Are you actually saying that you are genuinely SURPRISED that motorists give you more room when you have lights fitted? Who'd have thought eh......One possibility, now I may be being a bit radical here......is that they can see you better? Just a thought.

 

Oh and for the record the flashing ones one their own are illegal. They are only legal when accompanied by a standard rear light also. I personally think the flashing ones are better, just passing on information.

 

Flashing lights - yes.

 

Fixed ‘on’ lights don’t do anything – I have tried.

 

There is no reason for anyone to be so close to me on this road when I’m on my ebike. This is a stretch or road where speeds are well over 60mph with clear unobstructed visibility for about 2.5 mile, 3 lane with duel overtaking (you could sail a battle ship down the road without hitting anything) and yet the 4x4's are always the ones up my ass and in my pocket.

 

I have a bright red and silver bike and always wear my hi-vis yellow jacket (look like a bloody canary). Maybe I'm a little naive, but I genuinely though that would be enough. Unfortunately, I failed to consider the brain dead 4x4 drivers.

 

I will continue using the lights because they have proved to befit my safety. If the law decides I'm doing something illegal I am sure they will be falling over them selves to come and tell me

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Edited September 3, 200817 yr by Footie

No you're not, looks like I'm completely out of date and wrong on this one. They used to be illegal. But not now by the looks of it. I light my bike up like a xmas tree. As tesco say, every little helps.

... I light my bike up like a xmas tree ....

 

Do you wear a hi-vis jacket or a Tinker Bell dress

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Not sure which would be best

Something I've long done, but which my recent fitting of a mirror has helped, is to wave 'thank you' to vehicles that wait until it's safe to pass me. On general riding I feel a little politeness doesn't go amiss but on my commute I am more likely to see these same vehicles again, and hope that they are less likely to try to squeeze ahead of me next time if I have previously acknowledged their patience.

 

*polishes halo!*

 

Nick

I reckon if I rode along in a tinkerbell outfit Every car on the road would give me plenty of room......infact I might try it tomorrow.

Something I've long done, but which my recent fitting of a mirror has helped, is to wave 'thank you' to vehicles that wait until it's safe to pass me. On general riding I feel a little politeness doesn't go amiss but on my commute I am more likely to see these same vehicles again, and hope that they are less likely to try to squeeze ahead of me next time if I have previously acknowledged their patience.

 

*polishes halo!*

 

Nick

 

Ditto Nick, and I always try to help motorists pass as quickly as possible by use of my mirror, making sure I don't arrive at parked cars at the same time as them, bringing them down to my speed.

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4x4 drivers get a very bad rap in this site and I think that is a little unfair. Where I live about 1 in 3 cars are 4x4 and many of them are used on farms and pulling horse boxes.

 

I have a AWD car, although a tiny little 1.5 Subaru Imprezza because it is great when the roads ice over and previously owned a Discovery when I was doing building work. Its the Chelsea tractor mob that's the problem, not 4x4 per se....

 

In fact most of the 4x4 drivers here are not too bad, many of them ride horses so know what it is like to deal with reckless driving in an expossed position.

 

*getting off my soapbox*

 

As for primary safety, there are roads I avoid in my car around here for safety as at rush hour people bomb along and I have had some very near collisions. I now pick my route very carefully. This is even more important on a bike where there is little protection.

I dont think anyone is having a go at the farmers BM, it the "Chelsea Tractors" thats the problem, why would anyone ever need a 4x4 in a town?

4x4 drivers get a very bad rap in this site and I think that is a little unfair.

 

Everyone has his or her own view of the world.

 

As JohnInStockie says, it's not the farmer’s 4x4's that are a problem.

 

I actually have a very good mate who is a specialised 4x4 mechanic

 

But I still have a disliking for 4x4's - I have a pet dislike for badly driven 4x4's, because they can be so dangerous to ALL other road users. They are very large vehicles in every sense but many drivers don't seem to care or realise - they drive them like sports cars.

 

For a time I drove a 17 seat school minibus and I now have an ex 17 seater converted into a campervan. I know what big vehicles are like on the road and I know what effort it takes to stop them in an emergency - believe me, a fully loaded 17 seater mini bus does not stop the moment you slam on the breaks, neither does a 4x4. The speed that some of these idiots drive at there's not a hope in hell of them stopping in an emergency. But are they worried? Hell no, they’re in a sold steel box weighing 3 tons or more. What chance does a family saloon (or ever a cyclist) stand against them?

 

Out of interest, have you ever watched a morning school run? If not try it one morning. It's the time when almost every 4x4 in town is on the road - you will be amazed at the amount of speeding, bad driving, kerb-mounting parking and just-stop-here dropping-off you'll see - and it's not just the ladies - it's a wonder any kids get to school alive

 

I have no problems with well-driven 4x4's - but unfortunately a high proportion of 4x4 drivers just barrel their way through with a "get out of my way attitude" - it's no wonder so many other road users dislike them.

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