To plead with cyclists

[oharibo]

Please please wear something reflective and check you have working lights.

Twice in the last week I've seen a cyclist wearing completely dark clothing with no lights when it's dark. It's so dangerous as it's so hard to see you.

I know some motorists pass too close etc but wearing such dark clothing is so irresponsible

i was in fully orange hi vis once and they still almost crashed into me,

People often aren't observant whatever they do be it walking with sound-proofing headphones on, walking dogs doing an impression of being a may pole, faffing around behind the steering wheel of a car, or on a bike.

Getting colour/ brightness into clothes when out and about at least boosts your chances of being seen by others.

Recently there's been a few times that there's been a pair of people on the pavement and I've asked my DCs how many there are and they've only spotted the bright colours, not the ninja-like person in black blending into the shadows and bare hedges next to them. Changes in lighting do not help. The lights are designed not to spread onto the pavement so you end up with pools of shadow between them. Add in glaring lights on cars that can cause a couple of seconds of visual disturbance.

The DRLs on cars mean more people driving around with the rear of the car in darkness because they haven't realised they hadn't put headlights on. Even in daytime in poor light be it driving into low, bright sun, glare after rain, or poor light levels, lights are bloody useful at distinguishing a vehicle from the sillouhettes or general gloom.

The majority of idiots on two wheels tend to be deliveroo type "cyclists" (usually on some illegally overpowered vehicle masquarding as a bike) or teenagers/ young men in dark hoodies who are up to no good anyway. Neither of which have ever laid eyes on a Highway Code. Outside of those two categories, I tend to find the majority of cyclists fairly sensible and less bother than the proportion of dozy pedestrians or motor vehicle drivers on the roads.

I tend to drive (and walk) under the assumption that I'm surrounded by blithering idiots and it has served me well at responding to the unexpected.

Flashing bike lights are shite, I can hardly see them. They should use constant lights.

I do often walk along and think some cyclists have a death wish.

Here's the thing - cyclists should be banned from cycling on the road. They should be on designated cycling paths. The roads are so busy that cyclists can never be safe on them.

😂

Re: school costs - agree that it’s ridiculous that that are black/navy. I have ironed on reflectors in the past but it would be better if they have reflectors integral to the coat, itself. At least pedestrians are on the pavement for the majority of the time unlike cyclists.

Can i plead with drivers, to please drive carefully

Majority of accidents happen because of shit driving, not lack of hi vis

Given that the vast, vast % of accidents are caused by motor vehicles, I would suggest if you actually want to make the roads safer you start by banning them.

I'm a cyclist, wear a reflective jacket, hi-viz reflective backpack cover, solid red back light, flashing red helmet light and front bright white light. I still got knocked off my bike at a roundabout three weeks ago. It was terrifying and I still haven't properly cycled since then due to the trauma. I was lucky in that escaped with just nasty scrapes and bruises, but it could have been worse.

The van man who knocked me off did stop, but was very careful about not apologising to me despite him being at fault (he drove into the back of me) because he didn't want to be liable. He claimed he couldn't see me, but the reality is he just wasn't paying attention. As the advert says, think bike, look twice.

Yes, there are d*ckhead cyclists that don't wear lights and I'm in agreement that they shouldn't be on the road, but when cyclists are decked out in all the gear and STILL get knocked over, what else can we do?

Quite

I can’t understand why kids on bikes doing paper rounds usually don’t have lights - and dressed in black.
If the parents aren’t bothered about getting them some cheap lights then why isn’t the newsagent?
How awful would it be if a child was injured or killed for the sake of a couple of pounds.

An alive Christmas tree looks way better than a sleek stylish person dressed in chic black lying on the slab!

Junctions in daylight are where most accidents happen

I almost knocked a cyclist off their bike last year in bright daylight. I pulled out of a junction confident that there was nothing coming either way, I had stopped at the junction so realistically wasn't going fast. To my right the road was covered by trees so in the shade, the cyclist was wearing black had no lights and was cycling from the shade into bright sunshine. I was completely at fault, the cyclist had no idea that she was invisible at that moment in time.
It doesn't matter who is right or wrong after the accident, preventing the accident happening is the important thing. Cyclists are always vulnerable and will come out worse when hit by a motorised vehicle, wearing bright colours and using lights at all times is commonsense.
A few years ago I kept meeting a cyclist on narrow lanes at night, again dressed in black and with only a front light. It frustrated me so much that I bought him rear lights (bright red dangley testicles) which he still uses. We now pass each other with a cheery wave and grin.

So next time you are at a junction with trees on a bright day, you'll take more care, yes?drivers need to adjust their behaviours

Round where I live it's a small village with no street lights. I tend to wear a running light - reflecting cross body band, light at the front and back, also handy when walking the dog (who has a reflective coat and light up collar). Most people do similar, particularly when dog walking at dusk.

One time when I was walking the dog a driver stopped, wound down the window and told me off for being so well lit on the pavement as she thought I was a bike. I told her that if she thinks me and my dog were on a bike she needs her eyes tested.

Then as a driver, in lockdown one time a runner gave me the fright of my life as he seemed to lurch from the dark from a traffic island into the road and towards the driver's door/front wheel. I had to swerve left to avoid him, he had no reflective clothing on or torch. I don't know if he saw me and assumed I'd seen him- luckily I just about did in my peripheral vision.

Another time I was crossing the road walking home from work in the dark with the running light on, and was nearly taken out by an unlit pavement cyclist as I stepped onto the pavement. He had seen me but again, assumed I had seen him.

I don't have any problem with cyclists who are well lit and in reflective clothing in the dark.

So it’s ok for kids to ride around in the dark dressed in black with no lights? Just one dead kid is reason enough for lights and bright clothing to be mandatory.
I agree drivers should be more aware to prevent foreseeable incidents.

While you're at it could you plead with all the pedestrians who cross the road without even looking up from their phones, to wise up. So dangerous!

Honestly Mumsnet really needs an Old Chestnuts/Dead Horses board for these debates that always end up with the same discussions and whataboutery going on.

If everyone (cyclists, pedestrian and motorists) read and used the Highway code we would be far better off. But they don't. Cycling is useful, free, healthy and sustainable transport worldwide. Only the British manage to sabotage it into a stupid culture war.

Britain suffers badly from motor-normitivity, cars dominate, and drivers think they own the roads

I often see (usually men) ambling along with no lights or helmet. My club won’t allow you to ride without lights in winter and my cycling insurance puts so much emphasis on safety. I have dc I’d like to get home to in one piece so have always cycled responsibly as did my friend who was an equally sensible, skilled and experienced cyclist but who was killed last year by a motorist through no fault of her own. It’s common sense to do all you can to protect yourself and others but sadly even that doesn’t save you sometimes.

I think there should be more safe non car roads for people to walk and cycle on too. There are very few in the uk

I don't know how your nerves can stand it, I feel anxious just thinking about it.

I've heard some argue against helmets etc for cyclists as they give motorists a false sense of security, maybe the reflective gear is a similar thing?

Shocking behaviour either way, if you've not got one of those helmet cameras I'd get one and get them done.

Yep that scares me. Same as pedestrians that run across the road assuming you have seen them but they blend in with the dark and you get dazzled by oncoming car lights

@Redpeach
I will continue to drive like I always have. Carefully with consideration to all other road users.