Help! Main roads or side roads?

[anonymous]

Hi

I've had a look at Google Street View, and it looks like the A roads are actually pretty safe, and there is a dedicated bike lane for much of the route, for my commute. They don't appear to have a speed limit of higher than 40Mph

In traffic they're probably doing half that speed tbf

What do you guys do? I imagine that the pollution would be much better in the back roads anyway, though not sure about dedicated lanes there.

 

[vfr400]

Normal A-roads are fine. It's only when the 4-wheeled drivers get held up that things can get nasty, like when you get a stretch with lots of traffic lights, roadworks and things like that. The only thing I can think of is that they don't like anybody making more progress than themselves, so they seek retribution.

Here's another hint. The move visible you make yourself, the less they see you. What you see as a yellow high-vis jacket is actually an invisibility cloak.

Weird lights work a lot better than conventional ones. The weirder, the better. I think it either scares them or confuses them. The downside is that they become too scared to overtake, which becomes annoying after a few minutes. By weird, I mean those rear lights that put laser lines either side of you, bat logo projectors and things like that. Those high vis jackets with the big reflective strips in the back scare them to death at night time. You no longer need to worry about the invisibility effect of the yellow high-vis bit because the reflective bit takes precedence. they must think that aliens have landed or something because they won't come near you with one of them lasering their eyes.

 

[anonymous]

Normal A-roads are fine. It's only when the 4-wheeled drivers get held up that things can get nasty, like when you get a stretch with lots of traffic lights, roadworks and things like that. The only thing I can think of is that they don't like anybody making more progress than themselves, so they seek retribution.

Here's another hint. The move visible you make yourself, the less they see you. What you see as a yellow high-vis jacket is actually an invisibility cloak.

Weird lights work a lot better than conventional ones. The weirder, the better. I think it either scares them or confuses them. The downside is that they become too scared to overtake, which becomes annoying after a few minutes. By weird, I mean those rear lights that put laser lines either side of you, bat logo projectors and things like that. Those high vis jackets with the big reflective strips in the back scare them to death at night time. You no longer need to worry about the invisibility effect of the yellow high-vis bit because the reflective bit takes precedence. they must think that aliens have landed or something because they won't come near you with one of them lasering their eyes.

I don't understand how that makes you less visible? I do drive, and it's easier to see cyclists if they're visible

 

[vfr400]

I don't understand how that makes you less visible?

No do I. It must be something to do with superposition of waves, metameterials or something like that.

 

[mike killay]

There is a recent theory that drivers instantly forget seeing anything that they do not think is a threat.
This could account for SMIDSY. The reason appears to be that when driving, too much information is being presented to you and you develop a sort of mental 'tunnel vision' and instantly discount anything that does not appear to be a problem to you.

 

[Nealh]

I align with Mike on this one, motons even if they see you whether at a junction or when passing someone or any other obstacle when driving. Motons will not give a damn about a cyclist.
Normal people (what ever that is ) though in life they may be a complete moron as well, become a moton once behind the wheel, tailgating, close passing, unsafe over takes, pulling out (when common sense says no), deliberate squeezing after an overtake and a trend not often referred to and hard to prove without a vid cam is punishment braking/stops.
Non of these may not have happened to riders much on here but as a regular rider I have come across all of these barring the last instance.

 

[kangooroo]

Here's another hint. The move visible you make yourself, the less they see you. What you see as a yellow high-vis jacket is actually an invisibility cloak./QUOTE]

I have to disagree. A local woman was killed on our local roads earlier this week. She normally wore hi-viz gear and this, for reasons unknown, was the first time she hadn't. The driver didn't see her on a dark road wearing dark colours. She was hit by a car and died from internal abdominal injuries at the roadside.

I always wear high-viz - jacket, helmet and have hi-viz reflectors on my bike. Occasionally I also wear a flashing belt too. I am very visible and hear vehicles slowing behind me as they approach.

 

[flecc]

Weird lights work a lot better than conventional ones. The weirder, the better. I think it either scares them or confuses them.

Weird is certainly best. The best I ever experience is when pulling my large trailer with a high load as below, completely hiding me and the bike.

It's quite funny seeing drivers nervously passing, leaving a full car width clearance and peering to see what this vehicle is:

 

[vfr400]

I have to disagree. A local woman was killed on our local roads earlier this week. She normally wore hi-viz gear and this, for reasons unknown, was the first time she hadn't. The driver didn't see her on a dark She was hit by a car and died from internal abdominal injuries at the roadside.

I was nearly killed three times while wearing a high-vis jacket, and never nearly killed when not wearing one. I think it was my lucky underpants that saved me on those occasions, otherwise I'd probably be dead.

A guy was riding his bike wearing lace-up shoes, when he got struck by lightning and killed. I always wear slip-ons when I ride my bike and I've never been struck once.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Ride a trike, most cars stay well out of the way.

You need to wear high viz just in case you do get run over, it gives your children's lawyer a better shot at getting more compensation money!

 

[anonymous]

Ride a trike, most cars stay well out of the way.

You need to wear high viz just in case you do get run over, it gives your children's lawyer a better shot at getting more compensation money!

I certainly hope I don't have any of them! Children that is

Also guys, I should have said this thread is me thinking about two thinks
Risk relating to visibility
Risk relating to pollution, and health. I can't imagine breathing in fumes is healthy

It'd be appreciated if anyone has anything to add RE: health risks / benefits of either route.

 

[Fishy]

Personally, I always take the route with likely less vehicles, even though it's longer, and I wear as much hi-viz as I can.
If anyone runs me over, they can't use the excuse they didn't see me.

 

[vfr400]

I certainly hope I don't have any of them! Children that is

Also guys, I should have said this thread is me thinking about two thinks
Risk relating to visibility
Risk relating to pollution, and health. I can't imagine breathing in fumes is healthy

It'd be appreciated if anyone has anything to add RE: health risks / benefits of either route.

Forget about riding to work, in fact, it might be a good idea to stop work altogether because it can be dangerous. Instead, build yourself a bio-dome . Make sure that it has a proper air lock on any doors or hatches to the outside world and good filters on the air supply, then get yourself a food irradiator kit and position it in the air lock, so that you can irradiate the food before it's brought in. Don't allow any other human beings or animals into the dome. Make sure that the food is a balanced diet and you get your 5 a day. Install some fitness equipment so that you get plenty of exercise. You could still enjoy your cycling experience using Swift or something similar. Don't be tempted to watch any porn while you're in there because there's a chance you might go blind. Don't forget to pray at least twice a day, and always wear your lucky underpants.

 

[Deleted member 25121]

This us vs them, ie pedal cyclists vs eBike riders vs motorists vs horse riders vs pedestrians vs motor cyclists etc etc helps no one and just makes matters worse. Why not treat each other with some respect irrespective of our mode of transport? I’ve not detected this animosity in any other country I’ve visited, it seems to be a British disease.

 

[anonymous]

This us vs them, ie pedal cyclists vs eBike riders vs motorists vs horse riders vs pedestrians vs motor cyclists etc etc helps no one and just makes matters worse. Why not treat each other with some respect irrespective of our mode of transport? I’ve not detected this animosity in any other country I’ve visited, it seems to be a British disease.

Yeah.. It's honestly a bit off putting to people like myself ie: one of the biggest markets for ebikes (Commuters, and casual cyclists)

At the end of the day, I learned to ride a bike first as a kid, and now a car even if I mainly use public transport currently.

 

[Bobajob]

This us vs them, ie pedal cyclists vs eBike riders vs motorists vs horse riders vs pedestrians vs motor cyclists etc etc helps no one and just makes matters worse. Why not treat each other with some respect irrespective of our mode of transport? I’ve not detected this animosity in any other country I’ve visited, it seems to be a British disease.

I agree whole heartily. Its about time the ebike rider, the cyclist, the car driver, the motor cyclist, the horse rider all came together travell in harmony , then turn their attention to making the pedestrian uncomfortable, getting them off the pavements. lol

 

[soundwave]

I agree whole heartily. Its about time the ebike rider, the cyclist, the car driver, the motor cyclist, the horse rider all came together travell in harmony , then turn their attention to making the pedestrian uncomfortable, getting them off the pavements. lol

i can make the sheep jump, phone zombies are another matter tho as they dont move a fkn inc