May 28, 20223 yr I'm thinking of making very wide reflectors to keep cars from passing so close, because yet another Uber driver whizzed by too close to me last night. Does anyone know how wide is too wide for rear bike reflectors? How wide is illegal? I'm going to have to make them, because these lollipop style things can't be vertical on my bike, and they're not wide enough anyway
May 28, 20223 yr I'm thinking of making very wide reflectors to keep cars from passing so close, because yet another Uber driver whizzed by too close to me last night. Does anyone know how wide is too wide for rear bike reflectors? How wide is illegal? I'm going to have to make them, because these lollipop style things can't be vertical on my bike, and they're not wide enough anyway I don't know the Bristish name for them, but here is one, there are many on Ebay Germany. Maybe this will help you further:- https://www.ebay.de/itm/400759913850?epid=1443868405&hash=item5d4f26fd7a:g:0MAAAOSwaOZdFJbB Luckily I found one on ebay UK:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122858768691?hash=item1c9af40933:g:fKcAAOSwXPNaMVkW&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABABi31KK6WUMOjayuQ1Zu6Af%2FVYL4c%2F4sCbBgLGjyG5uvTisTyq%2FzoSOG5f3obEIJqHV6V5dI0xXwRRtpa%2BVUADJRBycHBJu91qLzjuDTMKe3tKREMDSv8QI1JiHn69d44B0RfvTG5FTPGOtnTEdT2ZJjwEYAi8TpbwXUPoKXeFtViYHiVei4Zcin83iyA4ho4BtdSTtImIuxttKwSkB9HOHCx4EOzwXWsNqusDvCrITFSTxgxJrvti9GSLGaOYySUptzTuQiG%2Fs7QTzDfZYbRjJTfOm9bmRpQOlfF13FKuSuDE%2BwP0ardPcUL91Sz0ipNPoNWhFAJ78kV%2FvdSd%2BHE7o%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM3IPTxqFg regards Andy Edited May 28, 20223 yr by Andy-Mat
May 28, 20223 yr waste of time just ride in the middle of the road then they cant overtake you i had some guy and his 5 year old kid try racing me on fkn electric skateboards today guy seen me behind him so turned up the power to the max kid went one way and he tried to race me under the underpass was like a toy vs a f1 car. tho have seen some that can do 25mph, $hit round here is going crazy they just dont look where there going and all over the place esp the kids there a fkn pita on bikes and scooters as on the phone 247.
May 28, 20223 yr Author I don't know the Bristish name for them, but here is one 8there are many!) on Ebay Germany. Maybe this will help you further:- https://www.ebay.de/itm/400759913850?epid=1443868405&hash=item5d4f26fd7a:g:0MAAAOSwaOZdFJbB Luckily i found one on ebay UK:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122858768691?hash=item1c9af40933:g:fKcAAOSwXPNaMVkW&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABABi31KK6WUMOjayuQ1Zu6Af%2FVYL4c%2F4sCbBgLGjyG5uvTisTyq%2FzoSOG5f3obEIJqHV6V5dI0xXwRRtpa%2BVUADJRBycHBJu91qLzjuDTMKe3tKREMDSv8QI1JiHn69d44B0RfvTG5FTPGOtnTEdT2ZJjwEYAi8TpbwXUPoKXeFtViYHiVei4Zcin83iyA4ho4BtdSTtImIuxttKwSkB9HOHCx4EOzwXWsNqusDvCrITFSTxgxJrvti9GSLGaOYySUptzTuQiG%2Fs7QTzDfZYbRjJTfOm9bmRpQOlfF13FKuSuDE%2BwP0ardPcUL91Sz0ipNPoNWhFAJ78kV%2FvdSd%2BHE7o%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM3IPTxqFg regards Andy Thank you Andy for taking the time to find and upload those links. Do you know if the reflector angle can be adjusted on those products? Or do they have to be secured to a vertical bike frame part? The trouble is I don't have 90 degree frame parts relative to the ground, to attach them to. I need reflectors which reflect at drivers as directly as possible. This was another Uber passing too close, sneaking forward when he really didn't have to. He could have chosen to wait and allowed me space, instead of saving a few seconds before he was stopped at the next set of lights anyway. I'm really starting to hate drivers.
May 28, 20223 yr Author waste of time just ride in the middle of the road then they cant overtake you I'd love to but on busy roads it isn't always practical. I'd get done for holding up traffic or knocked off the road by an Uber or White Van Man
May 28, 20223 yr Thank you Andy for taking the time to find and upload those links. Do you know if the reflector angle can be adjusted on those products? Or do they have to be secured to a vertical bike frame part? The trouble is I don't have 90 degree frame parts relative to the ground, to attach them to. I need reflectors which reflect at drivers as directly as possible. This was another Uber passing too close, sneaking forward when he really didn't have to. He could have chosen to wait and allowed me space, instead of saving a few seconds before he was stopped at the next set of lights anyway. I'm really starting to hate drivers. Th eone I have, has a flexible joint near where it fasten it to the bike, so the bike "part" may be at any angle, and you just twist the arm till the reflector is vertical and facing the traffic to the rear. I am a believer as I haven't had any "near misses" since I mounted it on my bike, though that is not a guarantee of course. Someone here on Pedelec made one that was even longer, maybe a year or so ago, but anything that keeps the dummies at bay would appear too be a good idea.... regards Andy
May 28, 20223 yr but he is on the white line and the car behind was to close to change lanes so gave as much room as they could. just ride on the pavement lol
May 28, 20223 yr If you make your own, make sure that there is a screw at the farthest point from the bike, that will make a little "reminder" in the paint for any car coming too close! Also, mount using a spring, so that you do not get any twisting from close contact. Both of these are sadly missing on my commercial version. regards Andy
May 28, 20223 yr Author Th eone I have, has a flexible joint near where it fasten it to the bike, so the bike "part" may be at any angle, and you just twist the arm till the reflector is vertical and facing the traffic to the rear. I am a believer as I haven't had any "near misses" since I mounted it on my bike, though that is not a guarantee of course. Someone here on Pedelec made one that was even longer, maybe a year or so ago, but anything that keeps the dummies at bay would appear too be a good idea.... regards Andy Thanks for the rotating clamp information Andy. I did this one on amazon, which reviewers complained didn't have a rotating clamp and assumed they were all the same. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-Fold-Out-Safety-Reflector/dp/B004H1QYG2/ref= Does this one look like it has a similar rotating arm to yours? https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fKcAAOSwXPNaMVkW/s-l1600.jpg https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122858768691?hash=item
May 28, 20223 yr Author just ride on the pavement lol It's too bumpy on the pavement and around here it's full of pedestrians and dogs. Much faster direct journeys by road, but the potholes are killers Edited May 28, 20223 yr by I893469365902345609348566
May 28, 20223 yr Author If you make your own, make sure that there is a screw at the farthest point from the bike, that will make a little "reminder" in the paint for any car coming too close! Wow that's nasty! I like it! Like the chariots on Ben Hur Also, mount using a spring, so that you do not get any twisting from close contact. Both of these are sadly missing on my commercial version. regards Andy That's a very good idea. I'd make it 2m wide if it was legal to do so.
May 28, 20223 yr Author but he is on the white line and the car behind was to close to change lanes so gave as much room as they could. He could have waited a bit before overtaking, having seen the white car... if he had been looking. Nobody else overtook like that Uber idiot. It's nearly always taxis which do this.
May 28, 20223 yr Thanks for the rotating clamp information Andy. I did this one on amazon, which reviewers complained didn't have a rotating clamp and assumed they were all the same. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-Fold-Out-Safety-Reflector/dp/B004H1QYG2/ref= Does this one look like it has a similar rotating arm to yours? https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fKcAAOSwXPNaMVkW/s-l1600.jpg https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122858768691?hash=item I cannot say for 100% certain, but it does appear to be "flexible" as I mentioned. Even if it is not, a hair dryer on hot in the middle of the arm, then when its soft, twist it to suit. Hoöd it with pegs till it is hard again. If it is hard set plastic (heat will not soften it, but there are good glues available for hard set plastic!), cut it somewhere and either use a hose clamp, or hard plastic glue to put it back together...maybe adding an extension to make it even longer, plastic or metal tube, and a plstic/metal glue. Spray red or orange. When glueing, always clean well with Meths (do not drink :mad:), and do not touch with bare fingers where you want to glue, wear throwaway gloves! regards Andy
May 28, 20223 yr Wow that's nasty! I like it! Like the chariots on Ben Hur That's a very good idea. I'd make it 2m wide if it was legal to do so. If he complains about a scratch, even the police will know he was too close!!! regards Andy
May 29, 20223 yr This item did seem to work well for me, purchased from bankrupt_bike_parts. Until it broke - it lasted a few months and the plastic which looked weak, snapped at the arms. I measured the plastic, and have ordered some 1/4 inch alumimium round bar (33cm) to replace the part of the plastic inside one side of the springs, I'll adapt the bracket to fit. I prefer this spring type reflector design. I knew it was useless plastic... Before: After: Edited May 29, 20223 yr by guerney
May 29, 20223 yr If he complains about a scratch, even the police will know he was too close!!! regards Andy Okay they might, but in that case the OP would in the UK be wide open themselves to a charge for doing actual "Criminal damage", and here their concern was with the minor issue of the legal reach of these flags. To address the actual problem, it might be a better solution if instead of a screw mounted to inflict damage, and most likely not plainly visible before the event, something like a flashing tail light LED unit was used to very visibly warn, rather than deliberately do damage.
May 29, 20223 yr Okay they might, but in that case the OP would in the UK be wide open themselves to a charge for doing actual "Criminal damage", and here their concern was with the minor issue of the legal reach of these flags. To address the actual problem, it might be a better solution if instead of a screw mounted to inflict damage, and most likely not plainly visible before the event, something like a flashing tail light LED unit was used to very visibly warn, rather than deliberately do damage. Drivers do see my flashing tail light, GPS tracker red light and wired-into the ebike battery tail light, but they still pass too close. The wide reflectors did make a difference. After I repair them, I may look into wiring flashers onto each arm reflector, they'd be about 50cm to 60cm wide in total.
May 29, 20223 yr Author Okay they might, but in that case the OP would in the UK be wide open themselves to a charge for doing actual "Criminal damage", and here their concern was with the minor issue of the legal reach of these flags. To address the actual problem, it might be a better solution if instead of a screw mounted to inflict damage, and most likely not plainly visible before the event, something like a flashing tail light LED unit was used to very visibly warn, rather than deliberately do damage. My two flashers don't stop motorists passing too close. At least it wasn't as bad as a couple of weeks ago. In addition, I wear a flashing red LED sash on my back
May 29, 20223 yr Author Drivers do see my flashing tail light, GPS tracker red light and wired-into the ebike battery tail light, but they still pass too close. The wide reflectors did make a difference. After I repair them, I may look into wiring flashers onto each arm reflector, they'd be about 50cm to 60cm wide in total. Would 1m wide be too wide for the law? I don't see anything in the highway code about reflector width. Maybe it's down to traffic cop discretion?
May 29, 20223 yr Those plastic lollipop-style "Herrman's" measure 34.1cm = 68.2cm if you have one either side, plus the width of the bike frame where they attach. https://herrmans.eu/products/reflectors-7410/rear-7440/safety-wing/ Edited May 29, 20223 yr by guerney
May 29, 20223 yr Would 1m wide be too wide for the law? I don't see anything in the highway code about reflector width. Maybe it's down to traffic cop discretion? IMO, albeit an uninformed opinion, one meter would be regarded as way too far an extension. As a guide, mirrors on domestic cars are limited to an extension of 200mm beyond the vehicles body width. If you take you bars as your bike's width, then add 200 mm to that would be effectively the order I would think most would consider a reasonable extension. Obviously, not coming off the bars but the frame towards the rear the actual item length to achieve the equivalent reach would be quite a bit physically longer. But as said earlier I would add more than the reflective surfacing, a nice bright, rear facing flashing red LED ought to be an effective visual marker night and daytime. Edited May 29, 20223 yr by Ocsid
May 29, 20223 yr IMO, albeit an uninformed opinion, one meter would be regarded as way too far an extension. As a guide, mirrors on domestic cars are limited to an extension of 200mm beyond the vehicles body width. If you take you bars as your bike's width, then add 200 mm to that would be effectively the order I would think most would consider a reasonable extension. Obviously, not coming off the bars but the frame towards the rear the actual item length to achieve the equivalent reach would be quite a bit physically longer. That seems reasonable, but surely those lollipops aren't too wide for legality? They measure 341mm beyond the bike frame attachment point, therefore one either side would add 682mm to the overall width of the bike. For my bike, that's 872mm total width with lollipops.
May 29, 20223 yr My solar trailer is 1.16m wide, although it is a thing rather than a projection from a thing. The maximum width for a vehicle without the need to inform the police, and without the need for an escort vehicle, is 2.55m. But a bicycle is a carriage, not a vehicle. Mirrors on cars pulling caravans are often extended to see past the caravan, and the largest modern caravans are 2.40m or so, so those mirrors extend 300mm or so from the car. Sone taxi drivers in my experience fall into the category of the 1% who will not change their ways until reported to the police and charged. Points on their licences threaten their livelihood, whilst their behaviour threatens cyclists' lives. Round here on the single track with passing places route I go shopping, they will drive without slowing in opposite direction to me on the narrow bit between passing places. 40mph closing speed with not much gap.
May 29, 20223 yr Sone taxi drivers in my experience fall into the category of the 1% who will not change their ways until reported to the police and charged. Points on their licences threaten their livelihood, whilst their behaviour threatens cyclists' lives. They only sleep those guys get, is while driving
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