|
| Author |
Message |
spasypaddy
Joined: 10 May 2007
Posts: 1287
Location: London, England
 |
|
|
TommyEss
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Posts: 451
Location: Reading
|
 Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 6:43 pm |
Came up behind a ninja tonight, as I went past him after the lights had gone green (he had just about stopped at the red...) I suggested he might want some lights as it's pretty dark...
Blank expression - What can you do!?
Sunday Best - Cannondale Synapse 105
Winter Trainer - Giant Defy 3
Commuter - On-One Il Pompino
Hardtail - Giant XtC 2 |
|
|
fossyant
Joined: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 1306
Location: South Manchester
|
Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 6:48 pm |
| spen666 wrote: | I'm not too bad- bit of whiplash etc. Bike needs new wheeland other bits.
I was very restrained- loads of witnesses gave details. Apparently he had driven like an aar*ehole weaving at speed through taraffic before hitting me. Luckily, i slid down road rather than falling downwards, so my clothing took the damage- need new tights, top etc, but no major injuries.
bikeshop quoted for repairs and are rebuilding wheel as we speak and i've got insurance details etc and police involved.
Its a hazard of life when commuting. That's 3 times in 5 years I have been hit from behind.
not sure what more I can do
5 rear lights- hi viz vest. Was riding in primary position in bus lane etc. I'm sure I must be doing something wrong to have 3 rear end hits in 5 year but I'll be buggered if I know what it is
Thanks for your sympathy everyone. |
Bad luck there - 4 Smarts at the rear...and he didn't see you...good grief, let's hope the cops hit him with it................
I got side swiped lit up like a Christmas tree.....gone even brighter this winter....... had both Hope Vision 1's giving out 480 lumens in the pouring rain tonight...
|
|
|
Hrun
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 19
|
|
|
Chicane-UK
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 67
|
Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 11:10 pm |
This thread fresh in my mind, I cycled into Coventry earlier to meet up with a friend. Imagine my astonishment when, as I waited at the top of a hill for my mate to catch up in Kenilworth, a chap came pedaling the other way on a bike with one of those kiddie 'carts' attached to the back - but didn't have a single light on either the bike or the cart - and it was already getting quite dark (was about 4:45pm) - I literally couldn't believe me eyes.
I stared at him as he pedaled past me.. he kept looking back at me as if to say "What?!" - surely he must have known what I was thinking as I was sat by the side of the road with my jaw hanging open, in sheer disbelief.
It's one thing to think you don't need lights on your bike, but to then endager your own CHILD as well? I've seen it all!
|
|
|
spen666
Joined: 16 Sep 2003
Posts: 14546
|
|
|
cougie
Joined: 21 Apr 2004
Posts: 11548
Location:
|
Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 11:27 am |
Sorry to hear about that spen - madness that he couldn't see you with your setup.
Black kit when its dark isn't a problem as such. I ride like that but I have 2 bright light at the front, 2 rear leds - reflectives all over the bike and my backpack and reflectives on my clothes. You can get some classy black reflectives too.
All black on dull days is a bit silly. I've passed my training partner on a sunday morning without seeing him- he was in shade coming towards me and I didn't see him at all. He got a fluo gilet for the next week.
|
|
|
Benno68
Joined: 14 Mar 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Cardiff
|
Posted Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:20 pm |
I agree that motorists should drive at a safe speed and "should" be able to pick up an unlit cyclist if they maintain a proper lookout, this should go without saying.
However, I think that cyclists should always display lights in the dark to gain the attention of those who are wrapped up in a mobile phone conversation, or switching radio stations etc. intead of concentrating fully on their driving. Hi viz gear is a good thing, but I don't think it's a necessity.
Yesterday, I saw a young lady driving around a fairly complicated four lane roundabout, struggling to steer and change gear whilst holding a conversation on her mobile - that made me mad!
Get well soon Spen666.
..........................................................................
I'm getting there, in my own time! |
|
|
snailracer
Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 128
|
Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:21 pm |
| Benno68 wrote: | I agree that motorists should drive at a safe speed and "should" be able to pick up an unlit cyclist if they maintain a proper lookout, this should go without saying.
However, I think that cyclists should always display lights in the dark to gain the attention of those who are wrapped up in a mobile phone conversation, or switching radio stations etc. instead of concentrating fully on their driving... |
In a previous life, I was driving in Wisconsin, one of the less-backwards states in the USA. It was pitch black and I nearly collided with an unlit cyclist. Bloody idiot, I muttered. Out of interest, I looked up the lighting regs for bicycles, and to my amazement, there were none - the unlit cyclist was perfectly legal! The upshot was that I paid much more attention when driving at night, because I no longer assumed that cyclists would carry lights.
Also in Wisconsin, I was driving at night on the motorway and narrowly avoided hitting a (very large, antlered) deer. Naturally, this, too, did not carry lights. The upshot was that I paid much more attention when driving at night on motorways, which don't have bikes but still have other things I could hit (and potentially do me serious damage, even in a car).
If it sounds like I was driving around Wisconsin in a state of perpetual trepidation as soon as it got dark, you're right, but I am more fearful cycling in Britain at any time of day. IMO motorists are not fearful enough.
I guess my point is that motorists do not pay anywhere near enough attention when night driving, and that it should not be assumed that everything on the road (unlit bikes, peds, animals, fallen trees, etc.) carries lights. Unless running over unlit peds, deer, cats, foxes, badgers, obstructions, etc. at night is "acceptable", then it should be expected that drivers should be able to avoid unlit bikes, too. In my opinion, motorists are unacceptably complacent about the safety of more-vulnerable road users and it rankles me that society (indeed, some members of this forum) considers such a poor attitude both "normal" and "acceptable".
Also, why are speed limits not reduced at night? Just to make life convenient for motorists, perhaps?
Motorists driving around with just sidelights or foglights on at night, why are they not immediately pulled over? Reflectors do not work well when cars have incorrect lighting. Is it because society does not think inadequate lighting on cars at night is a problem, and so can't be bothered with policing this?
So, while I think bike ninjas are personally irresponsible, I also think that they unwittingly improve my own odds when cycling at night by shaking motorists out of their comfort zone and making them pay more attention.
In case anyone was wondering, my bike is lit like a Christmas tree at night (didn't stop me getting hit last year, though).
|
|
|
PBo
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Posts: 213
Location: Sheffield
|
Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:29 pm |
| Chicane-UK wrote: | This thread fresh in my mind, I cycled into Coventry earlier to meet up with a friend. Imagine my astonishment when, as I waited at the top of a hill for my mate to catch up in Kenilworth, a chap came pedaling the other way on a bike with one of those kiddie 'carts' attached to the back - but didn't have a single light on either the bike or the cart - and it was already getting quite dark (was about 4:45pm) - I literally couldn't believe me eyes.
I stared at him as he pedaled past me.. he kept looking back at me as if to say "What?!" - surely he must have known what I was thinking as I was sat by the side of the road with my jaw hanging open, in sheer disbelief.
It's one thing to think you don't need lights on your bike, but to then endager your own CHILD as well? I've seen it all! |
I pick my kid up from nursery sometimes on the bike w bike seat. Interestingly, now it's dark and we are bothl hi viz and xmas tree-y, the cars give us twice as much room as in the light....
FCN = 8
[chandler bing] Could I BE any more of a commuter???[/chandler bing] |
|
|
snailracer
Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 128
|
Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:36 pm |
| Il Principe wrote: | | snailracer wrote: | Warning: controversial comments follow...
I am in two minds about bike ninjas. As a car driver, I think they're irresponsible. But as a cycling advocate, the more "irresponsible" cycling there is, the more likely car drivers are to pay attention to what's in front of them and drive more carefully. Besides, cars carry powerful lights and should be able to see what's in front of them in the dark. |
Right and what about peds and other cyclists, I've had close calls with Ninja's* before, it's moronic to ride without lights or reflective when it's dark, and trust me, being hit by a car is no sodding fun. Now that I've been forced onto the bus** I'm amazed at the number of lightless riders I'm seeing every single day.
... |
I don't "like" bike ninjas either. My point is, a ninja may have saved you from being hit by a car:
Ninja hits bike = bruises.
Ninja hits ped = bruises.
Dozy motorist hits bike/ped = fatal.
Dozy motorist has near miss with ninja = alert motorist
Now-alert motorist avoids hitting bike/ped = result.
PS Get well soon.
|
|
|
gobi
Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 5
|
Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:47 pm |
Bright pink bike lights front and rear, reflectors on the spokes.
I dress in black though.
Just had a car pull out in front of me on a roundabout.
Maybe time to wear a fluro bib.....
|
|
|
BentMikey
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Posts: 4670
|
Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:07 pm |
I doubt hiviz would help you - fluo doesn't work in the dark, and the reflectives won't be reflecting there. The driver has no lights pointing towards you to give a reflective return to his eyes.
What might help is FRIKKIN LAZER BEAMS OF DETH. although even with those they still pull out on you once in a while:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DATtvvo-kTw
My bikes
My skates |
|
|
gobi
Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 5
|
Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:02 pm |
Tempted to put my exposure race light on the bike :¬)
|
|
|
BentMikey
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Posts: 4670
|
Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:09 pm |
| gobi wrote: | | Tempted to put my exposure race light on the bike :¬) |
LOL, I have a MaXx-D as my commuting light. The effect of flashing is awesome!!! (I do have some dark country lanes on my commute, so it's nice to have a decent light for those).
My bikes
My skates |
|
|
bradford
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Posts: 122
Location: New Forest, Hampshire
|
Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:11 am |
Spotted a Ninja on the way home from the supermarket tonight[NOT] and nearly put him in a box!! Didn't see him to the last minute on a new forest road and after locking up  he said he could not afford any lights  Yeah right  The roads round here are pitch black and really good lights are a must 
|
|
|
squired
Joined: 06 Oct 2004
Posts: 473
|
Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:16 pm |
Last night I was cycling home along one of the unlit country lanes I use. It was dark and raining. I was rather surprised when I came across a cyclist going in the other direction. The reason it surprised me is that his front light was so poor that I only saw it when I was a handful of metres away. He was also wearing a black hoodie and had no back light... Ignoring the safety aspect of being seen for a second, I honestly don't know how he was managing to navigate along the unlit lane in complete darkness. As for the safety aspect, cars can go pretty fast on those lanes and the only thing they react to is lights. At least a cyclist with no lights stands a chance on a well lit road, but on a country lane it is just idiotic.
|
|
|
bradford
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Posts: 122
Location: New Forest, Hampshire
|
Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:26 pm |
| squired wrote: | | Last night I was cycling home along one of the unlit country lanes I use. It was dark and raining. I was rather surprised when I came across a cyclist going in the other direction. The reason it surprised me is that his front light was so poor that I only saw it when I was a handful of metres away. He was also wearing a black hoodie and had no back light... Ignoring the safety aspect of being seen for a second, I honestly don't know how he was managing to navigate along the unlit lane in complete darkness. As for the safety aspect, cars can go pretty fast on those lanes and the only thing they react to is lights. At least a cyclist with no lights stands a chance on a well lit road, but on a country lane it is just idiotic. |
+1
|
|
|
jejv
Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 18
Location: Cambridge
|
Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:31 pm |
| davmaggs wrote: | | (...), and some roadies with a tiny and barely visible rear light. I now see how the low sodium lights and blur of other vehicles means that they are invisible within only a few metres. |
Another problem is this.
(original image cropped to protect the guilty).
The owner believes lights are important, and has a decent light, but rather that putting it on the seatpost, pointing horizontally, as designed, (there's plenty of room), has inexplicably mounted it at a disfunctional angle on the seatstay.
LED ligfhts are quite directional.
Perhaps the owner is concerned about being shunted by low-flying aircraft.
An even dafter one I saw about a year ago was a shiny shopper with a fairly bright LED front light, actually pointing in a sensible direction - roughly straight forwards.
Unfortunately the beam was almost completely obscured by a very nice wicker basket in front of the light.
AFAICT, in Cambridge most bicycles are Ninja (50-70%??).
Of the rest, even when I had a 2W (sic) Cateye HL500, II could often - usually? - see other bikes by their pedal and handlebar reflectors before I coulld see that they actually did have lights.
As to whether Ninjas are insane, I guess that's a question about accident statistics, and I don't know where to look. Please tell me if you know.
@IP Sorry to hear about your collision.
|
|
|
snailracer
Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 128
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:38 am |
| jopari wrote: | I'll bite, regarding Snailracer's comment.
Car drivers definitley need to slow down and improve awareness of other road users, be they bikes, scooters or peds, but to improve awareness by de-creasing visibility??
Take it to it's logical conclusion, all cars should run without lights and crawl at 5mph.
You're cycling up the wrong one-way street there... |
Red flag man? I say bring them back 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_flag_laws
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
Search
