jowilson

I had my parents (being 15 yrs old) drive me to the bike co-op where I volunteer and fixed it up in time for me bike back home. I live 8.6 miles from the co-op and I need a way to start training for my tour in about a months time. I took the simplest way back with the fewest turns and made it back in 44 minutes. I told my dad it was going to be about 45 minutes! I didn't come close to hitting anyone but I realized how much people pull out and stop behind a stop sign to peek out. They all ended up backing up so I could pass them, but it did get a bit annoying after 3-4 times. Does anyone have any tips for making myself easier to see? Maybe a reflective vest?

TIA,

Josh

10 Wheels

Vest are good.



Strobe Lights are better.

I use one of these. 4 hours run time on strobe.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_4_ti

Bluish Green

High visibility is helpful for safety. If you have clothes you are choosing between, brighter is better than darker, and neon bright is even better yet. White is best after dark. Lights are great both daytime and nighttime. Good luck and ride safe!

dramiscram

Congratulation for your first commute, it's the hardest. From now on it will only get easier. As for being seen the two previous comments are saying it all.

I have two light in front, one to be seen and always flashing and a stronger one to see where I go when it's dark. I have two blinkies in the back, one on my rear rack and one fixed to my helmet.

Keep on!

Turtle Speed

Consider a reflective vest: neon green for the daytime, reflective material for when it's dark. Amazon sells a popular one (careful which size to pick), and I've heard you can get them for cheap at a place like Harbor Freight too. I know IKEA also sells the same thing in yellow for around $5. Get a loose one and you can wear it year-round over any clothing or coat. Plus it's inexpensive.

You may have fewer cars pull in front of you if your lane positioning is different. I would suggest surfing Commute Orlando for a different perspective on that. And carry copies of your local laws on bike lane positioning.

jowilson

Ummm... I forgot to say that on the street I rode on, there is no bike lane. I am working on a route that does have a bike lane.

Also, do the lights have to be blinkie lights because then I'd have to spend a little moola on blinkies. I have a front white light and a rear red light that can also be changed in to a white light.

AstroEng

You can get a pack of construction worker neon-green (or orange) T-Shirts for pretty cheap at Wal-Mart. I'm guessing at 15 and volunteering, that your budget is a little tight?

Anyway - if you see other cyclists around town - pay attention to which ones you notice first. I think the neon-green shirts/jackets etc stick out the best from the furthest distance. Plus they aren't directional like a strobe (not that you shouldn't get one of those too).

hubcap

This is one of the reasons I avoid riding on side paths that cross a lot of streets or driveway entrances. Motorists always creep up past the stop sign/line and straddle the side path, effectively blocking it. Much better to be in the street. If they are encroaching into the street, move to the middle of the lane.

spivonious

I got my reflective vest at Home Depot for $10. It definitely resulted in cars giving me a bit more space.

I don't run lights during the daytime. You have to spend a lot to get ones bright enough to see in the daylight, and I don't think it adds much to your visibility. If you'll be riding at night, definitely invest in a quality headlight and a bright rear-blinky. You want things that will make you stand out against the background of lights on the street (car tail lights, street lamps, store signs, etc.).

"how much people pull out and stop behind a stop sign to peek out"

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but if you're having cars start pulling out in front of you at intersections, try to pull farther into the lane when you're approaching the intersection. Most drivers are only looking for cars in the lane, so they'll miss you if you're in the shoulder. Check behind you for cars before moving out, of course.

cplager

I disagree strongly with this. I currently have a Cygolite 2 watt Hotshot rear light ($30) and Cygolite 600 Lumin Expillion that was $60 when I ordered it. I used to run a $15 USB Nashbar headlight and $13 tail light and they were both visible during the day. I find running a flashing front light makes cars much less likely to pull out in front of me. And I find I get more space being passed by cars when I have a flashing red light on the back.

To the OP, you don't need the lights to be flashing but they are more likely to be noticed if they are.

I used to use this flashing reflective vest (mostly when it is dark out) and found I got a good response with that, too.

hubcap

I usually don't use my lights during the day, but I agree that they are noticeable. I particularly notice other cyclists coming towards me quite a distance away when they have a headlight on during the day.

cplager

I didn't used to. I grew up taught one should always drive a car with the headlights on. And one day, it occurred to me that I was driving my big metal box with the headlights on during the day, but not my tiny little bike. So now I do.

If you ride at night, I recommend having duplicate lights as you never know when you've forgotten to charge one of your lights...

jowilson

I meant how far rather than how much.


Thanks all for the comments so far, I will invest in a nice set of blinkie lights and also a reflective vest. The hours of my co-op are 6-9 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 3-6 PM on Sundays. So I only have to worry about riding at night for 2 days, but for nearly 2 hours a week-depending on traffic.

Josh

Darth Lefty 

Google Maps has a bike lane thingie in the menus on the upper right of the map. It will help you plan your route.

Also remember that on a bike you cannot take advantage of the high speed lmits of the main roads and so you might as well take the residential streets. Don't know about your area but most suburbs have half-mile grid streets that are better for bikes than the main arteries on the mile grid.

FenderTL5

Godspeed!
Today is the one year anniversary of my first commute.

I wear a vest plus I have three forward facing lights and three taillights.

jowilson

Thanks guys! I bought some lights today, along with a vest. The lights have a stable mode and a blinking mode.

All set for night time rides!!

And congrats, Fender, on your first year of commuting!