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!

[dementedma]

piffpaff it made me feel sick too. I could have killed him.
I hate seeing cyclists in traffic, or youngsters cycling without helmets.
My dd rides (horses) and it non negotiable that no hard hat, no ride!

[justpeachy74]

I'm with you there OP. We have it a lot round here. If it's not poorly lit cyclists on the road they're cycling like loons on the pavement.
We also get teenagers doing wheelies up the busy high street along side the traffic.

[NerrSnerr]

The other evening we were on a really hilly and bendy country road in the dark when all of a sudden we were behind a cyclist in black with one small flashing rear light. It was lucky we didn't come across him after a blind bend as he wasn't visible until we were right behind him. I don't hate cyclists (I have been a cyclist and a motorcyclist) but I want to see them and definitely don't want to hit them.

When I was a cyclist and motorcyclist it made me realise how the onus was on me not to be a twat and to keep myself safe as I'd be the one that was worse off in a collision.

[starchildareyoulistening]

My drive to/from work includes a country road where there is no pavement, no streetlights and the speed limit is 60mph. Almost every night I will pass cyclists and pedestrians with no hi-vis, completely invisible until you're almost on top of them. Obviously I've come to expect it now so I drive really slowly on that road when it's dark, but I'm tempted to buy a load of cheap hi-vis vests to keep on my passenger seat and chuck them out the window at people as I pass!

I also pass a primary school each day and often see small children cycling to school, with or without their parents, and am astounded at the number of them that don't have helmets on. The other day I saw a woman cycling down the aforementioned country road in daylight, no helmet, with a little toddler in a child seat on the back with no helmet on either. The child was young enough to still have that sparse soft baby hair you can see the scalp through - gave me shudders seeing such a vulnerable little thing wobbling around above the tarmac with cars rushing by and mum pedalling along unconcerned.

[starchildareyoulistening]

dementedma I think maybe horsey people are more likely to be shocked by people not wearing helmets - I used to work at a riding school where the rule was that all children must be wearing a hard hat whenever they were anywhere near the horses (even mucking out etc) in case anyone got kicked or anything. I'm so used to the idea that a hard hat MUST be worn to plod round a sand school on the lead rein that the sight of a child cycling along a busy road without a helmet makes my blood cold even though I don't have children myself.

[charleyfarleysaunt]

If you can't see objects in your path at night, then you shouldn't be driving

Seriously? A bike ridden by someone with dark clothing and no lights is bloody invisible until it almost too late... I dread winter, as my usually simple commute (yes, with cyclists, but at least in daylight it is easier to spot and avoid them) is fraught with invisible cyclists

As well as those who think it is fine to fly off the pavement (that they shouldn't be cycling on anyway) right in front of me. DC driving to work last week had one do this in 40 MPH area [DC was doing a bit under the limit BTW] and had to swerve suddenly in to oncoming traffic... thank goodness the oncoming car also swerved so all was ok, well other than one one very shaken up DC with exacerbated anxiety

PLEASE, CYCLISTS: LIGHT UP FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY!!

[thelostboy]

NerrSnerr

And if it had been a broken down car round your imaginary bend, or a pedestrian?

Still the main onus is on the driver to be able to stop within their field of vision. Day or night. You all were taught this when you learned to drive. It hasn't changed.

[BreatheDeep]

I haven't read every post so not sure if it's already been said but it is actually illegal for cyclists to not use lights at night. So it's not unreasonable to find it annoying!

[BlackeyedSusan]

even when you are driving slowly, cyclists all in black no lights, cycling the wrong way on the road are nearly invisible, especially if you happen to be turning a corner and your lights do not instantly pick them up. dipped headlights do not shine far, and shine towards the kerb. even with good eyesight (tested) and not being on phone and concentrating well all-in-black cyclists are nearly impossible to spot if they are not silhouetted.

I am surprised that more of them are not run over...

twats on mobile phones/cd changers etc deserve to be taken off the road and banned from driving.

[MipMipMip]

Bracketed - I agree about the phones/radio etc. I'm not suggesting drovers are faultless and have no time for idiots who forget they are driving a half ton weapon

[greathat]

I got ridden into a darkly clad cyclist with no lights the other day. I was stationery at traffic lights. No idea what she thought she was doing

[NerrSnerr]

Thelost I do drive to the road and conditions, so obviously am very cautious especially round blind bends- you must have seen a blind bend, I assure you they're not imaginary. There are some roads that make seeing people who are not adequately lit up more difficult- I don't understand why someone wouldn't do their best to be seen.

There was that episode of Traffic Cops on telly where a cyclist was killed on an unlit road with no lights and was dressed in black, the driver thought she'd hit an animal. She was released without charge. Horrible for everyone involved.

[MipMipMip]

Black Eyed*

[MedSchoolRat]

I work at a university so spend a lot of time teeth gnashing at cyclists with no lights... I am a cyclist. I look like a ruddy Christmas tree as much as possible.

I have a bell on my bicycle tho' not sure it's any use, given the dozey pedestrians with head phones zigzaging around the shared ped-cyclist path.

Can we mention all the cars with only a single good headlight? Or the motorcyclists in purely dark clothes? Then there are drivers (like my husband) who won't turn their lights on until they are almost invisible in the dusk. A lot of groups could do a lot to be more visible.

[Bettersleepoutdoors]

I am staggered by the number of cyclists and pedestrians who seem oblivious to how invisible and vulnerable they are.

[NerrSnerr]

I agree medschool that everyone needs to make sure they're visible. I had a fluorescent yellow helmet when I rode a motorbike- not the trendiest piece of kit but bloody hell you could see me!

[pluck]

I've started using lights in the day because I've realised my black CAR can't be seen easily in sun-and-shadow.

When I was taking DD to and from nursery by bike, drivers used to practically clip us despite our hi-vis everything, clearly visible baby seat, Child on Board sticker on the baby seat, my cycling defensively a metre from the kerb... nothing worked! It's frightening.

[Itisnoteasybeingdifferent]

You don't qualify for a Darwin by simply not using lights and getting yourself killed as a result...

[Mungobungo]

Let's not get into an argument over who's responsibility it is to ensure that cyclists are safe on the roads.

It's the cyclist's responsibility to be clearly visible while using the road. It's the car/van/lorry/motorbike driver's responsibility to ensure that they are using the road safely, ensuring safe speed and no distractions. No one is perfect, however, being a vulnerable road user, the onus IS on cyclists to ensure that they're visible - same goes for pedestrians.

It really pisses me off when I see people flying past cyclists too closely and too fast or overtaking in tiny gaps into oncoming traffic, it also pisses me off when I see cyclists without correct safety equipment and cyclists taking risks by squeezing past large vehicles like buses and lorries on the left hand side. Same goes for pedestrians who don't take measures to ensure they can see and be seen and those who cross roads without looking or while on their phones.

As I said above, it's everyone's responsibility to use the roads safely.

Also, a fixed light alongside a flashing light WOULD be really helpful to other road users.

[SirChenjin]

I was almost hit by a cyclist recently - went to step off the pavement and from out of nowhere (it seemed) appeared a cyclist with no lights and dark clothing. Fortunately I was going slower than he was so was able to stop and the accident was averted.

I commute along a very busy A road and see a worryingly large number of cyclists who don't cycle to conditions - so while lycra and tiny flashing lights might be de rigeur it's about the worst thing for busy roads with headlights and lorries thundering past (and yes, I agree some drivers are terrible when it comes to cyclists - but this thread isn't about that. Start another thread about crap drivers and I'll happily post on that too )

[thelostboy]

Mungobungo for next minister for transport!

[CharliePurple]

Yes, and pedestrians who wear all black and cross the road wherever they like after dark. Really clever on a 60mph dual carriageway.

[starchildareyoulistening]

Oh yes MedSchool there are plenty of drivers who seem equally unable to grasp the idea that other road users need to be able to see them! Nearly had a head-on collision the other day when I overtook a tractor because the road looked clear for miles, only for a silver-grey car with no lights on to emerge out of the mist going way above the speed limit. Wanker flashed his full beams at me for making him brake and then turned his lights off again and carried on his merry way!

[NoBetterName]

Maybe someone else has already pointed this out, but Highway Code rule 60, "At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp."

Cycling without working lights front and rear (not only reflectors) is not permitted.

[NoBetterName]

and those talking about cyclists on the pavement should refer to rule 64, "You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement."