Bicycles

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The influence of a bicycle commuter's appearance on drivers’ overtaking proximities: an on-road test of bicyclist stereotypes, high-visibility clothing and safety aids in the United Kingdom (researchportal.bath.ac.uk)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The only outfit associated with a significant change in mean passing proximities was the **police/video-recording jacket. **

Notably, whilst some outfits seemed to discourage motorists from passing within 1 metre of the rider, approximately 1-2% of overtakes came within 50 cm no matter what outfit was worn. This suggests there is little riders can do, by altering their appearance, to prevent the very closest overtakes

This is quite discouraging, but it seems to ring true in my experience. I've had quite a few drivers, who have come close to hitting me (even while walking at a crosswalk), claim that they "didn't see me" while I wore high-viz everything and had lights to further improve visibility.

How do we, as cyclists, even deal with “driver blindness”?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (3 children)

https://www.bikelaw.com/2022/08/is-it-illegal-to-ride-bike-on-sidewalk/

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

Genuinely don’t care about the law if it directly endangers me. Have ridden past police many times on the pedestrian pathway, without ever a ticket or warning. Widen the asphalt/eliminate on street parking/make lanes smaller and build non-automotive infrastructure, then I’ll happily leave the pedestrian pathway alone

I’ll take the risks of going over the handlebars from someone popping out of a driveway, farrr better than catching a parked car door opening into a painted cycle lane or run down by a drunk/texting/inattentive driver while on the main roadway if there is no cycle lane

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'd rather risk getting ticketed than risk death or being crippled for the rest of my life because some asshole couldn't be bothered to pay attention and the city doesn't give a shit about cyclists' lives.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

Whether it's legal or not is less of an issue, since I don't think anyone should be riding on sidewalks on a regular basis.

It comes down to safety. I think most people will naturally choose a sidewalk when no other safe options are presented, regardless of whether it's legal or not. This should be a red flag to city planners that the cycling infrastructure is sorely lacking!