thebochman

What does everyone do to be clearly seen by cars? I am trying to evaluate my options. I'm not crazy about buying an expensive fancy jersey that I will only wear for riding back and forth to work (6 miles). Also, due to the wide variety of weather i am riding in I'd need to have a collection of really bright things.... I'd rather not do that.

I was thinking about something like the bright mesh vests road construction workers wear, then I could simply put it over whatever i am wearing at the time. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with something like this?

Any other Ideas?

huhenio

hi viz jerseys ...

ShadowGray

A lot of people use those construction-style vests, get one that's actually visible (don't skimp and go for $5 ones).

Of course, you'll be hi-vis, hi-fred and you're probably going to be buzzed by every other car.

Itsjustb

There have been a lot of threads discussing cheap alternatives to "real" bike jerseys. Here's the most recent one (I think, but regardless it'll work):

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/412815-wicking-tees-10-88-a.html

Lots of good suggestions there for hi-viz shirts and such. Personally I'm using a Nashbar hi-viz yellow jersey I bought about 2 years ago for maybe $12. I've worn it almost every day I commute and it's still going, though it's shedding some threads in places. For what I paid, it's been a bargain. I plan to replace it this weekend with a couple of new ones from Performance.

Aquajag

More lights. Planet Bike Superflash https://ecom1.planetbike.com/3034_1.html is awesome. Pretty much I was talking to a cop when I first started riding and he told me put as many lights on as you can. He just didn't recommend more than 2 headlights. Reflective tape also works and the safety vests work as well. Lots of places are coming out with clothing that have reflective strips on them, so look out for that as well.

referee54

Better fred than dead--i bought some hi-vis yellow T-shirts and a very good hi-vis vest. My rides often take me on an Ohio SR that is noted for crashes. I also made a trip to Dick's and found some nice hi-vis Under Armor Loose for like $9.00 a shirt.

Tim C.

Little Darwin

All of the above are correct.

Dress as brightly as possible... Flash as much and as brightly as possible...

And then, and this is the key (unfortunately), ride as if nobody can see you.

referee54

Oh, and I have two tail lights that I turn on in a blinking pattern even in the day light---I fugure that it can't hurt...

tim C.

riddei

www.alertshirt.com

littlewaywelt

ding ding.

When I was intentionally run/crowded off the road about six months ago the officer took one look at my lime green illuminte jacket (which I showed her so she could see the melted nylon on the arm from the brushing) and she said "well I guess he can't claim he didn't see you."


To eliminate any possible claim of this I run four rear red lights, two front white, a fully scotchlight-taped frame, and really bright clothing. I also took pics of what I and my bike look like at day and night, so anyone that tries to claim he didn't see me is going to look like a fool and a liar.

DataJunkie

One item of note is that what you are doing is reducing the risk. Drivers still don't notice semis and trains from time to time. What chance do we have of complete risk elimination?

I like lime green. Hopefully, someone will put out full fledged jerseys with this color. Nice fitting, well made, good pockets, etc.

n9viw

+1 Alertshirt... I wore mine for the first time yesterday, and while I only got one comment, it was worth it...

"Gaah, my frickin eyes!!"



I wear the Alertshirt in "OMIGAWDGIMMEBACKMYEYEBALLS" lime during the day, and a lime-and-silver hi-viz vest at night. The vest has two tiny blinkies on it, at the shoulder blades... in the daytime, they look innocently like Leinenkugel's bottle caps, but push the button on the back, and... You can't be TOO bright, seeing as how too many other drivers aren't too bright themselves...

I have two Serfas blinkies on a 15" wide bar on the back of my rack, a blinky on my saddle bag, reflective tape on my rack bag and panniers, and the Planet Bike Superflash zip-tied to the back of my helmet - HOLY CRAP is that thing bright, I can sometimes see the reflections behind me IN FRONT of me! I have two Serfas 5-LED units on my h-bar set to flash, and an older Serfas 5-LED light on steady, clipped to the stem and pointing at the street. Reflectors on the pedals, but not on the wheels, I was thinking about getting some of that prismatic rim tape that goes on the rim between the spokes rather than plastic reflectors.

Incidentally, I think my heaviest non-human payload was 100# of stuff I'd found that day. Um, I think I'm a Fred too....

evblazer

In addition to lights (front/rear/side), reflective tape (frame/wheels/rack/tires have reflective stripes) and a hi-vis jersey (which isnt' so hi-vis when you are reclined on a recumbent) I had a few mylar ribbon streamers that really shine when the sun is out. I know a few people that have similar streamers strapped to their helmet to make a little flag like thing. It helps get attention by flapping in the wind.
I was thinking of getting some pinwheels myself.

littlewaywelt

I have one from Pearl Izzumi which I bought for 130 mile ride on major roads. It's very nice. ....and I'm still alive

andrelam

That pretty much describes me on my all weather bike as well.

- Hi-Vis shirt during day
- ANSI Class 2 vest for night time riding (from alert shirt). That is certied for use on road of 45 MPH or less (if memory services me right). Road workers are supposed to wear ANSI class 3 for highway speeds. The main difference is that the Hi-Vis goes down the sleeves and there is additional reflective tape on the sleeves. Since my rain coat is starting to wear out, I'll probably buy the ANSI Class 3 rain coat from alert shirt. Again if someone hits me, I can the cops/courts that I was wearing OSHA approved level of reflective gear.
- B&M LED headlight on day or night... that is my "running light" powered by generator hub
- Rear PB Super Flash on Flashing... it may be illegal, but I get seen and no cop has ever bothered to open his window and complain to me about the light
- 3M SOLAS refelctive tape strategically placed on the front and rear of the frame. Also on the sides of my handlebar bag (the front has 1" wide 3M band integrated). Also 12" strip down the back of the rear fenders, and also applied to the back of my helmet.
- Rear panniers also have 3M reflective tape integrated as well.

If they can't see me during either the day or the night then they are blind. Better to look like Fred than to be dead!

Happy riding,
André

mpecaut

I went to a local ranch supply store and looked in the construction worker/highway safety aisle. They had passive reflective vests for $15 and lighted LED vests for $30. I figured my life is worth $30 (barely).

capolover

Best way to be seen is take the lane baby.

fordfasterr

Thats what I do. The honks and cursing proves it. + I don't like being treated like " I don't exist ".

murphstahoe

two yard pole sticking off the left of your bike with a paint can on it.

Az B

I've been riding motorcycles and bicycles for over 30 years. All the lights, hi vis vests, horns, bells, and laws of the road will not get you seen if people don't look. And many, many people simply do not look.

So buy all that stuff if it makes you feel better, but don't be lured into a false sense of security. There are still going to be a lot of people that don't see you because they don't look.

Az

genec

+100.

I wear red, orange and hivis yellow, all in layers (red shirt over orange long sleeve T and with a vest over)... more times then I care to count, I have seen drivers' eyes look right past me... (when I see the eyes)

It ain't the colors folks... we just don't look like something that is a known threat to a motorist, therefore we often do not register in their brains. Ride accordingly.

lil brown bat

If you read the papers, you've probably read horror stories about police cars that are pulled over in a breakdown lane, lights going...and someone just plows right into them, eyes wide open, never hit the breaks. Clearly, visibility alone isn't the issue. It's a variety of brain-fart, and nothing you wear is going to make other people less absent-minded. Behavior might, though...

ItsJustMe

Yes, be sure to get the $4.50 ones. I got one from Harbor Freight and I've never seen one that's more visible. I did a test a while back and posted it here, do a search.

Besides that, www.alertshirt.com - if they can't see that, they're lying.

ItsJustMe

Yup, as I posted here a few weeks ago, my brother's a paramedic/fireman and last fall their department had a guy in an SUV plow right into the back of a full size fire truck, with its brakes set and all lights running, with road flares out and 3 or 4 other cop cars/emergency units around with their lights on. He hit so hard it pushed the truck about 6 to 10 feet, which is a hell of a hit since the truck outweighed him by a heck of a lot.

thirdin77

1. Having a be-seen headlight set no flash will reduce people pulling out and turning left in front of you..
2. When someone's pulling out, wave to them with your left hand. The motion is eye-catching. Or if there's no traffic behind you, just pull out into the lane. Then they'll see you.
3. Get a hi-viz vest. You can wear it under anything. Then just wad it up and put it in your bag when you get off the bike.