How the Dutch got their cycle paths

Comment by Robert on January 4, 2012 at 17:08

The link doesn't work :(

Comment by LS on January 4, 2012 at 17:39

Fixed :)

Comment by Robert on January 5, 2012 at 11:24

Thanks (I wanted to read the blog entry, as I think hembrow's blog is excellent).   That really is an inspiring video.   Alas the British parents' attitude to road deaths seems to be to buy a bigger, more butch 4x4, making the problems worse and setting up long term health problems for their children.

A couple of posters on the blog mention the wearing of hi-viz jackets, which is something that niggles me as it makes cyclists in this country look like "security" staff and similar little Hitlers.   I do have a superluminous orange tabard that I wear if, and only if, the daylight is very poor, but I rarely feel the need to wear it.   It's small enough to fold away if not needed.   Can anyone be persuaded to give up their hi-viz jacket?   Is there any statistical evidence that they shouldn't?

Comment by CKS on January 5, 2012 at 12:53

"Can anyone be persuaded to give up their hi-viz jacket?   Is there any statistical evidence that they shouldn't?"

I drove a car for over 20 years before I did any significant amount of cycling on the road.  Hi-viz jackets make a huge difference, particularly with glare, shadows and various forms of precipitation.  As any first year psychology student will tell you, people can choose where they look but not what they see.

Comment by Robert on January 5, 2012 at 14:12

As a driver I regularly have to cope with cyclists riding at night with no lights or visibility aids whatsoever, and even with the crummy street lighting in Brum I can see them.   So is it really necessary to look like a "security" guard to ride in bright sunshine?   There are other things one can wear as necessary, such as a Sam Browne belt.

I ask the question because hi-viz jackets and bright, skin-tight lycra clothing seem to enrage some non-cyclists (which lessens personal safety), and the Dutch everyday cyclists manage without either.   Not sure I want to give up my black cycling shorts, but (how can I put this?) I've never had a negative reaction to them.

Comment by LS on January 5, 2012 at 14:51

I wore a hi-viz vest for a while when I first started commuting but gave it up years ago. One thing I did notice was white van, skip lorries, lorry drivers etc. seemed to give me more room, perhaps because they see you as "one of them"?  I saw a comment recently that drivers on building sites are trained to look out for hi-viz which bears this out.  There are other ways of being visible without looking like a road sweeper :-)

Comment by Robert on January 5, 2012 at 14:59

Heh :) So what do you use now to increase your visibility?

Comment by CKS on January 5, 2012 at 15:38

Hi-viz vests allow drivers to see you a lot sooner, giving them more time to take avoiding action if necessary.  Immediately after I crossed the Ladypool Rd/Clifton Rd roundabout I noticed a policeman in a hi-viz jacket under the railway bridge, about a quarter of a mile away.  I then saw the other pedestrians who were a lot nearer and in a lot more exposed places.

Comment by LS on January 5, 2012 at 17:07

You can't hit someone from a quarter of a mile away so you don't need to see them that soon. It is better to see the nearer people first. I have a few reflective bands on my bag / seat post and good lights and reflectors.

Comment by CKS on January 6, 2012 at 9:07

A car travelling at 30mph will travel a quarter of a mile in 30 seconds.  That gives the driver time to move away from the curb if possible, or slow down if not.  The sooner cyclists are seen the better.

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