ACC/Pro Rider Silver course

[Maha]

I ride about 200 + days a year, do a 70 km commute to and from work, plus take as many weekend rides as I can fit in. And I wear hi-viz from personal choice. I don't force anyone else to wear it as well, that's your choice. But I don't wear it because I'm scared to ride my bike or my shadow.

You choose what you wear, it's no concern of mine and I won't denigrate you for what you choose to wear. Just wish you had the same respect for those who choose to dress differently to you when they ride their bikes. Disappointed in you spokes.

The whole issue on Hi Viz is when France made them mandatory to wear is that NZ could follow... that's when the argument for and against started.
A lot do wear them and good on them, it's their choice. They also ride the bike of their choice on the tyres of their choice wearing a helmet of their choice and any amount of protective gear of their choice while riding at a speed of their choice...I would suggest that spokes does all of the above excluding the hi viz bit.

[Black Knight]

I live on the infamous Back Road To Russell and used to wear nearly all black,had a few close calls with oncoming drivers playing SMIDSY-A mate gave me a leather jacket with red panels in it and I could not believe the difference it made.Any
oncoming drivers-cars,campervans trucks etc- moved onto their side of the road
while they were still 100 metres away instead of 10.Visibility works.

[swbarnett]

I really don't get this.

The whole point of a hi-viz vest is to make it more likely that other drivers will see you. I don't wear a vest and I have a feeling that if I did I might start assuming that I've been seen. I like riding knowing that most, if not all, drivers won't see me. That way I take responsibility for myself.

I have spoken to several people about it and the UNIVERSAL response is that it's just a bit of cloth, not a suit of armour. They use it accordingly, mostly with no idea whether it does any good or not.
I've never met anyone who was lulled into anything by it. I guess it's the "not knowing" that makes it so.

You're probably right. I've never worn one so I'm only surmising how I might react to it.

Some of these vests have really good reflectors on them. I have been told that the Missus on the back lights up like the airport when in the headlights - no missing us from behind at night. This is also true of some other riding gear of course.

This only works if you're looking. Otherwise drivers would not miss fire appliances and trains.

If a person is of the mindset that a bit of brightly coloured cloth imparts a false sense of security, should they be on a bike?

Probably not. With the notable exception of the novice rider.

It seems to me that a healthy dose of skepticism is an essential motorcycling survival tool. IMHO, the moment you are sure that the car won't pull out on you is the moment you should update your funeral insurance.

Definitely. I just wonder if the ubiquitous wearing of hi-viz is counter to this.

This is a shot at the idea, not the person by the way.

No worries, Always good to get a different perspective.

[swbarnett]

... And I wear hi-viz from personal choice. I don't force anyone else to wear it as well, that's your choice.

You choose what you wear, it's no concern of mine and I won't denigrate you for what you choose to wear. Just wish you had the same respect for those who choose to dress differently to you when they ride their bikes.

This is exactly the attitude I'd like to see more prevalent. My only real objection to hi-vis is the thought that one day it might become compulsory.

[eldog]

The whole point of a hi-viz vest is to make it more likely that other drivers will see you. I don't wear a vest and I have a feeling that if I did I might start assuming that I've been seen. I like riding knowing that most, if not all, drivers won't see me.

No worries, Always good to get a different perspective.

Absolutely don't assume people will see you headlight. Hi vis or whatever.

I am probably the most highly visible object on the road. Still have had people driver straight into me. Only my observations saved me several times.

After my off. The hi vis was the only way by passers saw me to help. Even though I was feeling 10 ft tall and bullet proof it was nice to get help.

[caspernz]

Guessing it's been said before.

Those likely to wear a hi viz vest are those with a "safer" mentality.

Which means they are likely to be safer even without the vest.

It's a bit like the ACC courses. Those who attend are all there because they want to be. Which means they have a safety mentality, and are less likely to actually need the course.

Self defeating, really.

Absolutely right.

All I can add to the hiviz debate is one simple line. I don't ride any different in hiviz stuff as opposed to a black leather one piece, yet it's the behaviour of other motorists that is noticeably different.

[swbarnett]

Absolutely don't assume people will see you headlight. Hi vis or whatever.

Exactly. I'd love to run an experiment with a nearly invisible bike (completely black, no light, at night) and see if I could reach the other side of Auckland unscaithed. Afterall, we should be riding as if this is the case.

After my off. The hi vis was the only way by passers saw me to help. Even though I was feeling 10 ft tall and bullet proof it was nice to get help.

I can certainly see that a hi-viz would be a distinct advantage in the circumstances.

[Moi]

Absolutely right.

All I can add to the hiviz debate is one simple line. I don't ride any different in hiviz stuff as opposed to a black leather one piece, yet it's the behaviour of other motorists that is noticeably different.

What behaviour have you noticed to be different?

[caspernz]

What behaviour have you noticed to be different?

Fewer folks seem to pull out in front. That was with a black bike, now I've got a bright yellow one and I'm guessing it's the colour of the bike that seems to achieve this same level of attention/caution in other road users.

[swbarnett]

Fewer folks seem to pull out in front. That was with a black bike,

My bike is all black (except for a silver/grey scoop) and my gear is all black. I can't remember a time when I've had anybody pull out on me. But then I've been doing SIAMs as long as I can remember.

[eldog]

Exactly. I'd love to run an experiment with a nearly invisible bike (completely black, no light, at night) and see if I could reach the other side of Auckland unscaithed.

you can run it. no one here will stop you. But you may see the disco lights in the distance

theres another side to Auckland?

[nzspokes]

Entirely disagree.

I would expect you to.

[WristTwister]

I think the boys in here against hi-vis are more concerned about not looking as bad-ass on their bikes if they had to wear hi-vis than any imagined drawbacks of wearing hi-vis. "But no one can see my patches"

[nzspokes]

I think the boys in here against hi-vis are more concerned about not looking as bad-ass on their bikes if they had to wear hi-vis than any imagined drawbacks of wearing hi-vis. "But no one can see my patches"

If I wore Hi Viz my patch would still be seen.

[rastuscat]

It's coz hi viz looks naff. If it looked cooler, more people would wear it.

My strategy is to ride a bike that looks like a patrol bike, and ride it like I'm patrolling. Doesn't matter the colour I wear, works for me.

It sure increases the paranoia too. People ditch thein cellphones when I stare at them. Just in case, I suppose.