Riding without pedal reflectors. OK or not?

[apollo179]

No, it's a soon as you blame all of britains ills on non-whites which is what some people do.

I would err towards Moodymans opinion at least to say ;
As soon as you mention foreigners, there is an knee jerk tendency by some people to label you a racist or a racist's sympathiser regardless of the truth that your words convey.

 

[summerdays]

Good point. I would love to reply with an insight about what india and indians are like but had better not as it might be interpretted as racist. Im learning - yipee.

I had friends who went to India for a year and a half ... they gave me lots of insights into the different world that they enjoyed whilst they were there, and they mentioned the no seat belts that they found very weird having come out from the UK with their children.

 

[apollo179]

I had friends who went to India for a year and a half ... they gave me lots of insights into the different world that they enjoyed whilst they were there, and they mentioned the no seat belts that they found very weird having come out from the UK with their children.

Its is - and thats how it is for alot of immigrants coming here.
Seat belt law is unfamiliar.
Lots of things are unfamiliar.
Im sure they had lots of insights - good and bad as i myself do - unfortunately the readiness of some on this forum to shout racist means it is not possible to share.
Thanks for the post.

 

[Twigman]

Good point. I would love to reply with an insight about what india and indians are like but had better not as it might be interpretted as racist. Im learning - yipee.

the Indians are the worst hypocrites - their caste system is the most crass form of discrimination.....and yet they love to play the race card over here

???

 

[apollo179]

the Indians are the worst hypocrites - their caste system is the most crass form of discrimination.....and yet they love to play the race card over here

???

FTFY

 

[twobiker]

How did pedal reflectors turn rascist ? I took mine off, they looked cheap and everything on my bike is black,Mtb, or silver,tourer. I don't ride in the dark because of the boogieman

 

[Stephenite]

I'm going to bask in moral superiority for a minute...



...I bought some pedals (spd one side, flat t'other) for the commuter a couple of years ago from LeisureLakes in Bury. As they didn't come with reflectors I asked if they would put some on, and they happily obliged, free of charge. As i was planning on cycling at night, in snow, on crappy Norwegian roads I thought it best to be legal.

I couldn't vote in the poll tho' because I sometimes use the mtn bike at night which doesn't have reflectors. Shame..

 

[Cyclopathic]

At night it is simply wise to make ones self as visible as possible. If one has clipless pedals it stands to reason that reflectors are not possible. I personally would not worry about pedal reflectors too much but I would and do try and make sure that I have other highly visible points. I don't believe in adhereing to the law for its own sake but being visible at night just makes sense so I try to be.
Perhaps the law could be slightly amended so that it states pedal reflectors compulsary where there is a place for them to be fitted. A bit like the seatbelt law for very old cars where you don't have to wear one if they are not fitted. Failing that common sense should be applied to save the law the time and expense. I can't imagine that if one were lit up and wearing bright or reflective clothing that a traffic cop would go to the trouble of stopping you to lay down the law. As long as there is a general level of visibility it seems unproductive and unnescessarily pedantic to get caught up with the minutae of the law.

 

[tyred]

At night it is simply wise to make ones self as visible as possible. If one has clipless pedals it stands to reason that reflectors are not possible. I personally would not worry about pedal reflectors too much but I would and do try and make sure that I have other highly visible points. I don't believe in adhereing to the law for its own sake but being visible at night just makes sense so I try to be.
Perhaps the law could be slightly amended so that it states pedal reflectors compulsary where there is a place for them to be fitted. A bit like the seatbelt law for very old cars where you don't have to wear one if they are not fitted. Failing that common sense should be applied to save the law the time and expense. I can't imagine that if one were lit up and wearing bright or reflective clothing that a traffic cop would go to the trouble of stopping you to lay down the law. As long as there is a general level of visibility it seems unproductive and unnescessarily pedantic to get caught up with the minutae of the law.

The most sensible thing I have read all day!

 

[Dan B]

One crucial difference is that when pedestrians cross on red it does not antagonize drivers and fuel negative stereotypes. It is not a good idea if you are a minority group in a democratic society to unnecessarily antagonize the majority.

If you want to be a wheeled pedestrian, buy a pair of roller skates.

I have a pair of roller skates (several pairs, in fact, one of which cost more than all but one of my bikes). I find it interesting that you say that, because on the public highway I often skate as I would ride - in the roadway, at 12-20mph, and obeying the signs and signals in much the same way as I would on a bicycle. But if I slow down to walking speed, then I behave as - and am treated by other road users as - a pedestrian, and I have never had anyone suggest that I should take my skates off in order to use a pedestrian crossing or a footway. So, why is it so widely protested when a cyclist moving at 3mph crosses the road at red, but yet it's OK for him to be pushing the bike at the same speed?

 

[apollo179]

the Indians are the worst hypocrites - their caste system is the most crass form of discrimination.....and yet they love to play the race card over here

???

On consideration i am refraining from commenting as ive allready found how quick people are to shout racist , so although i may agree with you i could not possibly comment . I do respekt you for giving the frank straightforward opinion - more than i do these cowardly pc racist calling types.

I would say in answer to youre race card comment in the context of what ive allready said that you could say that i have been playing the immigrant card (rather than the race card) in proposing tolerance and understanding of immigrants who contravene british laws.
And i would say that so long as the uk continues its tradition of welcoming immigrants from other countries then i would say that it behoves us to be understanding and tolerant of legal lapses caused by this culture gap.

 

[twobiker]

It seems that we have lots of nationals who already flout the law,{me included,no reflectors,} dont try giving all the credit to immigrants,we can break the law with the best of them,stand up for uk lawbreakers and be counted

 

[sunnyjim]

I think you are mixing up bells and pedal reflectors. Riding a bike without pedal reflectors when its dark is illegal. RVLR 1989 Schedule 20

Requirements relating to obligatory pedal retro reflectors and optional pedal retro reflectors to the extent specified in part ii

1. Number: Two reflectors on each pedal
2. Position–

(a) Longitudinal:On the leading edge and the trailing edge of each pedal
(b) Lateral:No requirement
© Vertical:No requirement

​

3. Angles of visibility: Such that the reflector on the leading edge of each pedal is plainly visible to the front and the reflector on the trailing edge of each pedal is plainly visible to the rear
4. Markings: A British Standard mark
5. Size of reflecting area: No requirement
6. Colour: Amber

My reflectors are infinitely small.

 

[apollo179]

It seems that we have lots of nationals who already flout the law,{me included,no reflectors,} dont try giving all the credit to immigrants,we can break the law with the best of them,stand up for uk lawbreakers and be counted

Hell yes - lots of brits break the law and they do not have the excuse that they have come from a foreign land where rljing and pedal reflectors and seat belts etc etc are alien concepts.

 

[Cyclopathic]

the Indians are the worst hypocrites - their caste system is the most crass form of discrimination.....and yet they love to play the race card over here

???

That is some prety big generalisations you are using there. "the indians", what all of them? Are all Indians hypocrites. "their caste system", Do they all believe in it? Do all Indians adhere strictly to it? Is it only in operation in India? Do you know enough about it to be able to comment with any authority. "they love to play the race card"? All indains do this do they, all the time.

I'd say that you don't know what you are talking about because all English people are too busy Morris dancing and drinking real ale to have time to learn about anything else.