|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Even Though... (Recumbents)
Even though I have built a few experimental recumbents, I stil worry about
visibility issues in traffic. Seems to me a driver just may not notice a flag as much as a person at eye-level height. Your thuoghts? - Jeff, www.500ways.com |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Even Though... (Recumbents)
On Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:34:16 +0000 (UTC)
Jeff wrote: Even though I have built a few experimental recumbents, I stil worry about visibility issues in traffic. Seems to me a driver just may not notice a flag as much as a person at eye-level height. Your thuoghts? - Jeff, You forget the WTFIT? factor. My experience is that drivers give a lot more room to a 'bent than, say, an MTB on the same roads. A drop-barred upright comes about half-way in-between. So they /have/ seen the 'bent, and failed to drop it from their attention stack they way they would bikes with which they are more familiar. Mike |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Even Though... (Recumbents)
On 13/03/11 19:34, Jeff wrote:
Even though I have built a few experimental recumbents, I stil worry about visibility issues in traffic. Seems to me a driver just may not notice a flag as much as a person at eye-level height. Your thuoghts? There are 'bents and there are 'bents. Mine (an HP Vel Streetmachine) has the seat at about the same height as a car seat. That actually makes it easier to get eye-contact with most drivers in close traffic. But the real keys in traffic are being in predictable places. You can be on a normal upright bike in traffic and if you're between trucks, buses and vans you'll be no better off than a lowracer among cars, yet that's not a kiss-of-death. You make sure you go in places that are in sight and you make sure you proceed in a predictable fashion. Same on /any/ bike. Never bothered with a flag on mine. Only recall one time I wasn't seen, and that's because the chap didn't look (and I /saw/ him not looking). A quick and loud "*OI*!" soon solved that. The "you must be nearly invisible down there" is often cited as a problem for 'bents I've never actually found it to be one. If anything I get more space, not less. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Even Though... (Recumbents)
On 3/14/2011 5:42 AM, Peter Clinch wrote:
On 13/03/11 19:34, Jeff wrote: Even though I have built a few experimental recumbents, I stil worry about visibility issues in traffic. Seems to me a driver just may not notice a flag as much as a person at eye-level height. Your thuoghts? There are 'bents and there are 'bents. Mine (an HP Vel Streetmachine) has the seat at about the same height as a car seat. That actually makes it easier to get eye-contact with most drivers in close traffic. But the real keys in traffic are being in predictable places. You can be on a normal upright bike in traffic and if you're between trucks, buses and vans you'll be no better off than a lowracer among cars, yet that's not a kiss-of-death. You make sure you go in places that are in sight and you make sure you proceed in a predictable fashion. Same on /any/ bike. I an several others have ridden lowracers in the City of Chicago, and I am aware of some who have ridden lowracers or semi-lowracers in London. Never bothered with a flag on mine. Only recall one time I wasn't seen, and that's because the chap didn't look (and I /saw/ him not looking). A quick and loud "*OI*!" soon solved that. The "you must be nearly invisible down there" is often cited as a problem for 'bents I've never actually found it to be one. If anything I get more space, not less. Drivers can see the paint markings on the road, so any recumbent is tall enough to see. -- Tēm ShermĒn - 42.435731,-83.985007 I am a vehicular cyclist. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Even Though... (Recumbents)
On 14/03/11 10:42, Peter Clinch wrote:
On 13/03/11 19:34, Jeff wrote: Even though I have built a few experimental recumbents, I stil worry about visibility issues in traffic. Seems to me a driver just may not notice a flag as much as a person at eye-level height. Your thuoghts? There are 'bents and there are 'bents. Mine (an HP Vel Streetmachine) has the seat at about the same height as a car seat. That actually makes it easier to get eye-contact with most drivers in close traffic. I'll agree with this - I ride the same bike. No problem seeing (edging out at junctions is more like a car than an upright bike, but not a problem), no obvious issues with being seen, and in a city where I've never spotted another recumbent except those ridden by people I know from out of town, a tremendous WTF factor. Drivers are more likely to perform slow, wide overtakes so the passenger can get some decent video of me on their iPhone than they are to do a close pass or left (I'm in the UK) hook. The only special measure I take towards being visible is that I'll be a bit more likely to use lights in daylight than on an upright. I find a bright front light makes people less likely to pull out in front of me, especially at roundabouts. The only situation where I see a flag to be of real benefit is where someone overtakes the car behind you into what appears to be an empty gap. The Streetmachine is high enough that it or my head is visible through the windscreen of a standard car, so I don't think a flag gains anything. A lowracer (not that I'd want to ride one in city traffic very much - indeed, I prefer an upright bike for start-stop city riding) or trike will be different. We're considering getting a recumbent trike for my partner, who has arm disabilities, and will probably get a flag for riding that in traffic. You don't have to have it fitted all the time. I'd certainly want a flag on a trailer, whatever bike I was pulling it with, as it's easier to overlook once you've spotted the bike. Kim. -- |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Recumbents in NYC? | Bill Baka | Recumbent Biking | 51 | November 5th 09 01:52 AM |
Recumbents in NYC? | Jym Dyer | Recumbent Biking | 0 | November 5th 09 01:46 AM |
Recumbents in NYC? | Ron Wallenfang | Recumbent Biking | 0 | November 1st 09 03:34 AM |
Of recumbents | Jon Senior | UK | 8 | November 15th 05 12:30 AM |
Regarding recumbents | Another group member | UK | 8 | November 20th 04 11:29 AM |