What is the best way to be noticed by cagers?

[Tank]

I hear what you are saying - but can't imaging how being 'more visible' is a bad thing. Meh - just my simple thinking.

[James Deuce]

You're NOT more visible though. You can see people on bikes with Hi-Vis vests because you're attuned to looking for bikes. Other road users aren't and don't.

[sondela]

Apparently, LTNZ have considered making them compulsory, which is strange, given they have decreed them illegal. What I was told is that taillight flashers and headlight modulators induce target fixation in brain-dead drivers.

I Like the headlight modulator idea, my bike is already cool, but with flashing lights!!? waaay cool...bit worried about becoming MORE of a target though..heh
Dressing up like a road cone also has possibilities.. hmm..leather roadcones..

[Jerry74]

Wear bright orange leathers or introduce more motorcycle focus, eg looking and driving a cage in a better manner as part of the licence testing and defensive driving courses.

[Shadows]

Rule number 1 of motorcyling. If you're going faster than the car, and its behind you its unlikely to hit you.

....unless you fall off.

[trumpy]

...The stereo fucks everything though.

Ain't that the truth.

Your experience is obviously different from mine, and so it should be as we are different individuals with differing perceptions of the world (be kinda boring if we all thought the same way), but I would love to see this tested empirically to see whether this is a perception of what we believe should happen or it is actually happening. My real point was that I would hate to see a noob put loud pipes on his bike in the belief that this was now going to make him safe from idiot car drivers (and bike riders for that matter). As you say......more than the sum of the parts.

[firefighter]

Your all fucken wrong! P.T

What you need is one of those flags that kids used to put on their bikes!

Nothings gonna make someone see you if they are'nt looking. As i've posted in another thread, big red fire truck, flashing lights with siren and airhorn going, car coming towards you, pleeeeenty of time for him to stop, your indicating to turn but know if he does'nt stop he'll hit you, so you wait for him to meander past in dream world, he does'nt see you until he's driving past because he ain't fucken looking!...............My point is about made here I think!

If you can't fucken see that he won't fucken notice anything you do.

Ask any cop, ambo firreman about this, they will all have had this happen 1000000000 times.

No matter what you do if someones not going to look then thay ain't going to look.....bleat on about colour of bike/helmet/dayglow/lights/skyfalling all you want, this is the fact of it.

[Horse]

You're NOT more visible though. You can see people on bikes with Hi-Vis vests because you're attuned to looking for bikes. Other road users aren't and don't.

Pity the research doesn't agree with you.

After adjustment for potential confounders, drivers wearing any reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk (multivariate odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.42 to 0.94) than other drivers.

[Headbanger]

Ain't that the truth.

Your experience is obviously different from mine, and so it should be as we are different individuals with differing perceptions of the world (be kinda boring if we all thought the same way), but I would love to see this tested empirically to see whether this is a perception of what we believe should happen or it is actually happening. My real point was that I would hate to see a noob put loud pipes on his bike in the belief that this was now going to make him safe from idiot car drivers (and bike riders for that matter). As you say......more than the sum of the parts.

We could also probably draw a comparison to the discussion in this thread about vests, People make the point that we see them because we are looking for them, I may have heard the change in exhaust note because I was listening for it, and expecting the change, especially as my subconscious no doubt noted we were in a fine place for the bike to pass, and yes, There he goes....

Just a thought.

[samgab]

Pity the research doesn't agree with you.

Oh snap! Thanks for posting that research. Good to read some real actual figures on this, rather than speculation and conjecture.
I always believed this was true. I tried to get a white/bright coloured helmet, but the cheap one within my budget at the time was only there in black. Next helmet I get will be white or bright though.

[Fatt Max]

Ride nekk'd...

I did that once for charity but my neighbours got the hump and called the rozzers. Got fined $300 for indecent exposure plus another $500 for resisting arrest (there is a whole story attached to this one).

But, it got me noticed as a bike rider, only $800 poorer.

So I reckon the best (and cheapest) way to be noticed is to ride where cagers can see you, look out for the unpredictable and ride with the attitude that the road is as much yours as theirs. No strop, no attitude, just presence.....all KB advice I must add.

Now, does anyone want to hear my 'Riding Buff' story...?

[trumpy]

We could also probably draw a comparison to the discussion in this thread about vests, People make the point that we see them because we are looking for them, I may have heard the change in exhaust note because I was listening for it, and expecting the change, especially as my subconscious no doubt noted we were in a fine place for the bike to pass, and yes, There he goes....

Just a thought.

Yes, a very apt comparison.
What we need to remember is that what apparently works or doesn't work, unless it has been empirically tested, is merely our individual perception of the situation and there is usually an expectation, (consciously or unconsciously) that what we have done (exhaust, vest etc) will make a difference and generally perceptually it does. This is just how the human mind works. There is plenty of research on this subject if anyone can be bothered to look it up. I would but I have just been out for a mountain bike ride and everything hurts, including my brain.....I'm sure those hills weren't that big last year....perhaps if I didn't take my lunch box with me.......(read 15kg of belly fat)

The other issue is that most motorcyclists that I know have way more situational awareness than the average car driver (note I did say average) will ever have. That's how come they are still alive. It's also how come you heard that gear change etc.

[James Deuce]

Pity the research doesn't agree with you.

That particular piece of research which is sponsored by 3M. Who make Hi-Vis vests. And medical products. I've already de-bunked that one previously.

No research is without a particular sponsor with a particular axe to grind anymore.

[Ixion]

A caveat , when research papers are cited, many of them are now quite old (20 years +). Things cahnge

Like hi-vis vests.

I've worn one for years and years, long before most folk had even heard of them. Back in the day they were VERY much noticed. Mainly I think because of the "what the fuck is that" factor. But nowadays, everyman and his dog wears one. Truck drivers, courier drivers, road workers, cops you name it. So seeing a hi-vis on the road nowadays is commonplace, no "uh- WTF " factor.

So I suspect that a lot of the research may no longer be valid. And I don't wear mine so often now, I don't think they're as effective.

Ditto for headlamps on, once it worked because NOONE had lights on during the day . Now, every other cage has them on, we don't stand out as different any more.

[Elysium]

A caveat , when research papers are cited, many of them are now quite old (20 years +). Things cahnge

Like hi-vis vests.

I've worn one for years and years, long before most folk had even heard of them. Back in the day they were VERY much noticed. Mainly I think because of the "what the fuck is that" factor. But nowadays, everyman and his dog wears one. Truck drivers, courier drivers, road workers, cops you name it. So seeing a hi-vis on the road nowadays is commonplace, no "uh- WTF " factor.

So I suspect that a lot of the research may no longer be valid. And I don't wear mine so often now, I don't think they're as effective.

Ditto for headlamps on, once it worked because NOONE had lights on during the day . Now, every other cage has them on, we don't stand out as different any more.

True, even supermarket trolly boys wear them..but they're very conspicuous at night time so I can see their value.