Comments on: GroupThink: Alternative Safety Tactics

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:26:50 +0000

The idea I had, too evil to ever implement, was to place a wick or brush at the end of the stick with brake fluid on it. Absolutely no harm can be done exept to the paintwork of a vehicle getting too close. Only of use in retribution. Better to prevent.
Research says not wearing a helmet might help and there is the “Mary Poppins effect”.
An idea I have been wanting to try is to dress as a childrens crossing traffic warden. Where I am this is a flouro vest with a white hat. It would be interesting to see if this might discombobulate our bike helmet police also.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:54:41 +0000

Anything protruding from you or your bicycle that could cause damage to a vehicle passing too closely will generally give you more space between you and the passing vehicle. The people who pass you dangerously do not give a *$&@ about you; they do, however, care about the possibility of scratches on their precious vehicle.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:02:25 +0000

Re: X-mas lights, yeah, I think they shorted out or something. They were just a little cheapie set from Walgreens with “INDOOR USE ONLY” printed all over the package.

By: Girl Jen

Girl Jen — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 07:23:54 +0000

I think I’m going to steal one of the traffic safety vests from work. They’re emblazoned with a star of life and “EMS” on the back.

Ghost Rider, the correct answer to that question (“where ya headed, Santa?”) is always “Your mom’s house.”

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:48:47 +0000

The helmet-mounted headlight is great — you can swing your head from side to side as you point the light directly at an oncoming or turning car’s windshield, and they WILL see you that way…

White pants, eh? Wow. Maybe I’ll try an Elvis jumpsuit with sequins — you might be onto something here, Fritz!

Jennifer, did the Christmas lights stop working for you? I still have some mounted on one of my bikes, and they work wonders — folks really give me room (unless they pull up alongside to say things like “where ya headed, Santa?”).

By: Jim Carson

Jim Carson — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:15:46 +0000

My headlight’s mounted on my helmet. When riding with it on, if I hear a car coming, I’ll tilt my head slightly so it shines left of where I am, often resulting in getting more space as they pass.

Otherwise, I try to ride very predictably. If I need to take the lane, I take the center of the lane. I question the usefulness and intent of people who ride with the lights on the wrong side or deliberately swerve.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:48:33 +0000

This *was* in the 80s.

I see a woman on my commute route with bright yellow pants. I haven’t seen her in a while. Over the past month or so I’ve also seen a guy who wears a full face motorcycle helmet while he very slowly rides his full suspension Wal Mart bike.

By: Tim Grahl

Tim Grahl — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:37:54 +0000

Fritz: White pants? Is that on your way home from disco night?

By: Fritz

Fritz — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:32:34 +0000

Oh, alternative safety tricks: I’ve done American flags, fluorescent orange flags, flash sticks, white pants (to increase night visibility), Christmas lights, etc etc etc.

My Raleigh has a Lightman xenon strobe with a yellow lens mounted permanently to it, along with 4 assorted red blinkies (including the one mounted on my helmet). On that bike people have told me I look like a construction barrier at night, and nobody wants to hit those.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:28:47 +0000

I see cyclists who do the wrong-way lights on occasion. It’s stupid and it’s dangerous not only to them and motorists, but also to cyclists like me who use these visual cues to determine their direction of travel.

Imagine you’re stopped at an intersection waiting to turn right. You look left and all you see is a red blinky light, so you proceed and them *blam* that idiot with the red blinky on front hits you. If you’re driving a car, the wrong-way blinky cyclist is dead or injured. If you’re on a bike, you’re the one who is likely injured and with a damaged bike.