Daytime Visibility: Bright Colors vs. Stripes?
#51
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My son uses "safety green" discs when disc golfing in wooded areas... that color still stands out, even in a forest of green. And more so as one gets closer to the object/cyclist.
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There are bees, and then there are Killer Bees, bicyclists don't want to be associated with the wrong kind...
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Not really much of an advantage. Close-up, cyclists standout fairly-well regardless of what they are wearing.
Last edited by njkayaker; 03-29-22 at 07:38 PM.
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There are multiple levels to get to registering the cyclist. The farther away, the better since there is more time for the recognition to get through.
The problem with "I didn't see the cyclist..." isn't actually perceiving the cyclist.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/ina...of%20attention.
And, of course, the motorist won't see something they aren't looking at: they tend not to look at the side of the road close to their car. They tend to be looking forward (at at view, the cyclist tends to be fairly far away).
========================
Cyclists can be hard for anybody to recognize from far off. Are cyclists right next to your car hard to see/recognize if you are looking at them? Is wearing a green color really going to do that much to help you recognize them?
Last edited by njkayaker; 03-28-22 at 05:10 PM.
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I figure it as trustworthy and truthful as everyone in prison stating "I didn't do it" or "I was innocent but my lawyer F-ed me." Sometimes that may be correct but I wouldn't bet on it.
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#57
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I'm a big proponent of hi viz yellow. I wear a solid hi viz yellow jersey and hi viz socks. The combination of bright yellow socks going up and down with an active bright red blinker on the rear works well. Long ago I gave up the desire to "look cool" out riding after a few close calls with motorists. On a bright day I may wear one of my "cool" jerseys but always the yellow socks and blinkers going. On cooler days I'll wear a solid black long sleeve under-layer and the black arms contrasting the yellow jersey really stand out on overcast days.
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I'm a big proponent of hi viz yellow. I wear a solid hi viz yellow jersey and hi viz socks. The combination of bright yellow socks going up and down with an active bright red blinker on the rear works well. Long ago I gave up the desire to "look cool" out riding after a few close calls with motorists. On a bright day I may wear one of my "cool" jerseys but always the yellow socks and blinkers going. On cooler days I'll wear a solid black long sleeve under-layer and the black arms contrasting the yellow jersey really stand out on overcast days.
So, not only is it easier to see, it makes it easier to identify the thing being seen as a cyclist. Which means the driver will have a better idea of how you are going to behave and how they should behave in turn.
This is also why rear lights that flash are better than those that are constant.
(Nothing is going to be perfect.)
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The "hi viz" yellow also tend to be something cyclists (and few others) wear.
So, not only is it easier to see, it makes it easier to identify the thing being seen as a cyclist. Which means the driver will have a better idea of how you are going to behave and how they should behave in turn.
This is also why rear lights that flash are better than those that are constant.
(Nothing is going to be perfect.)
So, not only is it easier to see, it makes it easier to identify the thing being seen as a cyclist. Which means the driver will have a better idea of how you are going to behave and how they should behave in turn.
This is also why rear lights that flash are better than those that are constant.
(Nothing is going to be perfect.)
#61
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By the way, my rear red blinker is a Cygolite that I keep in the random strobe mode. I went back 100 yards to check it out before I started riding with it and it is impossible to ignore. Almost irritating. The constant strobe mode isn't nearly as eye-catching. I had a motorist ask me where I got it because he said it's the brightest he's ever seen.
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False dilemma. This doesn't preclude enhancing your chances by wearing something that is easier to see.
Last edited by njkayaker; 03-29-22 at 08:59 AM.
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You didn't do it but it's common for people in these discussions to say something doesn't work "at all" because they can find an example when it didn't work (see example in the post above). Those examples only show that something isn't perfect. It doesn't address whether people are better off doing something than not.
Of course. Though, it might be possible to over-do it. If you are confusing, then drivers have no idea what you are going to do.
Last edited by njkayaker; 03-29-22 at 09:14 AM.
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By the way, my rear red blinker is a Cygolite that I keep in the random strobe mode. I went back 100 yards to check it out before I started riding with it and it is impossible to ignore. Almost irritating. The constant strobe mode isn't nearly as eye-catching. I had a motorist ask me where I got it because he said it's the brightest he's ever seen.
Flashing is better than constant because it's somewhat novel, it's visually more noticeable, it makes smaller light sources more visible, it uses less power. it makes the source distinguishable from reflectors, it's a fairly universal indicator of "cyclist", and it's a fairly universal indicator of "caution".
There's also the "drunk drivers are attracted to flashing lights" argument too. That flashing lights are used nearly always in emergency situations invalidates this criticism against using flashing lights. Clearly, people see the trade-off of possibly "attracting" drivers as very worth it.
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Bicyclists can dress for comfort, performance, safety, protection from the elements, etc., but bicyclists can forget about "looking cool" in public unless they dress for it, and that would require tossing all the bicycling attire recommended by BF posters.
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Good decision. Note that only ardent bicycling "enthusiasts" believe that any bicyclist attire "looks cool."
Bicyclists can dress for comfort, performance, safety, protection from the elements, etc., but bicyclists can forget about "looking cool" in public unless they dress for it, and that would require tossing all the bicycling attire recommended by BF posters.
Bicyclists can dress for comfort, performance, safety, protection from the elements, etc., but bicyclists can forget about "looking cool" in public unless they dress for it, and that would require tossing all the bicycling attire recommended by BF posters.
Many decades ago, I dated my wife this way... We would arrange a date to meet some place... and I would arrive early, by bike, clean up a bit, and then change. She had heard from mutual friends that I didn't drive... and asked, after a few dates how I got there. I told her. We have been together for nearly 40 years now.
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I ride to the Wednesday night rides. Sometimes on a bike path that is totally straight to the shop where riders are waiting and just standing around. About a mile away if there is one rider with the new safety green/yellow solid jacket. I can see the bright color with my sunglasses in sunlight. I can't tell what it is from a half mile to a half mile but I can see it. Sometimes when I get there, there are 5-10 riders standing around Can't see well enough to see they are cyclists there until I get closer.
My Cygolight pro 200 hotshot taillight is much brighter than most car taillights. In the daytime it is almost blinding from a block away and easy to see from a few blocks in sunlight. Same for my tiny Cygolight "dice" white front flasher.
When ever I get a new light I walk way away from it to see the visibility it has. I also move right to left to see what the side spread is like. I do it in daylight and the dark, with ambient light and in total darkness.
I'm surprised that some riders apparently don't do this. Do others do it? ??
My Cygolight pro 200 hotshot taillight is much brighter than most car taillights. In the daytime it is almost blinding from a block away and easy to see from a few blocks in sunlight. Same for my tiny Cygolight "dice" white front flasher.
When ever I get a new light I walk way away from it to see the visibility it has. I also move right to left to see what the side spread is like. I do it in daylight and the dark, with ambient light and in total darkness.
I'm surprised that some riders apparently don't do this. Do others do it? ??
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In this case, context matters. There's so much construction in downtown NOLA right now, at first glance I'd suspect a construction worker. Out on the rural back roads, I'd immediately think "cyclist."
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And, if a cyclist is perceived as a construction worker, that might not be so bad.
Given this response, it's interesting you hadn't ever thought about it.
Last edited by njkayaker; 03-29-22 at 03:00 PM.
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Meaningless. They "don't see" cyclists no matter what they're wearing. They "don't see" cyclists because they're not paying attention and/or actually distracted.
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A motorist involved in a collision stating that he didn't see the victim is an admission of guilt and negligence.
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It's up to us to ensure that the false statement "I didn't see" is truly false by making ourselves as boldly visible as possible.
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I know this thread is about daytime visibility... and I suspect this vest would work quite well in daylight... But I mention this as I just saw something like this, glowing, running up the street behind my house in the pre dawn morning. It was quite visible, and self lit. And quite obviously a runner.
I am not sure it was this exact vest... but it looked something like this. https://www.safetysmartgear.com/glob...st-glo-315led/ There are likely similar designs for sale at other sites. This was just the first such image I found.
I am not sure it was this exact vest... but it looked something like this. https://www.safetysmartgear.com/glob...st-glo-315led/ There are likely similar designs for sale at other sites. This was just the first such image I found.
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I know this thread is about daytime visibility... and I suspect this vest would work quite well in daylight... But I mention this as I just saw something like this, glowing, running up the street behind my house in the pre dawn morning. It was quite visible, and self lit. And quite obviously a runner.
I am not sure it was this exact vest... but it looked something like this. https://www.safetysmartgear.com/glob...st-glo-315led/ There are likely similar designs for sale at other sites. This was just the first such image I found.
I am not sure it was this exact vest... but it looked something like this. https://www.safetysmartgear.com/glob...st-glo-315led/ There are likely similar designs for sale at other sites. This was just the first such image I found.