My additions: two separated rear lights (not flashing) — that way it’s possible for the unconscious perceptual process to kick in: ”The separation of those lights is decreasing, therefore I’m approaching”.
How safe would it be to drive a motor vehicle in stop-and-go rainy traffic with only one rear light? That is: one taillight right out, license plate out, high-mount brake light out.
Yes to reflective ankle bands. There’s nothing else on the streets with that characteristically human up-down cyclical motion with the sine wave action Vs time.
Yes to vests with huge reflective areas.
Watching cyclists in downtown Victoria at rush hour in December, it’s very tough to separate a cyclist out of the background visual noise. Even with good f&r lamps — which most have. Bring on reflective tire sidewalls, dorky spoke reflectors or lights, vests (luminous if possible, not just retro reflective) ankle bands — illuminated even better.
If you study air crash investigations, the Swiss cheese model of causes is a typical conclusion. All the holes in multiple slices of cheese must line up for a crash.
Cycling at night: think of the more slices of cheese, the lesser the chance all the holes will line up.
Insanely bright head and tail lights seem counterproductive. Yes, to draw attention one must be slightly annoying — not blend in.
Riding in a car with non-cyclists: they often comment in such a way as to indicate that a dazzling blinkie at night is only a few steps down the welcome scale as having that cyclist key the car as we pass by.
Building goodwill has to help. Not alienating our fellow road users.
Some kind of a truly functional rear view mirror (such as Third Eye?) — this has to add to situational awareness.
Yes, it’s truly a curse that big TV screens are allowed in cars. Elon Musk: no thx.
Dec. 20, 2022, 8:21 p.m. - Larrabee
My additions: two separated rear lights (not flashing) — that way it’s possible for the unconscious perceptual process to kick in: ”The separation of those lights is decreasing, therefore I’m approaching”. How safe would it be to drive a motor vehicle in stop-and-go rainy traffic with only one rear light? That is: one taillight right out, license plate out, high-mount brake light out. Yes to reflective ankle bands. There’s nothing else on the streets with that characteristically human up-down cyclical motion with the sine wave action Vs time. Yes to vests with huge reflective areas. Watching cyclists in downtown Victoria at rush hour in December, it’s very tough to separate a cyclist out of the background visual noise. Even with good f&r lamps — which most have. Bring on reflective tire sidewalls, dorky spoke reflectors or lights, vests (luminous if possible, not just retro reflective) ankle bands — illuminated even better. If you study air crash investigations, the Swiss cheese model of causes is a typical conclusion. All the holes in multiple slices of cheese must line up for a crash. Cycling at night: think of the more slices of cheese, the lesser the chance all the holes will line up. Insanely bright head and tail lights seem counterproductive. Yes, to draw attention one must be slightly annoying — not blend in. Riding in a car with non-cyclists: they often comment in such a way as to indicate that a dazzling blinkie at night is only a few steps down the welcome scale as having that cyclist key the car as we pass by. Building goodwill has to help. Not alienating our fellow road users. Some kind of a truly functional rear view mirror (such as Third Eye?) — this has to add to situational awareness. Yes, it’s truly a curse that big TV screens are allowed in cars. Elon Musk: no thx.