for images to illustrate my meaning and all I could find were off road bikes riding on grass and trails etc - hence the "cross"...

To do that on the road in rush hour makes him a bit of a dangerous twat, to put it mildly.

Related - does anyone know anything you could wear as a pedestrian to make yourself be more visible without looking like an idiot in a Hi Vis vest? I'm thinking black/grey winter coats.

whats coming over the hill
As a relativly new reader/ poster on here I have never seen or commented on a cycling thread before. I didn't realise that we were not supposed to make comments like mine.
I'm so sorry that I said something I shouldn't have.
Still, it gave you the chance to feel vindicated and to be a bit condescending didn't it so everybody's happy!

This is like the parents I see with kids in a cart at the front of the bike.

Nuts - we are not Copenhagen

If I was walking at night especially on unlit roads I would go for the looking like an idiot to be honest!

Some pedestrians just carry a light

OP generally look after your own conduct instead of trying to police others.

I don't ride my horse in the dark but I bought this for on the roads during the day. Was cheap at mountain warehouse, waterproof and it's not lined so great for this time of year
If I come off in a hedge, it's much easier for air ambulance to spot me. Same goes for walkers etc

Can I too remind drivers to not 'sneak through' when lights are on red. To not overtake too closely to not drive or park in a cycle lane to not swerve suddenly to turn left to not shout out abuse to not let kids or anyone else open doors without checking.

Hope that is all okay as a gentle reminder drivers?

Ha pannn - I'm pretty sure that will fall on deaf ears

yorkshireyummymummy, feel free to comment how you like. And I'll feel free to point out the nonsense of thinking people need a registration for riding a bike.

The utter lack of self awareness of a lot of drivers is astounding.

Of course op could always swap her car for a bike and then she could admonish bad cyclist face to face!www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/get-bike-statistics-show-should-cycle-work/amp/

www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/get-bike-statistics-show-should-cycle-work/

At this time of year we should be reminding all drivers to get their lights checked and broken ones mended. Always astounded by how many drivers think it is ok to drive with only 1 headlight or even none.
Also be a good idea to have reminders to use their lights when it is dark or dusk. See loads of drivers in the early mornings/evenings with no lights on at all.
Saw one driver at 7 this morning , black car, no lights, on his phone and with headphones in ...what hope is there for anyone with drivers like that on road.

And to demist windows properly. Esp the edges where bikists will be.

And to leave room! Riding in the dark is A LOT more nervy than in the day esp in heavy traffic. It's drivers responsibility as per the HC.

After I saw the cyclist I reflected (which is more than he did) on what I should do if anything.

My thread was not so much aimed at invisible cyclists but more at the people who care about them. If one more person looks out a reflective jacket or gets some lights then all good.

Lethal not sure that my 35 mile commute on motorway and dual carriageway is really suited to cycling but thanks for the suggestion.

So generally to not be idiots?

The utter lack of self awareness of a lot of drivers is astounding.

Going by this thread, the utter lack of self awareness of a lot of cyclists is too. Apparently they don't need to do anything to make themselves more visible as 100% of the responsibility is on drivers.

The OP just said how she had found a cyclist really hard to spot despite her driving safely and with appropriate lights on (something which can't be said of this particular cyclist).

Drivers have a responsibility to look out for vulnerable road users.
Vulnerable road users have a responsibility to make themselves as visible as possible.

Ah soupy. The voice of balance and reason.

Tbf Pannn she’s not wrong.

It’s simple if you are using the roads after dusk make sure you are easily visible to others using the roads. Whatever method of transport you are using it is a good method to help keep yourself safer

Sure it’s just common sense.

But the biggest risk is from poor driving from motorists and poor cycling infrastructure. I’m lit up and can tell you the biggest risk to me is impatient drivers overtaking me far to close and swerving in front of me or not hanging back st roundabouts. Just 30 secs if their time could save my life.

Lethaldrizzle

80% of cycle accidents happen in daylight. Most of the cycle deaths on the road are due to driver error

Could you post the source of that statistic.

Can we reduce this thread to the very simple guide to life generally?

Don't be a cock; do think of others as well as yourself.

Or is that going to get someone frothing because they do that any way and research shows that 7/10 people are not cocks?

I don't understand this thread at all other than to take away some people will take offence and be fighty about anything on MN.