inadequately lit cyclists?

[MipMipMip]

Seriously, I'm getting fed up of people dressed in dark clothes. If they do have lights it's usually just a small one that can be easily hidden. The other day there was a woman dressed in black, no rear light and a dark child's seat (fortunately no child). Would it be so hard to wear a reflective top and put some reflectors on the back of the child seat?

If you get hit by a car even if you're badly dressed it will be the driver's fault. They should of course be looking out but you can make it easier for them. And you'll be the one in pain - surely people want to avoid that?!

Don't even get me started on the inability to use bells when someone is in front of cyclists on a path - pedestrians aren't psychic!

[Breadwidow]

As a cyclist I can also say that cyclists without lights / high vis are also a liability to fellow cyclists! Fortunately in central London I don't see too many going without lights but you do see a lot wearing dark clothing and they are so much less visible than those wearing high vis (I wear a high vis vest over my coat and shoes with reflectors on).

[Piffpaffpoff]

Yea, nice title OP.

I am another 'Christmas tree'. I was knocked off my bike on a bright sunny day on a virtually empty road by someone pulling out from behind a give way line on a side road straight in to me. Ever since then, I am in dazzling fluorescent clothes day or night because it makes me happier/more confident and gives me (probably a false) sense of security. At night, I have good bright lights front and back. But I have been yelled at on shared use paths for my lights being too bright. And, the OP who complained about people not ringing bells - I've been tutted at for doing so as I am 'scaring people' - can't win!

I do agree with the general premise of the thread though. As someone else said, you can get reasonable bike lights very cheaply, and add in a high viz jacket and you are sorted. I just can't understand folk who don't do this. (Or wear helmets...but don't get me started on that one!).

[Badcat666]

Mud - What do animals leaping out onto the road have anything to do with cyclists who don't use high vis gear and use adequate back and front lights?

Cyclists weave in and out of traffic, jump lights, don't bother to check for traffic when turning, crept up on the left hand side of large vehicles/ buses etc.. I know because I see this all the time waiting or on for my bus during rush hours. (never seen a sheep or deer do all of that)

And most without any high vis gear or decent lights. It scares the crap out of me!

[RandomMess]

I cycle and drive and am just gobsmacked at some cyclist in the dark with no light on at all. I had one cycling at me - cars parked down both sides of the road, in the dark, no lights how I missed him I'm not sure - completely invisible.

No-one wants to injure a cyclist but too many need educating to make themselves visible.

[minifingerz]

Where I live people just cycle on the pavements, so no chance of hitting them no matter how invisible they are.

[IcedVanillaLatte]

My bugbear is pavement cyclists who suddenly veer onto the road without warning.

[dementedma]

It's dark here in Scotland in the mornings so to the parent whose son cycles to Kinross High School and who skidded on the icy pavement straight into the path of my car.......PUT A FUCKING HELMET AND HIGH VIZ JACKET ON YOUR BOY!. If I hadn't managed to avoid him, you would have had a dead child. No helmet, no bike!!!!

[jcsp]

I ride in a hi viz fleece. ( bargain from screwfix) and flashing lights going at a migraine inducing rate.

And still I am unwillingly involved in near misses.

I stop for lights, welcoming a rest.

So 2 requests....

Wake up.

Put your phone away.

Thanks

Chris

I do have to say that some of my fellow cyclists really should carry donor cards!

[Namejustfornappies]

Please use fixed lights not flashing, please?

[MipMipMip]

OK, this had really saddened me as I thought it was perfectly obvious that I was not seriously suggesting running people over deliberately. I'm sorry that so many people apparently need me to say this but please do not run over cyclists no matter how stupid they are.

To the person who said I was victim blaming: damn right I am! If you are putting yourself into a dangerous situation, such as a road, then you should do everything you can to keep yourself and others around you safe. This includes making sure people can EASILY see you.

And for the record I have not ever hit anyone. I also have good headlights, don't use the phone, have regular eye tests, won't have even a single drink if I'm driving and yes I look out for cyclists and other idiots (not saying all cyclists are idiots but ones who don't make themselves visible certainly are!). But I acknowledge that I am not perfect and that if I do ever hit one it is likely to be one who is poorly lit and harder to see.

I genuinely don't understand why people take this risk, or worse still allow their children to. There was a child of about five on the road today with his dad - dark clothing and a front light only. A driver would probably see them but if moving from bright street lights to shadow it takes time for eyes to adjust. Why risk it?

[Laquila]

It's incredible how many cyclists and pedestrians think they're invincible. I saw a bloke walking on the actual road (semi-rural A road - grass verges but no pavements) in the direction of traffic yesterday, with a massive HGV bearing down on him from behind, with him potentially oblivious. I generally stop and calmly point out to pedestrians walking on the wrong side of the road, through clenched teeth, that they're heading for disaster and they're often baffled.

[LauraMipsum]

WHY do cyclists use flashing lights? Seriously someone answer this - you can't judge distance and I find they just don't register as well as solid!

Because a few years ago a lot of people who ran into cyclists claimed that solid lights made them look like "road furniture" and therefore they weren't expecting them to be in the road. Thanks for that, SafeSpeed*

I use a flashing and a solid light on the back. The flashing to make clear that I'm not a skip and the solid for depth perception. I have a dynamo on the front too. Reflective piping on my jacket. Reflective on the back of my shoes. And for most of winter, fairy lights wound round my rack, so quite literally like a Christmas tree!

YWBVVVVVU to deliberately run someone over because they didn't conform to your personal standards though. Even if that was meant to be light hearted, it does happen - someone deliberately drove me off the road because he didn't like me overtaking a line of stationary traffic at the lights, which is a perfectly legal thing to do (he thought I should have ridden up the inside of left-turning traffic, which is dangerous).



*a now defunct organisation seemingly devoted to supporting motorists' right to travel as fast as they wished with as little regard to their surroundings as they could be bothered with

[KanyesVest]

We live in the burbs so generally well lit roads, but it can still be very difficult to see both cyclists and pedestrians. I'm drumming bike = helmets and hi vis vest into my DC, 4&6. Dd (4) won't go out without his "force field jacket". If only...

[Namejustfornappies]

Laura - thanks for explaining.

[LauraMipsum]

re reads

Er

I'd just like to add that the fairy lights are round my PANNIER rack.

[frikadela01]

Yanbu. It's for this very reason I've bought a load of high vis stickers to put on my pram, after being in the car with mil and she had to serve to avoid an unlit cyclist on the road I walk along to go to the shop. I think there should be a push for all people, cyclists pedestrians etc to be aware how invisible you become if you are wearing all dark clothes at night.

[Namejustfornappies]

I did wonder, but was too polite to comment

[LauraMipsum]

Name it seems totally absurd now but I remember loads and loads of conversations on cycling groups where the overall consensus was that if you didn't have a flashing rear light then you were basically courting the Grim Reaper and could legitimately be seen as road furniture. I think the mindset has outlived the cause of it.

[IcedVanillaLatte]

Glad you clarified Laura; was about to comment on you flashing your tits

I would worry about using fairy lights, though, as there are a lot of fairy lights around at the side of the road at this time of year, and it might distract from your actual lights and make you look like a Christmas tree.

[thelostboy]

A solid light can blend in with car headlights, a flashing light stands out, but it's harder to judge distance. FWIW, at night I use one of each, both front and rear, and have additional flashing lights on my helmet. Plus reflectives.

Still some drivers don't see me. And that is the real issue. Too many people in charge of a vehicle which can kill and maim are not paying attention to what is around them. Day or night.

[Piffpaffpoff]

Oh dementedma that just makes me feel all sick. Someone did that here on the way home from school the other day (not too far from you, so same icy conditions) and thank God there were no cars as he was sprawled in the middle of the road. Helmet on though.

[Elmersnewfriend]

Lovely title, OP. A friend of ours and his brother were killed while out on their bikes (broad daylight incidentally). Their mum was one of the first on the scene. So when you're using a flippant title like that, why don't you imagine coming across two of your children dead on the road? It makes my blood run cold every time I think of it.

But you are right in that cyclists should take every sensible precaution / road measure they can.

[ceecee32]

I was beginning to think it was just happening where I live. It seems to be a new phenomenon this year. Every night driving home I have come across 2 or 3 cyclists which appear out of the dark at the last minute.

The worst one was someone who was cycling down the middle of the road - I managed to just see a shape coming towards me - not even realising it was someone on a bike - it was just a strange shape which was just a bit darker than the dark night.

[Sellotapewillfixit]

Could people with hi vis/lights product suggestions pop over to a thread I have just started in Christmas asking for help? Sorry am on iPad so can't link.

[SnookieSnooks]

Well of course it's unreasonable (stupid) of cyclists to wear dark clothes and have inadequate lights ..... BUT cyclists get a undeservedly bad rep. I've had so many people tell me that most cyclists wear black, have no lights, are rude, ignore red lights etc etc etc.... trouble is, it is now becoming acceptable to hate cyclists and some drivers are taking it too far and actually deliberately knocking cyclists off or trying to scare them. I live on a road that is popular with cyclists and a friend of mine was deliberately pushed off his bike by a passenger leaning out of the window of a passing car - luckily he suffered only a broken collar bone. There is a resident in our road who thinks it is a good laugh to swerve towards cyclists in his Volvo - he has
Done this to me and it is terrifying. The police were not interested in either of the above incidents.