May I ask you some questions?
 

Greetings, I would appreciate your time if you would provide any constructive opinion on a bicycle safety product questionnaire. I believe the product could save lives for those that ride to work, for pleasure or other. Thank you. (I am not selling anything, only collecting constructive data).

1) Do you own a bicycle, e-bike, e-scooter, moped
2) Do you ride in the street with cars passing by?
3) Do you worry about cars seeing you ride in the street?
4) Do you ride for work or for pleasure?
5) Do you stop at red lights/stop signs?
6) Does your bike have any protective gear?
8) Would you carry a removable or permanently attached safety flag clip?
9) Expandable or retractable safety flag, to carry like an umbrella?
10) Velcro, clip or screwed on the bike to hold?
11) How far or high would it expand to?
12) Glow in the dark, flashing lights, sensor sound or all three?
13) Would you feel safer riding in the street if it would expand?
14) Would a car driver also feel safer with a distance measuring device to go by?
15) How much would you pay for such item?
16) Is there anything I haven't asked?

Thank you for your time!
Be well, JM

I have a few comments for you. When you asked if you can ask questions, you asked a question. Think about that.

I believe you wanted to type "May I Ask You Questions." "May" is a way of asking permission. "Can" refers to ability.

Then after asking, however incorrectly, if you could ask questions, not a single question mark appeared in the body of your post.

You may wish to take some English writing classes.

It's a forum with a lot of folks who like to talk, so if you post your questions I expect you'll get ample response.

Thank you.

Perhaps we should start with some questions for @FLBicycle.

Ok, to answer some of your questions. Yes I do ride, and have done so off and on for about 5 decades. I have evolved over time. But I am a big believer of:

1. VISIBLE CLOTHING.
   Cycling Jackets, Lots of bright colors, etc. Construction Safety Vests also work.
2. LIGHTS AT NIGHT, including solid front and rear blinkies.
   There is some debate about daytime lights. I don't use one.
3. WATCH AND LISTEN
   I'm not personally a fan of mirrors, but I can hold a straight line and look back, and I do pay attention to vehicles around me. Others like mirrors.
4. RIDE WHERE THE CARS DON'T DRIVE
   Ok, I do ride on streets, and with traffic. But, I am a strong believer of riding to the far right, and riding on paved shoulders or bike paths whenever possible. Other than the few off street bike paths, I do still get passed by many cars. However, most could pass me without needing to react.
   Also evaluate routes, so often one might choose a less busy secondary route over a busy main road.
5. BIKE HELMETS
   The noggin is important.
6. STOP LIGHTS/SIGNS
   Yep, stop at them (rolling stops?) I have lost patience for left turn signals that don't change for bicycles.
7. FLAGS/ETC
   NOPE. I have heard that many recumbent riders and recumbent trike riders like them. But, rarely used on adult bicycles.

Use some caution, and one can put on tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of miles on the bike without serious incident.

I'd encourage browsing several topics in this subforum.

Ok in general something like this has potential in some situations. Crowded downtown rush hour versus neighborhood street versus country road; lighting conditions; cargo load; wind.

As an indication of what I find valuable, I have mounted a strong red LED to the back of my helmet that I can turn on and off easily. I think having a light up high helps my conspicuity to the rear.

1) Do you own a bicycle, e-bike, e-scooter, moped? Yes
2) Do you ride in the street with cars passing by? Yes
3) Do you worry about cars seeing you ride in the street? Yes
4) Do you ride for work or for pleasure? ~75% transportation miles
5) Do you stop at red lights/stop signs? Yes
6) Does your bike have any protective gear? Lights
8) Would you carry a removable or permanently attached safety flag clip? I would consider it.
9) Expandable or retractable safety flag, to carry like an umbrella? Depends
10) Velcro, clip or screwed on the bike to hold? Depends on detail. I will say the weakness of many bike lights I’ve tried is the durability of the mount.
11) How far or high would it expand to? 1-2’ above helmet.
12) Glow in the dark, flashing lights, sensor sound or all three? Depends on situation, but I don’t see any advantage to placing sound source high.
13) Would you feel safer riding in the street if it would expand? The attraction would be height.
14) Would a car driver also feel safer with a distance measuring device to go by? I doubt it.
15) How much would you pay for such item? $40
16) Is there anything I haven't asked? Consider flex, wind drag, battery life, rain.

I ride, streets, roads, Highways.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...74f3faa84b.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b228cef085.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...69f122ab29.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...78f9506baf.jpg

1) Do you own a bicycle, e-bike, e-scooter, moped.yes
2) Do you ride in the street with cars passing by?.yes
3) Do you worry about cars seeing you ride in the street? Yes
4) Do you ride for work or for pleasure? Yes
5) Do you stop at red lights/stop signs? Yes
6) Does your bike have any protective gear? Yes
8) Would you carry a removable or permanently attached safety flag clip? Yes if placed horizontally
9) Expandable or retractable safety flag, to carry like an umbrella? Yes if placed horizontally
10) Velcro, clip or screwed on the bike to hold? Yes
11) How far or high would it expand to? 3ft horizontally
12) Glow in the dark, flashing lights, sensor sound or all three? Yes
13) Would you feel safer riding in the street if it would expand? Yes
14) Would a car driver also feel safer with a distance measuring device to go by? Car drivers worry about damage to their cars. Drivers already have a whole bunch of safety devices that allow them to drive badly
15) How much would you pay for such item? A few bucks. Should be subsidized by the automotive industry
16) Is there anything I haven't asked? Yes. Ask about government and societal will to make drivers drive carefully.

Thank you CliffordK, my intent is to save lives in urban cities and to encourage more riders/commuting. Much research & funding is placed on promoting safety by institutions & gov't org., data is important of course, but fatalities keep increasing. I'm the founder of a safety product that I believe will save lives, the fear is not only from the rider, it is also with the automobile driver as they pass the rider. But, when it comes to funding the product, the heart's intent is not a qualified ledger. I need to refine my questions to prove, not that it could save lives, but that it could sell.....go figure. When saving even one life is also like saving the world. Thank you for your valuable time.

Thank you for your time flangehead, this is what I need, potential. Please read my reply to CliffordK, that is my intention.

Thank you for your time Daniel4, this is what I need to refine my questions.

See above.

Part of my point is that to make rational decisions about a product, you need to be immersed in the cycling culture.

So, you can't design the best world changing device if you don't personally use it.

Each bike commuter is different. My riding was a mix of commuting, road cycling, touring, and utility cycling. A typical day's commuting would take me 30 to 40 miles. My highest commuting year was 7,680 miles (just over my goal of averaging 20 miles per day every day).

My rides go from the rural/suburb areas into the city, and back to the rural/suburb areas, involving many roads of varying width, but not designed specifically for bicycles.

Overall I was rather particular about weight and efficiency.

I am a big fan of bright clothing, and reflective tape. But, I personally wouldn't choose to use a flag, sail, or parachute behind my bike.

You just defined the line between a business and a charity. A charity would simply say "we have made these flags, to whom should we give them?" A business venture, for better or worse, needs to generate revenue to support the often noble intents and expenses. Perhaps a more philanthropic wrapper would carry your idea farther. "We provide these flags to bicycle co-ops all over the country for their community children's riding lessons. They are encouraged to keep the flag and use it for life. This, Mr/Mrs Philanthropist, is what your tax-free charitable donation of $25,000 is providing to our communities." That just changed the whole balance sheet. Just an idea. Be a 501c3.

1) Do you own a bicycle, e-bike, e-scooter, moped - Multiple bicycles
2) Do you ride in the street with cars passing by? - Yes
3) Do you worry about cars seeing you ride in the street? - Yes
4) Do you ride for work or for pleasure? - Pleasure and fitness
5) Do you stop at red lights/stop signs? - Yes / sometimes
6) Does your bike have any protective gear? - Occasionally, I ride with a tail light and radar
8) Would you carry a removable or permanently attached safety flag clip? - No

Because of my response to #8, the following questions are not applicable...
9) Expandable or retractable safety flag, to carry like an umbrella?
10) Velcro, clip or screwed on the bike to hold?
11) How far or high would it expand to?
12) Glow in the dark, flashing lights, sensor sound or all three?
13) Would you feel safer riding in the street if it would expand?
14) Would a car driver also feel safer with a distance measuring device to go by?
15) How much would you pay for such item?
16) Is there anything I haven't asked?

"It" can't sell, and won't sell, or it would be on the market already. The only reason helmets sell is because they were mandated. That's why LED and CFL lightbulbs sell. Congress mandated them and Phillips and GE were ordered not to make incandescent lightbulbs anymore so they made the best of a bad thing and now instead of $0.99/ea. we pay $8+ apiece for household lightbulbs that are supposed to last 16 years but actually only last one or two. Five at most. When you think of a bicycle, do you really want a 3' anything hanging off it to delineate a passing distance to drivers? Really? Only a non-cyclist could think such a thing is practical. Protective gear? What kind of 'protective gear' does a motorcycle have? When fearful people turn their inventive energy to bicycle safety you get crowd-fund vaporware like airbag helmets and horizontal safety flags and lane position lasers, etc. And cyclists ... 95% of cyclists won't even know they exist. Florida sounds like a hellish place to ride a bicycle full time. NYC isn't exactly a bicycle utopia. So ... I MOVED to a part of the country renowned for it's bicycle friendliness. When/if you (can) do that you don't have to consider 'safety equipment' of dubious effectiveness out of desperation. My take.

1) Do you own a bicycle, e-bike, e-scooter, moped
Bicycles only

2) Do you ride in the street with cars passing by?
Always

3) Do you worry about cars seeing you ride in the street?

Not really, but I always ride with good lights

4) Do you ride for work or for pleasure?

Pleasure.

5) Do you stop at red lights/stop signs?

Red lights always. But I only see those when I ride in the city, which isn't that often. Mostly I ride in the next county which does not have any stop lights.
Stop signs I stop if there is other traffic. If there are no cars, I don't bother stopping.

6) Does your bike have any protective gear?

Red lights on tool bag and helmet and a headlight on the front. And I always ride with a helmet.

8) Would you carry a removable or permanently attached safety flag clip?

I can't imagine I would. I think it would likely be too annoying and upset the balance.

9) Expandable or retractable safety flag, to carry like an umbrella?

Probably not.

10) Velcro, clip or screwed on the bike to hold?

No

11) How far or high would it expand to?

That's the problem. Anything high enough and large enough to make a difference would impact ride quality

12) Glow in the dark, flashing lights, sensor sound or all three?

Flashing lights are good. Haven't seen anything glow in the dark that would be bright enough.

13) Would you feel safer riding in the street if it would expand?

I'm not sure what is expanding in this question. If the streets were expanded that would be nice but that isn't going to happen anywhere I ride

14) Would a car driver also feel safer with a distance measuring device to go by?

Not sure what kind of device you're speaking of. Something to tell a driver how far they are from a bike?

15) How much would you pay for such item?

If it was a safety feature I wanted, cost would not likely concern me. If I don't want it, I don't care if it's free. Price wouldn't be a deciding factor;

16) Is there anything I haven't asked?

Wow, banal and useless, well played! You do realize that the use of may is falling out of the lexicon as a way of asking a question and that "can" is becoming the operative norm, right? Or that the average person could give a crap about the difference? But don't worry, if you hang onto the currently socially constructed way of saying things it'll make you feel better and do absolutely nothing about stopping the flow or time and changes within society from changing how, and what, words are used to express ourselves. Awesome, huh?


1. Just bicycles
2. Yes.
3. Absolutely.
4. Both
5. yes
6. I'm assuming you mean flashing lights, in which case yes.
7. question is missing
8. Maybe
9. Would have to see how it works to consider the idea, maybe on a commuter but not other bikes.
10. Probably velcro and or clip.
11. No clue. couple feet.
12. Glow in the dark sounds cool, don't trust it due to the typical requirement it be exposed to light to work, my bikes are stored indoors and the typically fainter glow it gives off. Flashing is fine. Added noise in not something I'd want.
13. no.
14. As a driver, not really. Seems like something that would catch on my car if I got too close causing the rider to crash.
15. Not enough information to go on.

Your questions are too vague to produce results of any value.

What's your device supposed to do, and how does it work? If all you're pitching is a flag, no thanks.

What I want is a cannon that automatically fires broadside if a vehicle passes too close.
But a flag not so much.

If I get the cannon, I'll have a Jolly Roger flag.

Too much recoil. A jet of 3M 5200 marine adhesive or something else equally sticky and permanent might be better.

How about an automatic paintball gun that marks errant close passers?

:thumb:

That requires proximity sensors and the risk of stray balls messing up someone else if it misses.

Better to have direct contact trigger to open up a spring loaded nozzle that releases paint.