Cycling Safely: Top Tips for Being Seen on the Road
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- In this video, we discuss ways to stay seen and safe on the road while cycling 👉 Bike Safety Gear : kit.co/RadBikeAdventure/stay-...
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Shoulder check and looking in the general direction of the driver does encourage them to pass you with more space. Good tip.
Using reflective pedal & tires with reflective stripes are useful.
Agree!
Vests are great because they can fit over other jackets and the are easy to find and replace
I’ve found that on the brightest days, it’s actually harder to see cyclists in the shadows. Having a taillight is super beneficial and makes a huge difference in visibility!
Also, having a light on the bike and on your person (rear and front both) is really important for if you crash and get separated from the bike.
Yes very true. I'm always extra cautious when the sun is low and blinding drivers. Always good to have those rear lights on and at least one of them blinking.
I do the shoulder check to signal that I need more space. They come too close. Great video.
Since I started commuting regularly I started buying all of my replacement t-shirts are high vis. Only downside is that when at work, you can see the high vis through my dress shirt. Considering that my bike is parked in my workspace, I don't think its out of place.
I also wanted to add that while on trails, I often play music too. I turn the head lamp off as not to blind oncoming joggers, but the music offers a consistent awareness of my presence to close I'm coming up behind. I still call out before passing, but they can't say they didn't hear me coming.
Thanks! Here in Arizona it's a law to have both a headlight and tailight when road riding, but I notice only 50% do that. My front light is on an alternating strobe, as is the rear, and we use them both on and off-road. Both are visible over a mile... And I ALWAYS wear bright colors! I totally agree with movement... it's called FIXATION. Motorcyclists will often weave slightly when approaching intersections.
The rear light I like is the Garmin Varia Radar Light and is a game changer. Besides being a very bright light and also senses approaching cars and cyclists. The radar light gives you a beep and moving target on your computer. It will sense a car over 150 yards away and gives a warning. This has helped me tremendously in both traffic and country roads in avoiding some bad situations especially with trucks on narrow country roads. I know a mirror does a similar thing but this is more perceptive in knowing what is approaching you and gives time to plan for the situation.
I completely agree. You get that extra bit of warning especially when your in a head wind or those pesky electric cars in silent mode. With a rear view mirror too you get to quickly check the git behind. The warning of a fast moving vehicle coming up is great too.
Thank You for thease vidios very helpful
There is something to be said about breaking movement to capture attention, it is how I catch wildlife views, like birding. The mandated passive reflectors are annoying, but in motion can be effective. There is a cyclist in my town who may own his/her/their life to them in absence of any another device in dark. It was too close and I nearly nailed them. I am slowly installing dynamos on all my bikes, Wyoming specific winter bike is done. Should have the fleet of three done by New Years. USB rechargeable lights are a game changer. Even with steady dynamo lights, I am going to need to keep USB flashy lights.
Right? I think it does help.
Manual signaling for turns on bicycle or motorcycle (left or right), is to stick the hand out to the direction of the turn and wave it up and down. In Malaysia, it’s a mandatory gesture to do so for turns when testing for a motorcycle license in order to pass. Most people however do not practice it after getting their license for some reasons. Definitely proven that motion catches attention better than stagnant. 👍👍👍
Thanks for the video.
Great topic and very well made as always! I also find WHERE I ride to be important as well. I ride 1/3 of the way into my lane. This keeps my form clearly in the road and not broken up by the clutter of the roadside. When I see a car coming up behind me I will yield as much as I safely can and always wave them by if they are waiting and I always always always wave and smile to those who give me the lane. But I also live in BFE Ohio too so things may be different in other areas. Thanks again for the video! I’m getting one of those triangles.
YES! Such a great suggestion I should have mentioned! Definitely don’t put yourself in the gutter when I riding. In CA we can legally use the entire lane but I agree 1/3 the way out is perfect.
Really helpful thank you 🙏
Super helpful video. Thank you!
Thanks for another excellent video! And yes to morning around to be seen. Waving a "pretend hello" is one of my favourites when a random car approaches on a semi deserted road.
I think the University of Nottingham(?) England published a study on what drivers noticed about cyclist, it concluded that bright material moving below the waist such as shoes and socks drivers noticed more then vest and jackets. I wear everything bright at night but during daylight some day glow socks and the flashing front and rear Blinky lights work well. Little known law in California the state requires a bike to be equipped with a rear reflector at night too.
Interesting! I need a link to glow socks tho never heard of that. And I’m doubting that reflector law is ever enforced
@@radbikeadventure the cycling sock company Defeet makes a couple of pair, I have solid yellow and light blue and another one it’s called ‘Bee Aware’ which is yellow sock with a honey comb design. These socks do not glow in the dark or are reflective, they’re are used during the daytime. As far as I know the University. study was only performed during day light hours.
@@radbikeadventure the rear reflector law was enforced about 10 of 11 years ago when a driver hit a bike rider at night and drove away. He was arrested and charged.
awesome job! Cheers.
Thanks Ian!
On bicycle tours I wear a hi-viz long sleeved polo work shirt (Australian Standard) rather than a vest.
Besides the visibility they are SPF50 so are excellent in the Australian sun. BTW because of occupational health and safety in Australia, many manual workers wear hi-viz shirts so you don't look out of place walking around or going in shops wearing one. I find that the orange is more easily seen in the bush than the yellow. I read somewhere fluro pink stands out the most.
As already noted in these comments moving reflectors catch motorist eyes. I remember reading a study (can't find it now) that said moving pedal reflectors best identified cyclists as cyclists to motorists at night. Funny enough people often remove their pedal reflectors. I have a quite a few which I got for free from my LBS because they were removed.
I put a big strip of reflective tape down my rear mudguard.
I can also confirm "the wiggle" aids visibility and overtaking.
2:20 in the video is right near where I live.
Ah yes i know exactly the shirt you are talking about! Those are perfect for cycling in. I wish we had them here. Yes, lots of people talking about pedal reflectors, only thing is you need headlights on them but still great for riding at night.
That's a beautiful spot to live!
Ladies another great video keep up the great work and love your videos.
Thanks Michael!
Blue reflective patch of tape on the heal of your left shoe and a patch of silver on the right heal; motorists seam to notice blue and white flashing lights fore some reason. 😁
great video! just an addition: If you have two rear lights always have one steady and not flashing because its harder for the eyes to estimate the distance between drivers and cyclists. If you can only have one rear light it should be a steady one
Ah interesting! Is there proof of this? Does make sense tho. Thanks for sharing!
For front lights I use a strong non flashing beam mounted to the bars so I can see at night and to be seen, I have a flashing one mounted to the front of my helmet. Also agree having 2 rear lights makes a big difference for depth of view. For hi vis with movement, I wear velcro type ankle straps in bright green with a center piece of reflective tape sewn in (amazon).
I have heard about the movement technique, although I rely on my helmet mirror a lot to see what’s coming up. I put reflective tape on the cranks to provide something in addition to the lights that flashes & grabs attention. Some tires offer reflective sidewall strips, too. Excellent advice as always; well done! 👍🏻
Ok cool so sounds like the movement technique is known and studied so my instincts were on point! I will continue doing my little "hey i'm here!" dance when traffic comes. Mirrors are great too. I use one on the drops of my handlebar . Thanks Gregg!
I have absolutely noticed that drivers will treat you more considerately if you just glance over your shoulder to let them know that you know they're there. I guess maybe humanises the cyclist to an impatient driver, or in the opposite case if a driver is nervous of passing it lets them know that you aren't going to make any sudden moves.
Oh, and giving them a wave to say thank you if they've passed you wide or waited for a better spot to pass is nice. It's good to acknowlege somebody when they *haven't* been a dick
Agreed! We always wave to people who drive by that give us a little room
Yes dude! Sometime they are just overly cautious drivers who think we don't see them so a quick glance over has really helped smoothen traffic next to me. And every now and then sit up and just wave them by
Oh yes, the glance works even in Romania! :))
I do like my cygolites. They also have a helmet mount, and at night I will run a high lumen (1100) on the handlebars and the 450 metro on my helmet. Being able to flash and make "eye contact" with drivers at intersections is super important.
I also prefer the daytime flash on the 450 to the 1100 version.
Enjoyed the video and agree with you on visibility, flashing lights etc.. I have Schwalbe tyres with a reflective strip in both of the sidewalls - great for junctions and as an additional reflector! And an air horn (124 db) which gets the attention of almost all inattentive road users. Also reflectors (amber/orange) are available to fit many pedals - excellent at night.
Air horn. What a great addition. 🔊 🔊 🔊
It’s always entertaining watching you, especially on such an important subject. Thanks for taking care for safety.
We live in Germany and here we have special regulations regarding lights and reflectors.
Nevertheless, we upgraded our bikes with a permanent light-on system, NOT battery driven.
How does this work!
First you need a strong front hub dynamo, that delivers already full current at low rpm.
All these dynamos have 6V3W, so the low speed option is essential. The shutter precision SP-PD8 does deliver that.
The front light is a Busch+Mueller Fly Premium that delivers 60LUX and has a stand-light option.
The rear light we use is the AXA spark steady.
During daylight ride, we have adjusted the front light 1 click upward. This ensures that you are seen excellent.
And yes, a mirror installed in the left grip of the handle bar is a must.
Sounds like a good setup! Love that in Europe many more people use built in lights with dynamo system.
I had a crash when a parked motorist opened his door as I was cycling by. I now use a strobe light up front that will attract the attention of any motorist in their rear vision side mirror.
Another great video. I use lights during the day whether I’m commuting or touring. People are so distracted. I’d love a video on mirrors if you get a chance. I’m scared I’m going to hit something if I check over my shoulder. Whereabouts in Australia did you tour?
Definitely a video about mirrors! Shoulder checking does take practice but I've gotten way more comfortable with it over the years. You can try practicing somewhere safe. We went to Tassie and then from Melbourne up to Brisbane mostly following the coast : ). Many vlogs about it if you're interested!
That "rooster" tail is a great idea for attention getting :)
I don't think you mentioned Ankle strap reflectors. Some even have small lights. Very helpful as the movement catches driver's eyes. I ride 1/3rd of the lane from the right unless it is a road with lots of shade at which point I move left another 1/3 of a lane. I also move left as a car gets somewhere around 100 yards away to catch their attention. As they get closer I make a distinct move back to the right to catch their eye & to show I am aware of them.
I really like rear lights that are also reflectors. That way if the battery dies you still have the passive visibility left. The one that I've been using lately is Planet Bike's The Greatful Red USB. It's not very slick, but it's bright and relatively inexpensive.
Also, I'm not sure what your experience is, but I find the blinking lights are most important around dawn and dusk. Something about that half light is dangerous. It's too bright for reflectors to be effective, and too dark for people to get a good look at you. Once night settles in I can usually go to steady front lights without having close calls.
Yes totally agree. Dawn and dusk is the most dangerous light to ride in. I’ll check out that light thanks! Planet Bike makes good stuff
Very nice video, as the others are. My wife and I enjoy watching your creations. Off-topic a bit but where would you suggest I pose newbie questions? For example, I wonder if bodyweight counts the same as the weight of gear? If I had gear that weighed a pound or two would losing a pound or two of my own weight balance it to zero? Thanks for all the information that you provide in your videos!
Hi Susan, thanks for your comment. Yes, body weight does factor into overall weight since you're still carrying that weight on the bike. You can always email us questions: radbikeadventure @ gmail . com
I put the second light on the end of my handlebar so it is sticking out onto the road as much as possible. Drivers leave you more room when passing, they really do.
Do you put it on the drops? Seems like it might get in the way but good idea for visibility.
@@radbikeadventure I usually use a bullhorn(+TT bar) setup, on the drops I put it on the bendy bit under the brake lever.
I snow bike and I think other road users find it really awkward or new to the frostbiking culture, so I try to make eye contacts with thewm and literally pointing at the direction where I am trying to make turns. It brings a little more human interaction. I hear a lot about irritated car drivers honking or harassing at cyclists but I rarely encounter them, perhaps because of that? (also I wear hi-vis everything so other cyclists asked me if I weren't embarrassing myself lol but my life is more precious than coolness)
I am re-watching your videos, finding them extremely helpful while preparing for moving from a snow-covered island to South by bike with my cat (she does her daily rides with me).
I bought an orange bike partially to be seen better.
Paint color can matter.
It's also worth mentioning that blinking lights are unfortunately illegal in some countries (looking at you Germany)... Bike shops even have separate sections of "illegal" lights, that is lights that have any sort of blink mode. I was very surprised to find out.
Ps: Spoke reflectors are also super visible when coming from the sides.
Super interesting to hear that. I think in Germany, there are many more bike paths so I could see the blinking lights being a disturbance with walkers and other bikers around. But still, on a road, it's definitely much safer. I want all I can to catch drivers' attention
@@radbikeadventure I'm not sure how much this no-blink regulation is actually enforced, i see more people without lights in the city than people with blinking ones and there's usually no repercussions... Most of Germany is quite bike friendly, but here in Berlin the infrastructure is still not quite there. It absolutely makes sense to get lights that have blinking mode in any case!
As a driver, I've noticed that the trend to flashing neon lights by emergency vehicles has actually led to diminished aspects of visibility. The lights are quite bright - much brighter than the lights of old - and therefore are visible at much greater distances. Paradoxically, I find it much harder to localized in space than the old rotating beacons. That's only anecdotal with a sample size of one (me), but I suspect that having both a flashing light and at least one (good, bright) solid light source could be helpful. That said, I've not done it, but I did mount the passive reflectors that came with the bike in conjunction with my lights with the idea that perhaps that would help.
In France EU certified hivis vests are mandatory to ride at night in the countryside. Like bells or pedal reflectors, it's not really enforced but still.
I'm still looking for a certified (not just yellow) highly compressible windstoppper to replace my black one but no luck so far. I find standard vests to be realy flappy, and while I'm not an aero-nerd, especially during trips, the constant flapping noise is kinda annoying, especially while riding during a quiet night.
That’s a fair point about the flapping but kids happens with all jackets. The Pearl Izumi one in our gear list has always worked really well for me
There is passive & active in one combo riding jackets & vests(REFLECT360 type) from PROVIZ, been available for years now that don't need any batteries to be very highly active/reavtive at all, any light source including the sun even on a dull light day ( it works even brighter if it gets wet) or any vehicle light will activate the the glow factor at long distance from the riders body towards the oncoming vehicle. The best part of these jackets & vests is the fact the oncoming vehicle drivers will dear not even try to leave there high beam powered lights on, they are the ones who get blinded first before you get the same effect on your eyeballs, as in very highly active/reactive powerful glowing white factor ( like instant respect from a good distance yet comfortable on your own eyes!).
When combined with a decent rechargeable 800 lumens front light units & from just as effective rear rechargeable light units with various pulse strobing on both front & rear lights, you end up with a day/night running abilities that far exceed what use to the best given how cheap and reliable they are these days, have got both a vest & full jacket(REFLECT360 type) from PROVIZ to suit whatever riding conditions I'm riding in and large numbers of riders in my area use these same jackets & vests because they are so good.
As an side note, a major motorcycle clothing brand from Germany and very well known outside of Germany is now making a version of these Reflect360 jackets for motorbike riders along side the traditional high vis yellows/orange colours, I will be buying that jacket to add to my motorbike riding kit and it will replace my current high vis yellow & black wet weather jacket, this type of jacket is that good!
Yes movement of the body or flag or clothing like a flapping vest makes people actually pay attention to you, it's part of our human instinct regarding things dangerous or not to our personal survivability space, it cannot be ignored!
Cool, can you put a link to that jacket?
@@radbikeadventure the range and colour styles - big www.provizsports.com/en-gb/
I have a Thousand helmet. Where can I find that magnet rear light? Love that. Thanks!
It should have come with it! Is it an older model?
@@radbikeadventure I got it last year. It came with a reflective sticker.
Ive also read movement is important. The study suggested hi-viz should be on the moving parts of your body. If you have something larger like a jacket, that doesn't really move like your feet for example, drivers see you, but their minds don't automatically connect that with human. They might instead think 'sign' and signs don't tend to be on the road, and don't bleed if you hit them.
Nah that helmets fine.🤣 I've learned from experience you can fix helmets with super glue and pink duct tape the pink duct tape adds Flair. Aside from that I will look for a triangle that is such a great suggestion.🤟🤙 PS don't know about you but I would like to get one of those old-school rooster reflectors from the Kellogg's box again😆. Yes and what you said about the lights is very true. One on the knapsack one hanging off the saddle the other on the seat post.
Helmets do expire as the foam will degrade so less about looks and more about time/wear. Plus the inside is a disaster as we had to super glue the foam back in 😜 But hells yes to the rooster tail!!
When the road is very narrow i drive in littel curves, so the drivers automaticcaly keep more distance to me .
Iv tryed to get the triangle system but with no luck here , trying to find one here is like a needed in 50 hey stacks
Really?? Where are you located?
I bet you could find one on AliExpress and they ship worldwide
If I hear a car coming and they seem to be going too fast or not moving over I do a little wobble on my bike, 90% of the time the driver slows down and moves Waaay over.
Very true I call it the swerve. I do it when I check my mirror and a car is not moving over. It has to be time just right. Not really something that somebody just getting into cycling and should be doing.
What do you use to BE SEEN on the road??
I also use use a yellow high vis jacket but no matter how careful I am, every jacket always gets oil on. Also have yellow high vis reflective strips zip tied on both fork blades which is very effective.
Yes that is true. Do have to be careful to not get it greasy. Mine had a few marks but since it’s usually the last thing I put on (after I’ve done my chain cleaning) it’s still pretty clean!
Hey all,
One thing I use is 3M Scotchlite reflective tape on my helmet and various places on the bike. It comes in many colors so you can make it blend in (black tape on a black helmet) or go as flash as you like! All the colors reflect bright white. Triangles, flappy shirts, lights, and more are all good as well!
I used a Safety Pizza on my Europe trip. Unfortunately I lost a piece of pepperoni somewhere down the Rhine. I don't suppose you found it? ;-)
We were hungry so we ate it... Hope you don't mind ;p
Good grief. I would totally buy an animal bicycle tail. Get on that! That's a million-dollar idea!
Riiiiiiiight?!?
Drivers do see cyclists ……………. the problem is, that they don’t actually care
I think that is more a rarity that ppl will buzz you (really a whole other topic) I’m more worried about those zoning out and not paying attention
usually..but sometimes drivers don't even see other cars..
Drivers in the UK are awful. High Viz helmet, jacket and clothing and bright flashy lights are a must. In the UK avoid busy roads. However…… UK made EXPOSURE LIGHTS are great, long battery life, auxiliary battery compatible, and made by a diving company so they know waterproof.
Thanks for sharing David
“If anyone has seen these, let me know.” *swings item wildly so it’s completely unidentifiable*
Small red blinky light w a clip.