Just Realized Why I Prefer A Bar-Mounted Mirror!
10-29-20, 08:03 AM
#27
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Situational Awareness Tool
A mirror is just a useful tool in maintaining situational awareness. Having situational awareness (in all directions) is part of a road strategy to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
It is possible that sweeks maintains situational awareness and takes appropriate actions to avoid dangerous situations, and that has contributed to not being hit from behind. Or it could be he has just been lucky.
I agree, but that isn't the purpose of a rearview mirror on any vehicle. When a threat is that close, it is too late.
This is completely different; situational awareness is knowing what's shaping up and might be a threat. The situation may be a pack of cars approaching very fast, or a semi that is pinched and will have to pass me close, or a wide landscaping trailer, or a car that is weaving in and out of their lane or there is potential for glare and they might not see me or .... These are things you can see 10-20 seconds before they arrive, and there's time to act. Some people do this by turning their heads ("handtool") and others with mirrors ("powertool").
I have been hit from behind. The point of situational awareness and road strategy is to reduce risk. If you want certainty, refer to death and taxes. Using a mirror to improve situational awareness likely has a lot to do with sweeks experience. And he may get hit tomorrow. But if you ask me to bet on who won't get hit? I'm betting on those who maintain situational awareness.
I have been hit from behind. The point of situational awareness and road strategy is to reduce risk. If you want certainty, refer to death and taxes. Using a mirror to improve situational awareness likely has a lot to do with sweeks experience. And he may get hit tomorrow. But if you ask me to bet on who won't get hit? I'm betting on those who maintain situational awareness.
10-29-20, 08:05 AM
#28
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A mirror is just a useful tool in maintaining situational awareness. Having situational awareness (in all directions) is part of a road strategy to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
It is possible that sweeks maintains situational awareness and takes appropriate actions to avoid dangerous situations, and that has contributed to not being hit from behind. Or it could be he has just been lucky.
I agree, but that isn't the purpose of a rearview mirror on any vehicle. When a threat is that close, it is too late.
This is completely different; situational awareness is knowing what's shaping up and might be a threat. The situation may be a pack of cars approaching very fast, or a semi that is pinched and will have to pass me close, or a wide landscaping trailer, or a car that is weaving in and out of their lane or there is potential for glare and they might not see me or .... These are things you can see 10-20 seconds before they arrive, and there's time to act. Some people do this by turning their heads ("handtool") and others with mirrors ("powertool").
I have been hit from behind. The point of situational awareness and road strategy is to reduce risk. If you want certainty, refer to death and taxes. Using a mirror to improve situational awareness likely has a lot to do with sweeks experience. And he may get hit tomorrow. But if you ask me to bet on who won't get hit? I'm betting on those who maintain situational awareness.
It is possible that sweeks maintains situational awareness and takes appropriate actions to avoid dangerous situations, and that has contributed to not being hit from behind. Or it could be he has just been lucky.
I agree, but that isn't the purpose of a rearview mirror on any vehicle. When a threat is that close, it is too late.
This is completely different; situational awareness is knowing what's shaping up and might be a threat. The situation may be a pack of cars approaching very fast, or a semi that is pinched and will have to pass me close, or a wide landscaping trailer, or a car that is weaving in and out of their lane or there is potential for glare and they might not see me or .... These are things you can see 10-20 seconds before they arrive, and there's time to act. Some people do this by turning their heads ("handtool") and others with mirrors ("powertool").
I have been hit from behind. The point of situational awareness and road strategy is to reduce risk. If you want certainty, refer to death and taxes. Using a mirror to improve situational awareness likely has a lot to do with sweeks experience. And he may get hit tomorrow. But if you ask me to bet on who won't get hit? I'm betting on those who maintain situational awareness.
10-29-20, 08:19 AM
#29
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10-29-20, 10:42 AM
#30
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I am not saying you can't see what's coming up behind you. A mirror certainly tells you that. I am questioning whether you can tell in your mirror if a car passes with more than one meter (a bit over 3ft) distance or it will hit. And if you can tell that with your mirror while the car is far enough away for you to actually react. I very much doubt you can.
Okay, and for your last point: I have a Tiger Rock in my pocket at all times. It scares tigers away, and I have never been attacked by a tiger! It's amazing how effective it is.
Seriously, though, you not having been hit by a car from behind probably has very little to do with you being able to see traffic behind you in the mirror.
Okay, and for your last point: I have a Tiger Rock in my pocket at all times. It scares tigers away, and I have never been attacked by a tiger! It's amazing how effective it is.
Seriously, though, you not having been hit by a car from behind probably has very little to do with you being able to see traffic behind you in the mirror.
Also, on a recumbent, a mirror is pretty much a necessity since it's much harder to look back.
10-29-20, 10:45 AM
#31
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Haha, yeah, with recumbents, I too would have a mirror (or two).
10-29-20, 11:53 AM
#32
Senior Member
Yes, this is my opinion. As you’ve noted, actual data is hard to come by, but the idea that a rear view mirror enhances safety depends on assuming 1) the cyclist can identify clearly when a vehicle is going to hit him or her and 2) take effective evasive action. We do know that in the countries where cycling is safest, rear view mirrors for cyclists aren’t mandated and aren’t especially widely used. We also know that cyclist safety is much more strongly affected by physical infrastructure, cyclist numbers and motorist behavior than by basically anything else. I don’t mind if a mirror makes you feel safer, but based on all this I strenuously object to the idea that mirrors “should be” required safety equipment for cyclists. Any benefit would undoubtedly be small, it would cause depress participation in cycling and give law enforcement another tool to harass cyclists with. No thank you.
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