High visibility or highly overrated? Information flyer

**bogan** · 4th March 2011, 09:48

Information about High Visibility motorcycle apparel, for motorcyclists, written by motorcyclists instead of pencil pushers with an agenda!

Go to the MAG-NZ site for a 2 per page printable PDF.

Feel free to print a few copies to hand out at any unexpected roadside gatherings you find yourself part of

**CookMySock** · 4th March 2011, 09:54

Niiice. Keep up the good work! Much appreciated!

**Devil** · 4th March 2011, 09:59

Hrm, saying "inability to see the motorcycle" tends to imply that we cant be seen, not that they haven't looked properly, which I believe is what you're trying to get across...
Otherwise, good.

**superman** · 4th March 2011, 10:07

Great stuff. Might print one off on the occasion I get stopped by police/acc check and they try to give me a high vis vest to put on. Umm, given the current statistical information I don't feel safe with the high vis vest on, but thank you for the offer. Here is a flyer explaining my reasoning

**Fatt Max** · 4th March 2011, 10:12

Brilliant work as always matey

**bogan** · 4th March 2011, 10:15

Originally Posted by superman

Great stuff. Might print one off on the occasion I get stopped by police/acc check and they try to give me a high vis vest to put on. Umm, given the current statistical information I don't feel safe with the high vis vest on, but thank you for the offer. Here is a flyer explaining my reasoning

a good use for it! I do wonder if the high vis advocates are aware of the situations when it is rendered ineffective...

Originally Posted by Devil

Hrm, saying "inability to see the motorcycle" tends to imply that we cant be seen, not that they haven't looked properly, which I believe is what you're trying to get across...
Otherwise, good.

yeh, easy for that sorta thing to fall through the proof reading cracks, may update it tonight.

**buellbabe** · 4th March 2011, 11:12

Interestingly when I 'glance at' the 2pics my eyes are drawn to the headlight in both cases.

I say glance rather than look cos thats about all that some car drivers do.

My own thoughts are that we all need to ride as defensively as we can, expect the unexpected. No matter what we do or what we wear there will always be dickheads who don't take the time to actually LOOK to see if the road is clear.

I could rant about the latest car that pulled out on me but I won't except to say I totally expected him to pull out and also that there is NO FREAKING WAY he didn't see me coming ...6.20am, no other traffic and the CR lights on FULL.

He saw me, he just didn't give a shit and THAT, in my opinion, is the biggest problem we face.

**CookMySock** · 4th March 2011, 11:27

Originally Posted by buellbabe

I say glance rather than look cos thats about all that some car drivers do.

I agree, which why something about your bike must do a thing called "polarise" the person.

From wikipedia;
* Polarization (politics), the process by which the public opinion divides and goes to the extremes
* Polarization (psychology), the process whereby a social or political group is divided into opposing sub-groups

From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/polarize
* 2. To cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions.
* 3. to cause people to adopt extreme opposing positions to polarize opinion

There are many ways to effect this outcome ; piercingly bright headlight, super loud exhaust, weave around like a lunatic, swing chain above head.. etc.

People won't like it, so it is up to the individual how much they are prepared to balance their personal safety about the general opinion of the public. Those overtly subscribed to public opinion will actively scream down my suggestion, where those who couldn't give a rats will shrug the thing off as irrelevant.

Cap, fits, wear, but in the end we all want the same thing - cagers to take that second look and stop killing motorcyclists.

**trailblazer** · 4th March 2011, 11:34

that would be a great thing for us to have when we a pulled into an acc checkpoint. Police officer checks bike over you get a lecture by an acc worker then just as they hand you a flier. Oh yeah by the way here is a flier into a study that is currently under way so what is acc doing about the issues raised in our flier.
Great work mate.

**marty** · 4th March 2011, 11:45

on a recent 900km trip on a black motard in black ATGATT leathers, i wore - for the first time - a reflective vest.

no-one pulled out in front of me, and not once did i think - that guy hasn't seen me. on reflection, i think it made a huge difference.

i have also taken to wearing a high-vis cycle top on my 25k ride to work on the open road. i am noticing people giving me a wider berth - either they are more aware of the cyclist, or they are just being sensible. i'll take the high vis path.

About 6 weeks ago i was driving to work at about 0530. i nearly hit a person on a country road - they were often out walking at that time but it was just one of those REALLY dark mornings. I stopped and gave them a reflector vest that i happened to have (my tyre-changing one that lived in my boot). the next morning i saw them again, wearing the vest. i saw them from about 200m away. 200m warning is a little better than 2m.......

**AllanB** · 4th March 2011, 11:53

I believe visibility is directly related to the moon - depending on the moons relationship to the earth dictates how other road users view us.

It is obvious really - the moon is round as is a helmet. I rest my case and await a call from John Campbell.

**trailblazer** · 4th March 2011, 12:00

Originally Posted by marty

on a recent 900km trip on a black motard in black ATGATT leathers, i wore - for the first time - a reflective vest.

no-one pulled out in front of me, and not once did i think - that guy hasn't seen me. on reflection, i think it made a huge difference.

i have also taken to wearing a high-vis cycle top on my 25k ride to work on the open road. i am noticing people giving me a wider berth - either they are more aware of the cyclist, or they are just being sensible. i'll take the high vis path.

About 6 weeks ago i was driving to work at about 0530. i nearly hit a person on a country road - they were often out walking at that time but it was just one of those REALLY dark mornings. I stopped and gave them a reflector vest that i happened to have (my tyre-changing one that lived in my boot). the next morning i saw them again, wearing the vest. i saw them from about 200m away. 200m warning is a little better than 2m.......

That was an awesome thing you did for that person and may have saved there life if there were that hard to see.

**Ocean1** · 4th March 2011, 12:00

Originally Posted by bogan

make eye contact where possible

I've developed the habit of glaring at anyone that aproaches my space. Including oncoming traffic. It starts as an early turn of the head and as the range decreases to the point they can actually see my eyes I stare straight at 'em. It invariably results in the glaree conceeding several inches of space.

But here's the thing: That "make room for the psycho biker" reaction often happens even when they haven't in fact seen me at all. It's not enough for me to instantly get religeon but some days I freak myself out a bit.

**maggot** · 4th March 2011, 15:24

Originally Posted by Ocean1

I've developed the habit of glaring at anyone that aproaches my space. Including oncoming traffic. It starts as an early turn of the head and as the range decreases to the point they can actually see my eyes I stare straight at 'em. It invariably results in the glaree conceeding several inches of space.

But here's the thing: That "make room for the psycho biker" reaction often happens even when they haven't in fact seen me at all. It's not enough for me to instantly get religeon but some days I freak myself out a bit.

I try that!
Unfortunately the FXR isn't the most intimidating looking of bikes..
Still sometimes works with small, asian women!