The thread maybe about daytime visibility but you continue to mix in nightime visibilty. So, let's go there. That photo... are you really that much in denial that you think some reflective high-lights on a messenger bag can out perform something like a refliective bike jacket or even the vest pictured above? To say nothing of rear flashers... I mean... even if you live car free you must occasionally get a ride in one. At night. Tell the truth, sometimes you see a bike and the only way you knew a bike was there was because you saw its blinkie. Totally invisible otherwise. But because the rider has a blinkie you know he is there. Now what you do with that knowledge depends on you. No blinkie is going to save you from someone who has a ______ for cyclists and he's in the mood to make your day. But a driver who is a reasonable human being, who maybe rides him/herself. Isn't that someone you'd want to give that information to? I ride like I'm invisible but IF I get nailed and I don't have any hi-viz or required lighting the inattentive, distracted, or criminally negligent driver is going to WALK AWAY from what is left of my life scot free and I might end up having to pay him/her damages as a result. Having some night gear just strengthens your position. This is not an argument you can win. Run ninja if you want. Just don't try to convince rational people that you are just as safe as they are. You are not. You may never have to find that out the hard way. Yay. God does indeed take care of fools and babies. Or does He... maybe you've just been lucky. Rejoice and don't get cocky. Its not nice to take one's Guardian Angel for granted.

H

BTW more visible is more visible. Hi-viz is more visible than not, day or night. It just is. There is no argument. Cars are pretty visible yes? But cars with their headlights on in the daytime are still more visible would you agree. So much so that many sections of roadway request that you run your headlights during the day. Some car models do it for you its that useful a thing to do! It is worth the cost of having to buy headlight bulbs more often. Some people don't think so. They are wrong. Hi-viz are your bicycles headlights. Running your hi-viz during the day makes you safer than not. How much safer? Who knows that takes more analysis than the question needs. Common sense says it is a change in the 'safer' direction. No batteries or bulbs to burn out to wear a hi-viz jacket or vest. I don't run my flashers in the daytime but I do wear my hi-viz. I'm not a freak about it in the daytime nor do I wear my helmet for trips under a couple miles. But my commute and longer trips. Helmet and hi-viz. Bad weather, helmet and hi-viz. I ask again, what is the harm in it?