High vis options

[rachprice]

Hmmm I wear all black, I keep my headlight on (don't know about high beam though isnt that a bit dangerous?)
I haven't had too much issues with people pulling out in front of me lately, I did when I first started riding but no so much anymore.
I think its probably I am more aware now and anticipate people pulling out. But yeah I haven't had any close calls in ages!

[ManDownUnder]

To show up on their radar, you have to be a threat.

YUP. Amasing the difference a rifle bag over mu shoulder had while splitting down the NW a while back. You'd think me name was changed to Moses...

Seriously - was really surprising.

As has been said - they can't, won't, and don't see you... assume that at all times.

[SPman]

REOMVED ?????

is that a Krishna thing.......?

I didn't do enough Oms today......

(later)

.. have you reomved yet?.......

[FROSTY:Me]

actually Funny I was thinking about this today.
From the point of view of a cager I've been having big problems not so much seeing bikes but more actually judging the speed of the bikes.
The headlights on bit seems to cause a problem with speed judgements
Keeping in mind I'm a heck of a lot more bike aware than your average cager.
definitely its easier to judge the speed of a biker wearing light colors and headlights off

[justsomeguy]

NO - I like black gear. Don't rely on them seeing you - rely on you identifying them first.

Some KB'er had a signature that ran:"They hit buses and trains and you expect them to see you?"

[Kwakajack]

It doesn't matter.

The only way they would see you in an active visual search is if your bike was white, had a pole with a flashing light on it, and you were wearing a white helmet.

Maybe if you were a hot naked chick they'd see you too.

Never assume anyone can see you. Ever.

Eye contact is a myth.

Rockbuddy, they haven't seen you, they can't see you, they won't see you.

I totally agree, I have too many near misses on a weekly basis for this to be untrue. I have a rowdy bike, spectacularly painted helmet, and my leather gear is white and lime green, I am hard to miss but people do all the same, idiocy cannot be undone by wearing bright colours, its a genetic thing, the dumb ones will be culled, unfortunately not all so idiots persist in our gene pool, darwin awards or not!

[Mikkel]

Everyone these days seems to wear HI-VIZ somethings! It has become invisible as a result! Bit like headlights on bikes, cars use them as driving lights in the daytime now, the effect is lost.

That is not correct. You are no less visible just because other motorists are having their lights on. True, you may not stand out as much - but dressing up in a monkey suit and a pink g-string is not going to make you easier to see, people will just pay more attention to you when they do see you.

There's a huge difference between being easily seen and standing out.

Hmmm I wear all black, I keep my headlight on (don't know about high beam though isnt that a bit dangerous?)

Keep it on low beam - you won't achieve anything except pissing people off by running the high beam.

NO - I like black gear. Don't rely on them seeing you - rely on you identifying them first.

Some KB'er had a signature that ran:"They hit buses and trains and you expect them to see you?"

QFT!

Make no assumptions whatsoever. If you do, always be prepared to deal with the consequences.

I've seen a lot of bikers who pay little heed to how they position themselves on the road. It's not always about what the others can see - it's difficult to react to a hazard you can not see, as such it's imperative to move around in your lane in order to get the best observation space possible. E.g. keep left in your lane when approaching an intersection where cars going in your own direction are waiting to turn right.

[MSTRS:Me]

....E.g. keep left in your lane when approaching an intersection where cars going in your own direction are waiting to turn right.

Mentor hat on...
Not necessarily. I assume you mean on a single lane each way road...then yes, to avoid becoming a boot ornament ...and to give more opportunity to see/be seen by traffics coming the other way (because the turning vehicle is an excellent vision-blocker), some of which may also be turning right.
But on a 2 lane each way road, possibly not...you are in the left lane and there is other traffic in front/behind you...then stay towards the right side of that left lane, so as to not give the impression that there is a gap for Mr Opposing Right Turner to shoot into.

[Mom]

but dressing up in a monkey suit and a pink g-string is not going to make you easier to see, people will just pay more attention to you when they do see you.

There's a huge difference between being easily seen and standing out.

I will remember that next time I wear my monkey suit on my bike, I never thought to wear it with a g-string

Seriously though, the only time I have ever worn hi-viz was on our recent Westpac ride. We (the core riders) all had orange hi-viz vests on (thanks Gubb). We all rode together as a group. We had a few other bikes come with us, quite a few that also had hi-viz gear on. The weather was appalling, we stood out like the perverbial dogs balls! About the only time this kind of gear really makes people notice you are there, a bloody great big group of bikes.

Mentor hat on...
Not necessarily. I assume you mean on a single lane each way road...then yes, to avoid becoming a boot ornament ...and to give more opportunity to see/be seen by traffics coming the other way (because the turning vehicle is an excellent vision-blocker), some of which may also be turning right.
But on a 2 lane each way road, possibly not...you are in the left lane and there is other traffic in front/behind you...then stay towards the right side of that left lane, so as to not give the impression that there is a gap for Mr Opposing Right Turner to shoot into.

Lucky you have a mentor hat to put on Good advice that is

I have argued this point with car drivers over the years when I hear complaints about bikes taking up lanes (interestingly enough the last person who suggested I rode on the shoulder of the road was Mike Noon of AA fame). For me it is all about me. I will place myself where ever I know (read - hope, pray, expect, all at the same time sometimes) I am the most visible.

[MarkH]

interestingly enough the last person who suggested I rode on the shoulder of the road was Mike Noon of AA fame

Funnily enough I get some kind of anti-bike vibe from the AA.

Recently I was browsing their website and read about how they feel that the ACC cost was much higher for bikes and that the bike rego should cost more than it does to more fairly cover the ACC costs - car rego should therefore become cheaper as the car drivers shouldn't have to subsidise the bikers. They also gave the view that the 50cc scooters should require a bike license - so the riders are better trained. I suppose the more you do to put off people from buying bikes and scooters the less accidents involving bikes and scooters - traffic and parking problems in the cities be damned!

Back to the topic of making yourself more visible - I have tried driving a large white refrigerated truck - didn't help, had a close call when a car pulled out right in front of me and I had to brake hard, I was doing maybe 40 - 50kph. If they can't see a white refrigerated truck then how will they see a high-vis vest on a biker?

[Mom]

Funnily enough I get some kind of anti-bike vibe from the AA.

You are not alone, not by a long chalk.

If they can't see a white refrigerated truck then how will they see a high-vis vest on a biker?

Simple fact of the matter is they wont. We are small visually, sometimes not easy to see even if you are like me and a biker first and very aware to look properly. Makes no difference what we wear.

As an example, the other day in my bomb car I was at the end of a road at a t intersection, there was a school kid standing just past the corner to my right. I looked both ways, all clear. Some 6th sense made me pause, just as well, this little kid had managed to conceal an approaching van! Heaven help any car driver if it was a bike appraoching is all I can say.

I didn't see it! I can hear the hue and outcry now!

We just need to be hyper aware at all times!

[rachprice]

Keep it on low beam - you won't achieve anything except pissing people off by running the high beam.

.

OH yeah I thought so, I don't personally someone just said that before?

[Highlander]

I got one, wore it once, and when I got to about 60 it blew apart at the velcrove thing.

Time to get a cycling one I think

The ones the Honda Riders Club sell ($15 each if I recall correctly) have a zip up the front rather than Velcro.

[dpex]

While I agree with what James has typed, I wear a "Glow Vest" working on the theory that it only has to prevent one driver pulling out in front of me to have paid for itself in un measurable multiples.

I have been watching very closely for the number of bikers who wear 'any' vis, much less Hi-vis. My observations so far say it's one-in-twenty.

You make an interesting point about bikers not being seen to be a threat to 'other' vehicle drivers. In fact as I write this I realise you have identified a very excellent point. I wonder how we can change that?

My whimsical mind wonders if we should all carry a chain to belt recalcitrant drivers' vehicles. What about a purpose-fitted array of paint-ball guns? Two in front and behind. Two on each side.

Invade my space and pooom! Ya get a burst.

Maybe.

But the point is well made. We bikers don't pose a threat like other vehicles. How do we change that?

Do we approach LTNZ (or whatever the hell its called now) and demand some sort of million-dollar ad-campaign? Maybe we should. Why not? What about ACC?

I must admit, I do like the paint-ball idea.

Imagine some tit in a BMW giving some chick on a 50cc a hard time, only to get his/her flash car splattered with paint-balls!

Imagine coming upon some tit about to turn right, in front of you. You press the button and give the prick a burst of 20 paint-balls. That should wake him/her up.

I think that going with micro-stinger missiles would be taking matters a bit too far. :--))

Yeah. You're right, buddy. We bikers need to find a way to be seen as a threat equal to other road-user threats.

[Ixion]

The ones the Honda Riders Club sell ($15 each if I recall correctly) have a zip up the front rather than Velcro.

Yes, mine has a heavy duty zip. From any safety store

My whimsical mind wonders if we should all carry a chain to belt recalcitrant drivers' vehicles.

Sigh. We used to do that back in the day. And a while ago (when there seemed to be a bit of road rage going on), I thought I'd dig mine out. Found it, nice massive fuck-off chain with a honking great padlock on the end. Just the job . "Yeah mate, I understand you didn't see me. Easy not to see things. Like just now, here I am idly twirling my security chain, wot I use to secure my bike cos of all the thieves, and I didn't see your headlamp there, and now it's broken. Shame"

Alas, times have changed. Slung it over my shoulder , bandolier style as we did, climbed on the SV , and CLUNK. The chain falls forward and clonks the tank. Luckily I have a tank protector!. A very short ride showed that wasn't going to work! Modern riding positions ! I gues sit might be OK on a crusier.