Cyclist visibility

[exdulwicher]

1 hour ago, Rockets said:

Clearly not in the Netherlands which is, after all, what we are talking about...good grief.....

Normally you're one of the regulars complaining that a thread goes off topic or has been hijacked by the "what about a car?" brigade. Here we have a thread nominally about the difficulty of seeing some cyclists which has now veered wildly off into the realm of e-bikes in Amsterdam!

I maintain by the way that there is no issue whatsoever with cyclist visibility. You're all able to spot a cyclist at 1000 paces, state what they're wearing (usually also including the use or otherwise of a helmet / earphones), the brand of black clothing they're wearing, the pavement they're riding on, the red light they've just jumped, the type of bike they're on, the speed they're going at (which, if they're on a road is always so slow that they're holding up everything for miles around and if it's anywhere else is so fast that terrified pedestrians are leaping for cover as they hurtle along) and how much respect / empathy they deserve if they're hit by a poor innocent driver.

[first mate]

Yes, well a lot of the above infractions also occur in daylight...just in case you had not noticed;)

[NewWave]

Yesterday evening we were driving at 6.30pm ish and at least 2 out of 3 cyclists we passed were either in dark colours, no helmet or high viz and without working lights..It was shocking actually because in side streets without many lights they became virtually invisible.

We also witnessed an E-Scooter rider in black no lights weaving through moving traffic..obviously not in a helmet.

its sad to see someone wearing an expensive Puffa Jacket who cant be bothered to pay a small amount for working lights on their bike.

[malumbu]

On 02/12/2025 at 09:40, Rockets said:

Well maybe you shouldn't be so swayed by the false narratives amplified by some of your friends on here! 😉 How many times have I had to say it: never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

You've avoided my points, yet again!!  Anyway, to move on, and returning to the point of this thread, evidence reviewed by Cycling UK is interesting: I've highlighted key points

If wearing hi-vis helps people feel safer when cycling and more willing to do it, that is only to be welcomed.   It is, though, hard to prove whether hi-vis makes any significant impact on cyclists’ safety, and there is very little convincing evidence to support the argument that it does.

Research suggests that hi-vis may help drivers spot cyclists more readily, but it appears that spotting is one thing and driving safely around them another. One academic study, for example, found that whether a cyclist is wearing hi-vis or not makes very little
difference to how closely motorists overtake them. 

On the other hand, research suggests that retroreflective accessories designed to make you more conspicuous in the dark – especially anything that moves when you pedal (e.g. ankle straps) – are probably worth the investment.

 

Overall, Cycling UK believes that improving cyclists’ safety is best served not by making hi-vis clothing compulsory, but by improving driving behaviour, lowering speeds, reducing traffic volume, and providing high-quality facilities. We also believe that all road users,
including cyclists, should behave legally and responsibly, which includes obeying lighting regulations.

 

Rather than dismiss the above please do read the reports first:

News item:

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/hi-vis-is-not-silver-bullet-for-cycling-safety

 

Cycling UK briefing:

 

https://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/document/2023/08/21-03_ca_hi-vis_brf_1.pdf

 

And Written parliamentary question

 

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-10/23174/

 

Government has no plans to introduce compulsory wearing of hi-vis

 

I cycle maybe 250 days a year, mainly in Lewisham and Southwark, and experience several near misses a week, mostly in daylight.  The drivers simply make no effort to give you space, and I expect that many do see me,  Something that particularly annoys me is those coming towards you when space is a little tight.  Neither party has priority, but some rather than do the sensible and courteous thing and slow down to ensure we pass each other safely do the opposite.  someone coming at you at 30mph on a narrow road with parked cars on either side isn't fun.