Reflective Clothing Psychology - Your Thoughts...

[numbnuts]

Night riding on a bike with red tights works “look at that prat in the red tight” - sorted

 

[Ming the Merciless]

 

[cougie uk]

A while back, before the internet was common, a well known local was run over and at the trial it was pointed that he was walking in dark clothes so the driver got a lesser sentence. I’m not going to let a bad driver use an excuse like that so it’s light clothes, reflectors and BS marked lights for me.

Yes - old bloke was run down just round the corner from me. Driver claimed he couldn't see him as he was in the shade of tall hedges.

I always have lights on and ride wide down there. I'm not being lost in the hedge. If you hit me you just haven't been looking.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

A while back, before the internet was common, a well known local was run over and at the trial it was pointed that he was walking in dark clothes so the driver got a lesser sentence. I’m not going to let a bad driver use an excuse like that so it’s light clothes, reflectors and BS marked lights for me.

Did the driver get prosecuted for defective lighting as well as careless or dangerous driving?

 

[Mike_P]

Yes - old bloke was run down just round the corner from me. Driver claimed he couldn't see him as he was in the shade of tall hedges.

I've seen that relationship between bicycle and shade, driving in a queue of traffic on an A road which was jittery in its speed. The cause transpired to be a nearly invisible cyclist hidden by dark clothing in the shade, drivers braking because they had not seen the cyclist earlier then pulling out to overtake rather than just pulling out

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Proviz is shoot. I have a hat made out of it. Even that makes my head sweat and it only gets used in winter on cold nights.

I take the approach of making the bike visible. Two lights on rear in case of failure. Dynamo light on front with backup be seen battery light. I have mudguards on my bike. 3M do highly reflective tape in orange, black, white , red etc. It meets the British standards on reflectives as long as you have enough surface area. The mudguard is a much bigger surface area than the rear reflectors you can buy.

I have a long strip of reflective red down rear mudguard. Mudflapd in flouro yellow with retro reflective black in middle. I use clipless pedals. I have orange reflective tape on the cranks which does same job as pedal reflectors. Front light also has a white reflector below it.

I will point out that most rear lights have more modes than steady or flashing. I have mine in a pattern that cycles through the multiple LEDs. The rear light is never completely off, at least one LED is lit as the pattern changes. It’s not just an on / off pattern that you’d call a flash.

I want to wear normal clothing when out on bike. Hope off it into pub etc with no undressing ceremony. Make the bike visible wear what you like.

If I’m on a long audax that involves riding through the entire night. I will wear a high viz gilet. Half of that is about the extra warmth it brings doubling up as a wind proof layer. But otherwise it sits in my rear bag. To be deployed if I’m off the bike at night and walking in road due to a mechanical or other reason etc

As mentioned up. Defensive cycling and awareness is by far the best protection once you’ve done the basics required by law.

.

 

[RoadRider400]

As has been said before you need something that catches the drivers attention. My main concern is drivers approaching from behind because they will be closer than drivers on the otherside and I cannot see what they are doing. For that reason in the winter I tend to use two good quality rear lights one static and one flashing. Reflectors are all well and good but I would not rely on them as the primary attention grabber. I still notice plenty of drivers not switching their lights on at dawn or dusk and if reflectors have nothing to reflect they will not be much use.

 

[neil_merseyside]

The pedals are "buried" in the sole of my shoe when riding, so no amount of reflective tape is going to make them visible.

Plenty of crank to put yellow reflective tape on though. I have it around the ends of the crank and a loop just above the pedal threads, so it can be seen from the sides and front and rear.

 

[cougie uk]

I've seen that relationship between bicycle and shade, driving in a queue of traffic on an A road which was jittery in its speed. The cause transpired to be a nearly invisible cyclist hidden by dark clothing in the shade, drivers braking because they had not seen the cyclist earlier then pulling out to overtake rather than just pulling out

I've actually ridden past my riding pal before now without seeing him.
We'd leave at the same time and ride towards each other and then he'd u turn to ride with me.

Winter's day. Dull. He's riding under trees all in black. No lights. I was looking for him and didn't see him.
Took him ages to catch me up.
Next week he had a fluo yellow gilet and lights on.

 

[Deleted member 121159]

I like to obsessively look back over my shoulder when I hear a car approaching from behind. A human face seems to be pretty effective at catching the driver's attention against the backdrop of cars and roads.

 

[freiston]

I like to obsessively look back over my shoulder when I hear a car approaching from behind. A human face seems to be pretty effective at catching the driver's attention against the backdrop of cars and roads.

Maybe a photo of a face on the back of your jacket would be more effective than hi-viz and reflective material? 😉

 

[Mike_P]

I like to obsessively look back over my shoulder when I hear a car approaching from behind.

Not sure on that, with the amount of pot holes and dodgy road surfaces the least time looking backwards is on my book safer.

 

[sasquath]

Maybe a photo of a face on the back of your jacket would be more effective than hi-viz and reflective material? 😉

Some beachwear models of both sexes will catch even more attention

 

[mustang1]

So 0

As the night closes in sooner every passing day, the leaves are falling and the freaky night cyclists emerge from the depths (me included!)...

What are the current thoughts on reflective clothing?

Based on a lot of evidence, studies and other people's viewpoints I am inclined to believe the following...

- Yellow High Viz is so overused these days that people are basically mentally blanking it out
I reckon yellow is still the most visible of hi-viz colours. A chequered black/yellow squares combination would work better imho.
- From riding motorcycles and cycles for many years I am of the opinion that you could be wearing a full size Mr Blobby outfit, and if they ain't gonna see you, they ain't gonna see you.
that's true, but I'd still like to give the driver every chance of trying to see me.
- Movement reflectives (Pedals / leg bands) may help the issue
definitely help the cause.
- ProVis is excellent but like riding in a binbag in terms of sweating
Good info, thanks. I did not know that.
- Lights lights lights (I ride with lights even in the daytime as they are hard wired in anyway)
In quite a few circumstances, I see high viz before I see lights. That's usually because the lights aren't bright enough.

Now I will sit back and wait for you all to tell me how wrong I am

See above in italics.

 

[Arjimlad]

I like to obsessively look back over my shoulder when I hear a car approaching from behind. A human face seems to be pretty effective at catching the driver's attention against the backdrop of cars and roads.

People look out for cyclists looking over their shoulders, as they anticipate you may be wanting to change direction.

Shoulder checking at pinch points leads to fewer close passes & more drivers holding back in my experience. As does taking primary, of course.

When I'm approaching a right turn, my frequent shoulder checks lead many drivers to wait & allow me to move out some time before I've signalled.