Commuting - Anyone use this kind of flag?

http://www.flashback.ca/products/accessories.html
http://www.flashback.ca/images/flagrear.jpg

Seems like a good idea, makes the bike look a bit wider and more distinguishable on the road. I think cars wouldn't cut as close daytime or night. And I was thinking if they did anyway, at least with this they might scratch up their paint on my flag pole.

Any other sources besides the above posted link

I think Bekologist uses one of those.

I considered getting one when I retired and first moved back here, but there has been no need. The drivers in this area are excellent.

If would use one if I thought needed it, though.

It's a nice idea - too bad the website doesn't show any other pictures. All I see of it so far is a disembodied triangle to the left of the bike, with no idea how it really looks or is attached. They should show some pics with more lighting to give a better idea what it all looks like.

I considered getting one when I retired and first moved back here, but there has been no need. The drivers in this area are excellent.


- that's it! i just showed your message to the wife unit...

- we're selling the house and moving to your county!

:-)

p.s. haven't seen this type of flag in person, but have seen the whippy tall ones.. oh, and the drivers in this [my] area are not excellent - most are either drunk, over- or under-medicated, suffer from terminal-cellphone-in-ear, or are suffering from dementia...

Thread Hijack

CommuterRun - Glad to hear that about the drivers in your area. I'm doing the Seven Hills tour starting on April 21.

Al

I read that a study in denmark showed that cars gave an extra 0.5 m of clearance when they passed. I bought one for my daughter when she went to London for the summer 13 yrs ago. I dont have any problem with cars passing too close here, and it would interfere with my lane splitting.

I have been using the Flash Flag for about 2 years. The short pole the flag is on is mounted to the bike via a spring; as you ride the flag flips and moves in the wind--very eye catching. There is a small plastic hook on the pole so you can conveniently store the flag against the rack/frame. The sleeve part of the flag is slowly starting to separate, but a couple of zip ties would probably fix the problem.

For the price, I believe it is a helpful item on my daily, mostly urban commute.

Having stuff sticking out the sides really does help, I think. I don't use a flag like that, but my rear lights are hella bright and stick out 9" in both directions. Cars definitely give more space when the lights are turned on.

I've taken a simple bicyclist safety triangle and attached it to a spoke zip-tied off my rear rack. I feel it does help get greater passing clearances from (most) motorists. This winter at night I aimed a planetbike superflash up thru the triangle and illuminated it.

I think my night reflective vest works equally well.

http://nordicgroup.us/s78/flag/flag.htm

Above page has close-up photos and a scan of the installation sheet.

The site states "You can order a Flash Flag from me for $5 each, plus $4 flat rate shipping (same shipping charge for up to 5 flags)."

However, my email a few weeks back to them went unanswered. :(