Originally Posted by
zacster
I was just in Copenhagen and NOBODY would open a car door without looking out for bikes, since there are more bikes than cars. Bike lanes in the US are just not done right, giving bikes a small space to ride surrounded by cars. Our examples in NYC are horrible. 1st Avenue has a bike lane that puts us in the path of left turning cars, most of which never look. We are unable to avoid obstacles because it is too narrow, we can't be seen because there is a line of parked cars between us and the moving cars. It just doesn't work even though the number of cyclists has exploded over the last few years. Corraled, hidden and marginalized. And the NYC police will ticket cyclists for doing things that drivers would get away with. There was a cop standing at a busy cycling intersection telling us we should have bells, as if bells can be heard inside an air conditioned car, or by a pedestrian with earbuds. Useless.
As useless as that might sound, it is the law. So the cop is compelled to bring it to your attention, and at times, enforce it.
A loud YO works better, and I proved the point as a pedestrian just started walking into the bike lane in front of me against the light, the guy the cops were reminding was right behind me. He heard my shout as I was already wide of him, and the guy behind avoided him.
True they can "hear" it. However, the inherent problem with that is that you don't know what someone is yelling about. You then have to stop look and interpret the sound. A bell on the the hand, is instantly and universally recognized as the approach of a cyclist. Provided, it can be heard, of course.
Originally Posted by
noglider
I bet the passenger didn't look in your direction, so no light would have improved your chances. The bike lane is not safe if it is in the door zone, so even though it is a bike lane, don't ride in it. Yes, I'm telling you not to use a bike lane. Don't ride so close to cars.
Not improve the chances? No way to be sure about that. And even a small advantage is better than none at all. Additionally there is the question of liability. If nothing else that light may significantly improve your chances of compensation should an accident occur. BTW, as a driver I always look back and warn any passengers to check behind them as well.
Cygolite and other brands have a "steady flash" mode, which sounds like a contradiction. The light stays on so you can see by it at night, and it adds a high intensity flash every second or so. I notice these from farther off than other types of lights, so to the extent that a light makes you visible, this seems like a good option. Cygolite products are good.
Dooring is seriously dangerous. Recently, people have died from being doored. Don't let it happen to you. Don't be afraid of being hit from behind. That's not common. Recently in NYC, someone was doored, and his body was tossed into the next lane, right in front of a truck, and the truck killed him.
Good news -- maybe? Modern cars now have pedestrian detection/avoidance system built-in, so even if the driver "doesn't see you" the car will. While the industry is at it, perhaps we cyclist might get the word out to encourage car manufacturers to put these sensors on the doors as well. If we start now, within a decade getting doored will become as rare as contracting the Hansen's disease.