Best thing since sliced bread?

[latrinus]

...what would be the best safety device for a cyclist to attach to his bike, to prevent collisions from behind - does anything exist or must something still be invented?

 

[Master50]

I always ask, what was the best thing before sliced bread? A red flashing light is still the best thing to bee seen from behind. While the least likely way to get hit the best thing you can do is be noticed so your riding habits can effect this. An effective cycling course that teaches riding in traffic can really teach you a lot of valuable things about being seen and riding in ways that minimize your risks and improve confidence. route choices. lane positioning and even how you assert yourself can all improve your chances.

 

[winkybiker]

Yep. High powered red flasher. Two or three - even better. Keep the batteries fresh/charged. Lots of reflective tape for night-time as well.

 

[kingjr]

I always ask, what was the best thing before sliced bread?

unsliced bread

 

[stutue]

dinotte 400R

Retinal burn

 

[fatandfast]

rather than rely on a small chunk of electronics to make a noise as you are being run over, I would dream of a world in which the drivers cared if you lived or died while you ride your bike.
Most stories involve lots of remorse by the driver, finding out after death that the rider was a son ,father ,husband ,good person ect ,if they only thought of that before they crushed the person with a 3000 pound car we would all be better off. I would not like to hear a beep right before being squished by an errant, aggressive driver.

 

[latrinus]

we dream

rather than rely on a small chunk of electronics to make a noise as you are being run over, I would dream of a world in which the drivers cared if you lived or died while you ride your bike.
Most stories involve lots of remorse by the driver, finding out after death that the rider was a son ,father ,husband ,good person ect ,if they only thought of that before they crushed the person with a 3000 pound car we would all be better off. I would not like to hear a beep right before being squished by an errant, aggressive driver.

Let's say we don't dream, then what practical solution, where 'we' look after ourselves, rather than asking 'them' to do so.

 

[fatandfast]

Let's say we don't dream, then what practical solution, where 'we' look after ourselves, rather than asking 'them' to do so.

Practical solution. Suspend drivers license for 1 year/6 months for aggressive action toward pedestrians or cyclists. @2nd offense attempted murder with a 3000 pound car or truck, jail time. Forced to get a forehead tattoo that reads "I am a selfish *** or prickette".

 

[stutue]

I'm afraid fatandfast has understood the wider point.

Until drivers drive responsibly and are held to account for their actions, rather than trying to shift the emphasis onto cyclists trying to protect themselves, then little will change.

The problem is, the more we have threads like this the further we move away from that point.

Let me give you a clear example. I don't know where you live, but here in the UK the very first thing somebody says when they hear about a cycling fatality involving a vehicle is....

"Was he/she wearing a helmet?"

A helmet won't stop an inattentive/careless driver ploughing his one tonne vehicle into you at 50mph, nor will it protect you in any way when it does, but the point is that comment demonstrates clearly what a victim-blaming culture we have become when it comes to cars.

 

[latrinus]

South Africa

I'm afraid fatandfast has understood the wider point.

Until drivers drive responsibly and are held to account for their actions, rather than trying to shift the emphasis onto cyclists trying to protect themselves, then little will change.

The problem is, the more we have threads like this the further we move away from that point.

Let me give you a clear example. I don't know where you live, but here in the UK the very first thing somebody says when they hear about a cycling fatality involving a vehicle is....

"Was he/she wearing a helmet?"

A helmet won't stop an inattentive/careless driver ploughing his one tonne vehicle into you at 50mph, nor will it protect you in any way when it does, but the point is that comment demonstrates clearly what a victim-blaming culture we have become when it comes to cars.

With you wholly. I live in South Africa, where the most hits are squarely from behind.
We have a fairly lawless culture, so there is no way of changing that. In other societies, yes, a better chance of applying laws in place, never mind adding stricter laws and punishment.
I stopped riding on roads, since I do not trust the motorist behind me. I don't cycle near mugging hotspots, that almost like opting not to go through Sherwood Forest - a good decision in itself?

 

[MarkvW]

...what would be the best safety device for a cyclist to attach to his bike, to prevent collisions from behind - does anything exist or must something still be invented?

Bike HUD with rear view camera and optional data display!

 

[MarkvW]

Practical solution. Suspend drivers license for 1 year/6 months for aggressive action toward pedestrians or cyclists. @2nd offense attempted murder with a 3000 pound car or truck, jail time. Forced to get a forehead tattoo that reads "I am a selfish *** or prickette".

Reckless driving already does all that. The problem isn't laws, it's proof.

The victim-blaming is partly a cultural problem. Many drivers are concerned about accidentally killing a cyclist. They empathize with the driver who blames the cyclist. And many times cyclists are at fault (think of all the dumb things you've seek kids do on bikes). So, people confronted with a blame-the-cyclist story are often quite willing to believe the motorist. There but for the grace of God go I...

But those same people have also seen a small army of bat-guano crazy drivers during their many man-months spent on the roadway over the course of their lives. They will readily believe a cyclist's horror story if it is credible.

LONG LIVE THE HELMETCAM!

 

[winkybiker]

Reckless driving already does all that. The problem isn't laws, it's proof.

The victim-blaming is partly a cultural problem. And many times cyclists are at fault (think of all the dumb things you've seek kids do on bikes). .

Actually, studies in Australia and quoted on another thread show that 4 out of 5 accidents are NOT the cyclists' fault. Also consider that the accidents where the only witness is a dead cyclist would mostly be attributed to the cyclist's "swerving" or other action (whether they did so or not). The percentage that are truly the motorists' fault is perhaps even higher than that.

 

[latrinus]

Actually, studies in Australia and quoted on another thread show that 4 out of 5 accidents are NOT the cyclists' fault. Also consider that the accidents where the only witness is a dead cyclist would mostly be attributed to the cyclist's "swerving" or other action (whether they did so or not). The percentage that are truly the motorists' fault is perhaps even higher than that.

Check the stats on rear-ending:
http://grist.org/list/heres-how-and-where-youre-most-likely-to-die-on-a-bike/

 

[latrinus]

Actually, studies in Australia and quoted on another thread show that 4 out of 5 accidents are NOT the cyclists' fault. Also consider that the accidents where the only witness is a dead cyclist would mostly be attributed to the cyclist's "swerving" or other action (whether they did so or not). The percentage that are truly the motorists' fault is perhaps even higher than that.

See this on Downtube: http://youtu.be/ogu4iPvnwcs

 

[ustabe]

Step-in pedals.

Oops, wrong poll.

 

[winkybiker]

See this on Downtube: http://youtu.be/ogu4iPvnwcs

Honestly, that has to be one of the dumbest things I've seen in quite some time. I mean, really?

 

[latrinus]

what are conditions like where you live?

Honestly, that has to be one of the dumbest things I've seen in quite some time. I mean, really?

What would be your best solution to the problem of sharing roads?

 

[hiero2]

Interesting gadget. Not sure how effective it would be though. A cyclist needs to rely on their ears and their eyes, even more than an auto driver. And, we need to rely on the fact that we can rotate our head to scan all directions. I would think a device like this might cause neophytes to rely on the device, rather than themselves - not a good thing, imo.

I have some doubts about the LAB stats quoted. Methodology, all that. Back in the late 80's, when I was actively into cycling advocacy, I dug up what accident stats were available in the US. There weren't many, but wrong-way riding was biggest on the hit list. Ride-outs were bigger than rear-enders (A ride-out is where the cyclist rides out of a non-auto area into a street. Obviously without appropriately checking for traffic. Also it should be obvious that this was mostly an accident involving children, riding out of driveways.)

Now, obviously, the culture and environment have changed over the intervening time. But still, it makes me wonder about methodology, when you essentially get a reversal of statistical events.

Additionally, the cover blurb mentions that, of the fatalities, ~100 out of 238 were wrong-way or other cyclist errors. Yet this doesn't seem to be reflected in the stats. Something does not seem to add up.

 

[hiero2]

What would be your best solution to the problem of sharing roads?

Spike.

http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/08/12/spike-bike/

 

[winkybiker]

What would be your best solution to the problem of sharing roads?

I don't have one. People naturally just turn into impatient, distracted, arrogant, dangerous @r$h0les whenever they get behind the wheel. Nothing we can do about it. This behaviour is condoned by society, as nearly everyone does it and no-one wants to be held to account. Most people are most comfortable with the notion that it is pretty much always the cyclists' fault. After all, "they run red lights, wear spandex and get in the way of my 2-tonne mobile missile, don't they?" "Was he even wearing a helmet? No? Oh, it's OK that he's dead then. He had it coming."

Some incredibly stupid thing beeping at you as are sucked under the wheel of an SUV will be some cold comfort.

 

[Aapjes]

What would be your best solution to the problem of sharing roads?

Autonomous cars. Drivers can just go to sleep or play with their phone, while the car will give cyclists enough room, won't road rage, won't cut them off, etc.

 

[hiero2]

Autonomous cars. Drivers can just go to sleep or play with their phone, while the car will give cyclists enough room, won't road rage, won't cut them off, etc.

Yeah, man! So true!

 

[latrinus]

Autonomous cars. Drivers can just go to sleep or play with their phone, while the car will give cyclists enough room, won't road rage, won't cut them off, etc.

While we wait for them cars: http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?op...-inventing-the-cycling-safety-wheel&catid=578

 

[hiero2]

Latrinus,

If my quick research is correct, you work for the company producing that little radar device. It is interesting that you guys are trying to make such a product.

Please pass the word on that you should keep in mind the following things - and make them objectives to incorporate if possible.

I think, in order to be effective, such a device is going to have to do a couple of things:
* have sufficient range to allow the rider to take evasive action.
* have a directional component so that the rider gets warning the overtaking vehicle is on a collision course - or not.

And what about sorting multiple vehicles? If the device isn't doing those things - say the range is too close - then it isn't improving on the rider's ears. So it would be useful to a deaf rider.

There may be a market for it amongst neophyte riders, although I would rather seem them learn a little about riding in traffic myself. Just as we do not automatically expect an auto driver to be able to handle a motorcycle, we should not expect someone to get on the road with no training. We do, though. I'm pretty sure all states in the US have learned lessons about motorcycles, and now require separate training for motorcyclists before you can get a license.

But I'm drifting. Experienced cyclists, though, rely on their ears to aid them. They usually know a car is behind them. What they DON'T know is when that car has not adjusted its path to pass.

Neophyte riders, and some experience riders, also have rear view mirrors available, should they want them.

You may be trying to reinvent the wheel here, but it is an intriguing idea.