Make yourself seen

**Crasherfromwayback** · 11th May 2016, 22:23

Originally Posted by rastuscat

Hi viz is a part of it too. As is lighting.
.

Originally Posted by Katman

Open ones own eyes.
.

Originally Posted by rocketman1

Personally after following some friends around the top part of the NI recently. I believe that the colour of the crash helmet is a big part of being seen. 3-4 bikes in front of me some up to 100-200m away most dressed in black, some with a bit of orange and yellow clothing etc, it was the silver and white crash helmets that I could see when the bike and rider disappered into the background. Those with dark and black helmets were very hard to see. The obsession with cool black helmets, is not probably good for being spotted by those drivers that only look once.

Originally Posted by Katman

Rastus's whole point is bullshit.

Things won't improve until we place more importance on opening our own fucking eyes than on what we're wearing.

Clothing Nazis can suck my dick.

Anyone wanking on about hi vis clothing or helmets is doing just that. We have total fucking morons driving in front of FUCKING LOCOMOTOVES!!!!!!!. They have a headlight that'd melt the berg that sunk the Titanic. They make the ground shake like a 3.5 quake, and a horn that makes you poo your pants. Yet lots of our licenced drivers, get smashed by them year after year. If the train had a high vis bib...do you half wits think it'd make an iota of difference? Of fucking course not. Get a fucking grip.

Until we make getting a licence too difficult for blind fuckwits...we'll keep getting cleaned up. Same goes for a motorcycle licence.

**Berries** · 11th May 2016, 22:49

Talking of bullshit, can anyone explain what this latest bike ad means? It is one of a series in print and at the side of the road. One of them is clearly promoting hi-viz, one would appear to be promoting t-boning a car and this one I can't work out, other than saying don't ride a bike.

Virtual chocolate fish for something meaningful. (And before anyone starts, keeping up in group rides is a very long shot).

**nzspokes** · 11th May 2016, 22:51

Originally Posted by Berries

Talking of bullshit, can anyone explain what this latest bike ad means? It is one of a series in print and at the side of the road. One of them is clearly promoting hi-viz, one would appear to be promoting t-boning a car and this one I can't work out, other than saying don't ride a bike.

Virtual chocolate fish for something meaningful. (And before anyone starts, keeping up in group rides is a very long shot).

Dont overtake on yellow lines?

**Berries** · 11th May 2016, 22:57

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Dont overtake on yellow lines?

Yeah but the rider is not overtaking on a yellow line or even on the wrong side of a yellow line. That's why I don't get it.

**AllanB** · 11th May 2016, 23:32

Down Duners way Sun - yesterday - saw a couple of those weird signs saying different things - think slow (at the start of the hill for fucks sake ..... that was a waste of tax money) think glow (I presumed ride hard to get your headers glowing).

Bright helmets yes. I don't wear hi-viz, but can I claim my bright red Ducati counts?

**Berries** · 12th May 2016, 00:14

Originally Posted by AllanB

Down Duners way Sun - yesterday - saw a couple of those weird signs saying different things - think slow (at the start of the hill for fucks sake ..... that was a waste of tax money)

I had forgotten that one. There is Think Glow with a rider all in black with a hi-vis, fairly obvious what that one is promoting. Think Whoa which has the same rider approaching the side of a car. The implication to me is that the car has pulled out on the bike so not sure who that one is aimed at. I could be wrong but I think the rider is wearing hi-viz in that one which would reduce the effectiveness of the first message. Think Slow is the best one, it shows the wiggly road sign which means the complete opposite to me and then this one which could be viewed as being against hi-viz seeing as there are no other obvious messages. Who knows, it's too fucking clever for me.

Glad my levy is going to such good use.

**Bass** · 12th May 2016, 07:00

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Anyone wanking on about hi vis clothing or helmets is doing just that. We have total fucking morons driving in front of FUCKING LOCOMOTOVES!!!!!!!..

None of this is absolute.
There are those who take all the precautions we have been discussing but still get taken out.
There are those who take none of them but still get through unscathed.
It's about improving your chances and there are no guarantees.

Also, everything you say about locomotives is true (and rather well said). We have more people dying from walking in front of them than driving in front of them. What does that tell you?
However that's mostly up here in Auckland. Maybe there's a clue there.

**awayatc** · 12th May 2016, 07:01

Originally Posted by Katman

Clothing Nazis can suck my dick.

Much luck with lines like that.....?

regarding (hi) viz subject....
there was a very interesting link on kb a long while ago about why people don't see things.
was done by an ex RAF fighter pilot.

somebody with more skills/patience may be able to dredge it up

**Grumph** · 12th May 2016, 07:14

Originally Posted by Berries

Yeah but the rider is not overtaking on a yellow line or even on the wrong side of a yellow line. That's why I don't get it.

If the arse end of a car was in picture on the right it would be somewhat less ambiguous..

**FatMax** · 12th May 2016, 07:32

Originally Posted by Maha

It appears that your balls have shrunk since moving in with a failed lesbian.

**rastuscat** · 12th May 2016, 08:02

Being seen is such a huge combination of factors. I've mentioned them before.

This ain't about hi viz. That's a part of the picture, but only a small part.

Forget hi viz for a minute. Think about how you can make yourself more visible without looking like an orange or a lemon. There's plenty of ways.

**rastuscat** · 12th May 2016, 08:08

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Fully agree.

Did a hazard Identification exercise on one course that changed how I look at the road ahead.

Seeing is a two way street. People will generally not pull out in front of you if their mind sees you. Not just their eyes, their mind.

So be good at looking, but also get good at helping people see you. That's all I'm saying.

And it's not about hi viz.

**Madness** · 12th May 2016, 08:08

Originally Posted by rastuscat

Think about how you can make yourself more visible without looking like an orange or a lemon. There's plenty of ways.

**Maha** · 12th May 2016, 08:41

I will always agree with Steve's view on this topic.

Saving yourself starts with knowing your limit/knowing your immediate surroundings-conditions and being vigilant.

Two very good points from Rastus first post.
:Positioning for max visibility and conspicuity are my favourite solutions.
:Ride where you can be seen and where you have the best visibility.

Hi Viz (yellow not orange) is absolutely fine if it helps with your psyche.

**Moi** · 12th May 2016, 08:45

Originally Posted by awayatc

...regarding (hi) viz subject...
there was a very interesting link on kb a long while ago about why people don't see things.
was done by an ex RAF fighter pilot.

somebody with more skills/patience may be able to dredge it up

This might be it:

Seems to be the original: http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-p...each-cyclists/

A pdf of the above: http://www.cycleclub.co.nz/pdf_docs/...Work_30504.pdf

A pdf of the above with additions: http://www.slobc.org/safety/document...ival-guide.pdf