An investigation of motorcycle rider use of and attitudes to high visibility gear

[Eddieb]

I would suggest you all voice your concerns on the survey to the contact listed in the first post. Moaning on here is not going to get visibility of those who need to see it.

Dr Richard Jaine
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington
Phone 04 918 6155
Email: richard.jaine@otago.ac.nz

Personally I see no added value in wearing bright/reflective gear. It didn't stop the asian driver pulling out from a stationary line of traffic into a line of traffic flowing at 60km/h and almost taking me out about 30 minutes ago. I was wearing a bright orange jacket and have a big white patch on the front of my bike with my headlight on.
I reckon I had about 2 foot max between me and the front left corner of her car and I swerved to avoid her.

[R-Soul]

No amount of hi-vis or reflective tape is going to help the stupid riders that have accidents on corners all by themselves by losing control. These fools make up about half of bike accidents alone.

Try getting these morons on a tack and teaching them to control their bikes properly.

(I count myself amongst these fuckwits).

[Berries]

I have a bad feeling.....

I think strobe lights at night would look quite cool.

[tri boy]

I think it's sad that this is the best that MotoNZ can come up with. I expected more from Gareth

Don'texpect too much from that publicity whore.
He never has had the wider bike community at the front of his plans.
He talks alot, but never seems to complete much.
And he is responsible for growing a bad stash.
Some countries shoot men for that.

[Katman]

And he is responsible for growing a bad stash.
Some countries shoot men for that.

Change your dealer then.

[Milts]

To give people a little perspective:

This is a group of medical students completing their public health run. They were handed this topic and told to find out the perspectives of riders on this issue. If you have a problem take it up with those setting the assignment rather than the students who are doing the research. They did not pick the topic, or the way in which it is phrased.

I'm sure as part of this they will be doing a thorough literature review, which will highlight any research re effectiveness, contrast, motion camouflage etc. That aspect is not the topic being investigated: as has been stated their mandate is to look at the beliefs and attitudes of the riding population.

As for funding, I can personally attest to the fact that they have none. This is a group of students who have been given an assignment as part of their 4th year at medical school.

Furthermore they are not trying to undermine your rights, nor create legislation. Their mandate is to find facts, not make decisions. I don't understand why they are getting so much shit. Maybe I'm missing something?

[rastuscat]

Ahh, but it does happen - we have riders who were high-viz, and we have riders who don't. So it can be measured. So far to date those measurements have indicated it doesn't make much difference.

Of course it makes a difference.

I wear hi-viz and I look like a knob. I don't normally look like a knob.

Voila, that's the difference.

[Kickaha]

I don't normally look like a knob.

I'm not sure you should put money on that

[jellywrestler]

To give people a little perspective:

This is a group of medical students completing their public health run. They were handed this topic and told to find out the perspectives of riders on this issue. If you have a problem take it up with those setting the assignment rather than the students who are doing the research. They did not pick the topic, or the way in which it is phrased.

I'm sure as part of this they will be doing a thorough literature review, which will highlight any research re effectiveness, contrast, motion camouflage etc. That aspect is not the topic being investigated: as has been stated their mandate is to look at the beliefs and attitudes of the riding population.

As for funding, I can personally attest to the fact that they have none. This is a group of students who have been given an assignment as part of their 4th year at medical school.

Furthermore they are not trying to undermine your rights, nor create legislation. Their mandate is to find facts, not make decisions. I don't understand why they are getting so much shit. Maybe I'm missing something?

yeah but if their survey is flawed in the first place don't you think they'd like to know? The word Student i thought implied that they were learning

[Milts]

yeah but if their survey is flawed in the first place don't you think they'd like to know? The word Student i thought implied that they were learning

I'm sure they welcome any valid and specific criticisms of the survey questions (really). However "your survey sucks monkey balls" doesn't really facillitate learning.

[Usarka]

I'm sure they welcome any valid and specific criticisms of the survey questions (really). However "your survey sucks monkey balls" doesn't really facillitate learning.

And people's learnings shouldn't be used to help governments (and it's agencies) form policy.

[Milts]

And people's learnings shouldn't be used to help governments (and it's agencies) form policy.

Would you rather policies were formed based on what the politician's 4 year old tells them to do or what their mate who stands to gain several million dollars asks of them? Or maybe they should just legislate whatever happens to work well in their dreams? I for one am all for evidence being taken into account (along with common sense + public opinion) when making policy.

Obviously any study which does inform decision making should be thoroughly scrutinised for accuracy. Which again is not entirely the job of the poor bastards who were handed the assignment, it's more up to their supervisors...

[Madness]

...their mandate is to look at the beliefs and attitudes of the riding population.
blah, blah, blah
Their mandate is to find facts...

So they're looking for beliefs and attitudes on the one hand and facts on the other. I'm glad we're all clear on that.

[Milts]

So they're looking for beliefs and attitudes on the one hand and facts on the other. I'm glad we're all clear on that.

It is a fact that riders believe X or they believe Y or they think Z. This is what the research project is about. Is that a difficult concept?

[Madness]

I reckon you're rooting one of the students.

Can't wait to see the results, it'll probably have something like "0.001% think it's gay" Well, thank fuck this ground-breaking research is being done. How did we manage so long without it?