BBC video of cyclists with helmet cam

custardy

Lum wrote: »

I also like how it's a broken white line meaning it's ok for cars to enter the lane.

In your second photo there is also some muppet walking down it. Which is impressive given this isn't a pavement based cycle lane and he isn't even trying to overtake a slower pedestrian at that point.

The Cycle Facility of the Month is always amusing too.

with regard to him walking down
I wonder if he is doing it as he see's the cycle lane as a safe area?
Oh,its not my photos
should give a mention to http://www.laid-back-bikes.co.uk/

Tilt

custardy wrote: »

with regard to him walking down
I wonder if he is doing it as he see's the cycle lane as a safe area?
Oh,its not my photos
should give a mention to http://www.laid-back-bikes.co.uk/

In my opinion these machines are more dangerous than a normal bike. Surely the lower you are, the less visible you are especially to larger vehicles such as buses and HGVs.

custardy

Tilt wrote: »

In my opinion these machines are more dangerous than a normal bike. Surely the lower you are, the less visible you are especially to larger vehicles such as buses and HGVs.

well to an extent
however it also opens up cycling to many who couldnt otherwise
what people can & can't see isnt always relevant
its how observant they are
The taxi driver that forced me off the road could see me(unless they drive blindfolded)

Dave_C_2

Re recumbent bikes:

Tilt wrote: »

In my opinion these machines are more dangerous than a normal bike. Surely the lower you are, the less visible you are especially to larger vehicles such as buses and HGVs.

Not really, exactly the same thing can be said about low-slung sports cars - and small children (both equally lethal )

The few recumbents I see round where I live have huge whip aerials with flourescent flags. Lots of hi-viz/reflective stuff at the back as well. Easily visible from a car.

As Custardy has said, it's when cyclists are seen but not registered that the SMIDSY problems occur. The Invisible Visible Man sums this up nicely in his blog intro.

Dave

Tilt

Dave_C wrote: »

Re recumbent bikes:

Not really, exactly the same thing can be said about low-slung sports cars - and small children (both equally lethal )

Yes but arnt 'low-slung' sports cars a tad wider than a bike? And are less likely to be hidden by a close-following vehicle? And you don't see many small children running along a roadway.

Dave_C wrote: »

The few recumbents I see round where I live have huge whip aerials with flourescent flags. Lots of hi-viz/reflective stuff at the back as well. Easily visible from a car.

Hmm maybe, but let's face it they don't all wear hi-viz gear and have those high aerials. Easily visible from a car maybe, but not so from a larger vehicle.

This is just my opinion by the way.

Lum

That blog writes

I have a nearly infallible method of making myself invisible. I put on a bright silver helmet, pull on a high visibility jacket, reflective wristbands and trouser straps, get on a light blue touring bicycle and head off down the road.

Once again, I'll bring up razzle dazzle camoflage. If it worked to stop people shooting down warships that they're trying to hit then it would also work to stop people avoiding cyclists that they're trying not to hit.

Some of the modern day cycling lycra designs seem particularly bad for this. Likewise for motorcyclists that wear power ranger uniforms.

Hell, some countries use high vis patterns like this to prevent drivers from seeing speed cameras!

Perhaps a single solid red would be more effective that a mixture of colours and patterns that was previously used to confuse others.

Dave_C_2

Lum wrote: »

Once again, I'll bring up razzle dazzle camoflage. If it worked to stop people shooting down warships that they're trying to hit then it would also work to stop people avoiding cyclists that they're trying not to hit.

First time I've come across this, thanks.

In a similar vein, I think that high viz vests are now so commonplace that they lose their effectiveness. Their use has now gone completely OTT and are now litigation deflectors rather than a useful means of being visible. Particularly noticeable with council workers. It's a sort of modern camouflage, where everyone is wearing them against a background of high viz vehicles and so forth.

motorcyclists that wear power ranger uniforms

Excellent! :rotfl:

Dave

Lum

It's a pretty significant thing to be concerned about. The only reason that form of camouflage fell out of favour is because it was rendered ineffective by radar, something that only a very tiny minority of cars on the road currently have.

I always remember a childhood friend of mine who was in the army cadets and was given a serious telling off for crossing an unlit forest road in darkness while still wearing his camouflage gear (BDUs?).

I wonder what the courts would have ruled if their had been an accident. Could the driver reasonably be expected to see in and stop in time still?


As for high viz, ever heard it described as "urban camouflage"?. It's the perfect thing to wear if you fancy committing random acts of vandalism, maybe removing road signs or moving traffic cones around.


Edit: Just remembered one comedy high viz requirement. My GF, in a previous job, had to go up onto the roof of her building to install some networking gear. H&S regs meant she still had to wear a high viz... maybe to stop any confused helicopter pilots landing on her? I have no idea.

DCodd

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

Can't quite find it at the mo, but it is recommended and you are supposed to give cyclists as much room as you would a car.

This should make interesting reading for you

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/technique-road-positioning-197/

Come on Enterprise, you live in Surrey and assume you cycle in Surrey too? Ridden Boxhill much? Check out the pro and semi pro teams that train there and see their road positioning. They stay to the left as much as is possible.

If the car drivers gave me as much room as a car the roads by me would be even more gridlocked than they are now, they HGV drivers always give me plenty of room and I give them the same. Just be sensible, be aware of drivers and their needs and drivers (in the most part) will give you the room and courtesy you require.

heartbreak_star

Lum, I never thought about debris in cycle lanes etc. but the ones where I live/work are pretty good according to the few cyclists I know. It's pretty sad that they're just token gestures in some places

HBS x