Biker visibility

SauRoNZA said:
Yup.

And I really do hope these people aren't stupid enough to believe they are saving petrol by leaving their lights off.
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I have had every excuse from running the battery down, to using more fuel, to having to replace light bulbs, as to why people wish to travel in invisible mode!

Last night at 10 to 6 N2 on the way to Umkomaas, I came up behind a silver grey Hilux D/C - no lights on and virtually invisible to everyone around, I came up behind him, did a slow light flash to try and make him realise that I wasn't just flashing him - and got zero response - he eventually turned off to Umkomaas as well, but pulled off to Craigieburn before I could stop next to him and ask if he was a Harry Potter fan, who was trying out his invisible cloak.

I do not understand the lack of intelligence involved in not realizing that other road users cannot see you!!
 
Interesting topic.

As a cyclist, I really feel motorists like to try run us off the road (yea, most cyclist do feel victimised, I urge you to get on a bike and ride around to understand where I am coming from). We have the right to some space on the left, not just the gutter. I understand we are going at 1/10 the speed you want to go at, but its not that hard to slow down and pass with enough space not to give my bike the wobble. I also don't agree with bikers that don't stop at lights (makes me furious). Yes it is difficult to get your cleats off the pedal, but its much better than getting run over or causing an accident.

On motorbikes, if the rider is aware and uses its head, I have no issue. Lane split, but consider that sometimes cars won't see you. If you're behind a car indicating to change lanes, slow down don't speed up and try get past him before he arrives, that is just not going to end well - use your head, it will save your life!

On the running with lights on, it increases visibility so do it, it can only be safer for you as it makes the other guy more alert of you. Done a few daytime long distance trips spot cars with lights on much earlier than you do those with lights off.
 
phiber said:
Interesting topic.

As a cyclist, I really feel motorists like to try run us off the road (yea, most cyclist do feel victimised, I urge you to get on a bike and ride around to understand where I am coming from). We have the right to some space on the left, not just the gutter. I understand we are going at 1/10 the speed you want to go at, but its not that hard to slow down and pass with enough space not to give my bike the wobble. I also don't agree with bikers that don't stop at lights (makes me furious). Yes it is difficult to get your cleats off the pedal, but its much better than getting run over or causing an accident.
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The main issue is that motor vehicle drivers get angry and annoyed with cyclists don't obey the rules of the road like they should. Cyclists often dont stop at stop streets or red traffic lights. Cyclist NEVER signal when changing lanes or turning right. Cyclists have a bad habit of not riding in single file.

The above doesn't bother me, I am a calm and passive driver. What gets to me is when cyclists litter by chucking their nutrition and energy bar wrappers and banana peels on the road.
 
On my way home now, as is habit by now, I slow down at certain intersections. Even if I have a green light.
Mofo in his, yes I really hate them, BMW comes flying through the intersection while the light is red

If I did not slow down he would have hit me and "those pesky bikers" would have been blamed again
 
Travelling down La Belle road this morning on my motorcycle, there were 2 cars in a side road that wanted to turn into the main road ahead of me. I was too close for either of them to turn into my way but both of them did, and I had to swerve to miss the second car. It was a lady in a white Corolla, we even made eye contact and I was starting to shake my helmet from left to right saying to myself, "please, don't be that stupid" and she still turned in right in front of me, like I didn't even exist. I'm not hard to spot either, lights on, white bike, white helmet.
 
Penquin said:
Travelling down La Belle road this morning on my motorcycle, there were 2 cars in a side road that wanted to turn into the main road ahead of me. I was too close for either of them to turn into my way but both of them did, and I had to swerve to miss the second car. It was a lady in a white Corolla, we even made eye contact and I was starting to shake my helmet from left to right saying to myself, "please, don't be that stupid" and she still turned in right in front of me, like I didn't even exist. I'm not hard to spot either, lights on, white bike, white helmet.
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Mate, you can make yourself have flashy lights and people will still miss you. If you want your lights to help you, try and get some 55w spot lights and put them as far away from your head light as possible. This is to make them as distinct as possible. Also see if you can't get a head light cover to change the colour to amber or yellow.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
The only reason I'm bringing this up is due to me being the car behind the car which indicated to turn, I did not see the bike approaching on my right and as the car made the turn they connected. This story actually got ugly in the community.

The car was also already in a position to make the turn, so the biker must had knew that it was going to be a close cut.

This is where it had happened.

View attachment 110582

A similar accident in that location happened when a scooter coming up behind also made the turn along with a car, so the car naturally ran over the scooter...
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You should never change lanes in an intersection or crossway. I don't know if it's a rule of the road, but it prevent a lot of confusion.
 
Penquin said:
Travelling down La Belle road this morning on my motorcycle, there were 2 cars in a side road that wanted to turn into the main road ahead of me. I was too close for either of them to turn into my way but both of them did, and I had to swerve to miss the second car. It was a lady in a white Corolla, we even made eye contact and I was starting to shake my helmet from left to right saying to myself, "please, don't be that stupid" and she still turned in right in front of me, like I didn't even exist. I'm not hard to spot either, lights on, white bike, white helmet.
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Headlight modulator is one option to look at (flashing your lights constantly) but is a pain in the ass.

Another option is fitting some additional LED's somewhere so your bike catches their eye.

Personally I'm thinking of adding some hand guards with LEDs fitted.
 
AdrianH said:
The above doesn't bother me, I am a calm and passive driver. What gets to me is when cyclists litter by chucking their nutrition and energy bar wrappers and banana peels on the road.
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Or riding on a damned road with no shoulder, for instance between Kirstenbosch and Hout Bay :mad:
 
Fazda said:
I have had every excuse from running the battery down, to using more fuel, to having to replace light bulbs, as to why people wish to travel in invisible mode!

Last night at 10 to 6 N2 on the way to Umkomaas, I came up behind a silver grey Hilux D/C - no lights on and virtually invisible to everyone around, I came up behind him, did a slow light flash to try and make him realise that I wasn't just flashing him - and got zero response - he eventually turned off to Umkomaas as well, but pulled off to Craigieburn before I could stop next to him and ask if he was a Harry Potter fan, who was trying out his invisible cloak.

I do not understand the lack of intelligence involved in not realizing that other road users cannot see you!!
Click to expand...

I'm guilty of this when driving to work (old citi golf), I sometimes used to forget to switch the lights off and drained the battery a couple of times. I now leave the lights off unless visibility is really bad.
 
I believe the reason why people disregard bikers so much is because of how some of them have behaved in the past. Like, for example, the one that assaulted the driver in front of me i.e. klapped him through the window, for some imaginary offence. That, and the fact that they think they are a law unto themselves. I kid you not, I have seen bikers behave worse than taxi drivers.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Rather illegal than dead I figure.

Headlight covers in any awareness raising colour aren't legal either.
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The yellow and amber ones are. I don't know about you, but I see a fellow biker quite easily if his headlight is an amber colour, as opposed to being just another light in an ocean of lights.
 
Again on the issue of legality headlight colour/covers (for any vehicle)

The wording is a bit daft though (double negative essentially).

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)
National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999

Chapter VI : Fitness of Vehicles

Part II : Equipment on or in respect of vehicles

181. Colour of lights

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1) Subject to the provisions of regulation 170(1), 171(1), 172, 175 or 176, no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle which is fitted with or carries on it a lamp which –
a) except in the case of a brake anti-lock warning light to the front of a trailer, emits a light which is not white, amber or yellow in colour towards the front;
b) emits a light which is not yellow or amber in colour towards either side of the motor vehicle; or
c) except in the case of a direction indicator or reversing lamp complying with the provisions of these regulations, emits a light which is not red in colour towards the rear.

2) When two or more lamps of the same class emitting light in the same direction are fitted to a vehicle they shall emit light of the same colour :
Provided that no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle fitted with any colour of lights other than the colour of lights prescribed in terms of these regulations.
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http://www.acts.co.za/national-road-traffic-act-1996/
 
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