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.

Op - ha yes you are right, I wouldn't want to attempt a 35 mile commute by bike either! But where I live I am sure most of the car commutes could be by bike.
Flowerpot -
www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/pedal-cyclists/facts-figures/

You'd like this lady op!

www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/one-womans-campaign-boost-cyclists-12350581

She gave me a high vis for my son, she's very passionate about being seen on the roads. She's was lovely too :)

Cambridge is a nightmare, the language students who turn up for a few weeks at a time are the most at risk. They must see Cambridge as some sort of giant cycle lane, they hop on a hired bike with no helmet and no instruction. Very dangerous, and they're all so young.

I've seen people cycling around at night, no helmet, no lights, no high vis, with headphones on listening to music AND texting on their phone!!! It's utter madness!!!

I am a cyclist (I cycle a bakfiet, a family bike) and currently learning to drive so I'm very cyclist aware but some cyclists are extremely dangerous to themselves and others.
We all wear high vis in this family!!

Cinnamon there are some posters on here who don't even think you should be on the road with your bakfiet family bike!

I am extremely careful on the roads, I both drive and cycle on the roads. Once I was accosted by a 'ninja cyclist' who was dressed all in black on a black bike with no reflective gear or lights in the dark. I was also cycling, and spotted him just in time and hit the brakes to avoid a collision.
Despite the fact that I stopped in time, he hit his front brake and flew over the top of his bike.
Honestly, ninja cyclist should have made some effort to be visible and maybe learn how to use his brakes. Nobody would be very happy if cars started driving around in the dark with their lights off.

@Lethaldrizzle

Haha

Well they'd have a lot of people to argue with around here, they're everywhere!!

I have had people shout things at me, my personal favourites being the man who shouted 'nice coffin' at me....

You are not wrong op. But even with 3 lights each on front and back. One steady full beam and 2 flashing differently i would still remain invisible to some drivers probably the ones commenting on here

FlowerPot, the most commonly referred to research is "Collisions involving cyclists on Britain’s roads: establishing the causes".

The main point from that report is actually how much riskier children and young people are on the roads. So by all means lets concentrate on educating our kids when they're out on their bikes. (Of course, young drivers are also much more dangerous too. It is their youth that is the issue not the mode of transport.)

For adult cyclists, it is more common for the driver to be at fault.

It is difficult because the statistics aren't updated regularly. But in a report from 2013 for central London for instance:

"The City of Westminster Council found that drivers were to blame for 68 per cent of collisions between cyclists and motor vehicles in the borough in the past 12 months. It found that cyclists were at fault for only 20 per cent. In the remaining 12 per cent of cases, no cause could be found or both parties were to blame."

Lethaldrizzle - where does it say on the statistics link you posted that most accidents are caused by drivers?

The last time I was called a fucking bitch was by someone who stepped in front of my bike whilst texting with headphones on. I wasnt cycling fast as i never do and was able to stop but this kind of abuse is almost a daily occurrence. I am a law abiding, very visible cyclist and i make it a point to never swear back , But it does nothing, absolutely nothing to stop the surge of negativity and animosity towards cyclists in this country.

YANBU OP. Bristol is full of idiot cyclists with no lights in dark clothing. I'd also like it if they didn't ride along the pavements as well.

Flowerpot - sorry it's on the pdf fact sheet within the document I posted. Having trouble copying on my phone! Under heading 'types of accidents' - it states 57% is car driver error but I see that what'scomingover has some even more stark stats.

Yanbu op - I am a former cyclist and cycle friendly driver - I always overtake when there is s car doors width and not before etc etc but I almost hit a bloke the other day who swerved off the pavement onto the road in front of me the other morning all in black - no lights no helmet - I try very hard to be cyclist friendly but sometimes they make it hard

Also while on the subject please moped drivers stop wearing fucking t shirts and jeans - what had your skin done to deserve being flayed if you come off ( which given how most of you are 17 and drive like dicks is quiet likely)

It's also easier to remember the dicks (regardless of transport mode of choice) than the rest. I mean I don't remember the large number of cyclists that I encounter without incident but I certainly remember the fucking idiot that nearly ran over my toddler.

Same goes for cars etc.

God some of you are really dull.

Op thanks for the reminder.

On the bitch black roads near me full beams need to be used to see pedestrians. Normal lights aren’t enough. So it’s helpful for pedestrians to have reflective items and torches on dark lanes

I think if OP had titled/started her post just a tiny bit differently, things would not be so emotional or antagonistic. For example:

"To ask everyone to remind.... [cycling related] [non-vehicle road users related]

themselves, their partners, children, lodgers, siblings that they need to wear wearing hi vis and have using lights on if any part of their journey involves cycling, walking or riding on the roads. is a good idea and helps them be much more visible to other traffic, especially as the days are drawing in so fast now. Thank you.

Mobility scooter users too, come to think of it. If you or someone you know uses one, please make sure you / they are high-vizzed and reflective-d up you can buy reflective tape that sticks anywhere - it's really good. I used to have some on my old bike. Dead cheap on eBay

Although the wording may have been a bit clumsy and sadly, a couple of the licensing twats were attracted, the intention I believe was good and it is a worthwhile reminder.

Also, pram pushers. I have a set of knog blinders (little silicone bike lights) which fit around the frame - red one pointing back, white forwards. I have to walk on a country road so no pavement so if it's starting to get towards dusk, I light us up. They were something like a fiver apiece and they're really bright.