Victim blaming alive and well

[R650R]

The coroners court usually comes up with good stuff but this time their off the mark.
As soon as everyone is wearing hi-vis it loses its effectiveness, there's already too many people wearing them. Ask anyone whose been hit by a forklift how effective the hi-vis was, accidents happen because people don't look in first place.
The hi-risk group seems to be the racer cyclists on narrow rural hi ways whose riding position obscures such gear anyway.
What gets me if we're looking from a risk perspective compared to other activities and workplaces is cyclists must have the lowest level of mandated safety gear. There's a huge amount of hard and soft safety gear that downhill mountain bike racers use that could be taken up by road riders. Even knee and elbow protectors would save ACC a fortune.
An exemption could apply to normal commuters and school kids travelling below 30kph
But another too hot political potatoe, getting re-elected comes ahead of real road safety...

[swbarnett]

As soon as everyone is wearing hi-vis it loses its effectiveness,

That's assuming it worked in the first place. Something that is very debatable.

cyclists must have the lowest level of mandated safety gear.

And motorcyclists. Both groups only need a helmet to be legal.

There's a huge amount of hard and soft safety gear that downhill mountain bike racers use that could be taken up by road riders. Even knee and elbow protectors would save ACC a fortune.

When's the last time you trudged up a steep hill on a bicycle in the middle of summer? Even wearing a helmet can be a big impediment to heat dissipation.

[oneofsix]

And motorcyclists. Both groups only need a helmet to be legal.

The difference being that the motorcycle has a higher level of mandated safety than the bicycle. If you just look at the operator and what they have to wear, the cage driver has the lowest as they don't even require the helmet

[swbarnett]

The difference being that the motorcycle has a higher level of mandated safety than the bicycle. If you just look at the operator and what they have to wear, the cage driver has the lowest as they don't even require the helmet

Indeed. This is why it's not helpful to consider the operator as separate from the machine.

[JimO]

i hate it when you come up behind a cyclist with a nice arse and long blond flowing hair only to find that its a bloke

[R650R]

When's the last time you trudged up a steep hill on a bicycle in the middle of summer? Even wearing a helmet can be a big impediment to heat dissipation.

Very recently, I do at least three rides a week in the local mountain bike park, training for some upcoming events.
If its a typical HB 30deg day I still go as the harder you train the better.

I know it would be damn uncomfortable to wear all the gear. What I'm saying is the highly political road cycle movement crys fouls at all other road users but fails to make use of all available safety gear.
With the LTSA and police waking up the real impact of fatigue on road crashes I don't understand how they can continue to be allowed to use the highways at high speeds as some kind of gymnasium while at the limits of human endurance.

I agree with another poster too about the mirror thing but we'd have to teach kiwi motorists and cyclists to use them first. Anyone who has driven in UK and/or done their tests will know how much safety improves with them.

LOL at the female/male biker mis-ID...

[FJRider]

The difference being that the motorcycle has a higher level of mandated safety than the bicycle. If you just look at the operator and what they have to wear, the cage driver has the lowest as they don't even require the helmet

The only mandated safety equipment a motorcyclist has to wear is a crash helmet ... even if it is only an open face helmet. Shorts .. T-shirt .. jandals are perfectly legal apparel to be worn whilst riding ...

[swbarnett]

Very recently, I do at least three rides a week in the local mountain bike park, training for some upcoming events.
If its a typical HB 30deg day I still go as the harder you train the better.

Fair call. I used to cycle a lot. I once passed out while waiting at the lights from heat exhaustion.

[FJRider]

I know it would be damn uncomfortable to wear all the gear. What I'm saying is the highly political road cycle movement crys fouls at all other road users but fails to make use of all available safety gear.

Road cycle users are no different to any other road user group. The only difference is the road rules/laws they selectively choose to ignore/obey ... if it suits them at the time ....

Yet demands ALL other road users to obey road rules/laws that affect them adversely if ignored ...

[Kickaha]

Road cycle users are no different to any other road user group. The only difference is the road rules/laws they selectively choose to ignore/obey ... if it suits them at the time ....

Yeah, I can't think of any other group of road users that would behave like that

[kinger]

I agree with another poster too about the mirror thing but we'd have to teach kiwi motorists and cyclists to use them first. Anyone who has driven in UK and/or done their tests will know how much safety improves with them....

Not too sure that the family squashed between two trucks the other week would agree with the advantages of being able to see hazards behind you. Perhaps if we didn't spend 30% of our time behind looking down at the speedo, we could concentrate on hazards ahead instead.
As for the UK bit..........haven't got a fuckin scooby what you're on about.

[Kickaha]

Perhaps if we didn't spend 30% of our time behind looking down at the speedo, we could concentrate on hazards ahead instead.

If you spend 30% of your time looking at the speedo I think you should consider taking the bus, you're obviously not competent to drive/ride a vehicle

[FJRider]

Not too sure that the family squashed between two trucks the other week would agree with the advantages of being able to see hazards behind you. Perhaps if we didn't spend 30% of our time behind looking down at the speedo, we could concentrate on hazards ahead instead.

As that family found ... what is behind is just as dangerous as that in front ...

It is always to your advantage to know what is coming up on you from behind. If you don't look ... you can't get out of the way if there IS danger ...

[R650R]

Not too sure that the family squashed between two trucks the other week would agree with the advantages of being able to see hazards behind you. Perhaps if we didn't spend 30% of our time behind looking down at the speedo, we could concentrate on hazards ahead instead.
As for the UK bit..........haven't got a fuckin scooby what you're on about.

In the UK you physically have to turn your head to show your looking in your mirrors during the test, well for HGV anyway. And they expect this every 2-3 seconds not 30-60... Also you never stop so close to the car in front that you cant drive around them without reversing if they broke down etc. It all seemed to suck at first but after awhile I saw the benefits and my driving improved because of it.
Those drivers that overtake dangerously and cut in close etc... well if your aware of whats happening behind you enact a plan that avoids an incident. That driver that suddenly cuts across three lanes and causes you to brake heavy by the offramp, well those who look in their mirrors see them coming and avoid being involved in a crash most of the time.
Don't want to debate that other tragedy as we don't know enough yet...

[Banditbandit]

When's the last time you trudged up a steep hill on a bicycle in the middle of summer? Even wearing a helmet can be a big impediment to heat dissipation.

See . that's a great demonstration of how stupid some push bike riders are ...

If you are trudging up a hill pushing the bike then you can legitimately take off your helmet and hang it over the bars ...

And why trudge up a hill when you can get something with an engine ????