By Nick Gatlin, EMSCI #036
Williamson Medical Center EMS
Franklin (TN)
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Cycling is what I call a "snob" sport. Other than snow skiing, I know of
no other pastime whose participants are so preoccupied with being stylish.
We are keenly aware of what the other guy rides, his helmet, his shoes, his
sunglasses, etc. We judge each other by the equipment we choose. If you have
an XTR rear derailleur and hydraulic disc brakes, you must be a good rider.
It makes no sense to me at all. People who don't ride think we look like
freaks. And worse, safety often gets lost in our efforts to impress.
Of all the riders I have met through IPMBA, I've got to be the biggest nerd
out there. I like my cheap steel frame. I have a mirror. I have every reflector
the CPSC says should be on a bike and then some. And as if that is not enough,
I usually run two taillights and about two extra square feet of reflective
material all over the frame. What a geek. Why would anyone do this?
I understand that there are reasons for not wanting to be seen at night.
If you are a police officer who works downtown busting drug dealers, you
may be concerned about a reflection off a handlebar stem or your helmet.
Who knows what little thing could give you away, costing you an arrest or
even your life? That makes sense. For the rest of us, however, whose lives
are less exciting, being seen is always an advantage.
If you paid attention in your PC or EMSC course, you understand that being
seen is not the object of the game. Being recognized as a cyclist is.
What difference does it make? Cyclists are bodies in motion, and it is vital
that the motorist realizes this. As a moving object, the bike cannot be safely
passed until the motorist estimates and accounts for its speed. The motorist
must also be prepared to allow for the inevitable side-to-side movement of
the bike. It's not like passing a mailbox. Maybe this is why half of the
cycling deaths occur at night, even though there are so few cyclists on the
road.
So, how do we make the motorist recognize that the object he is approaching
is a cyclist? The best way is to arrange our conspicuity devices in such
a way that they look like a person on a bike. Accentuate the pedals, crank,
feet and legs. Put a head on the figure by accenting the helmet. Now we've
not only drawn a picture of a person on a bike, we've defined the movements
of pedaling.
A variety of things will help make a cyclist conspicuous. Each has advantages
and disadvantages. The trick is to overcome the weaknesses of each with the
strengths of others. Here are some examples:
Active lighting. This includes anything with a battery in it,
usually L.E.D. technology.
Pro: May be visible from great distances; does not rely on another
light source as reflectors do.
Con: Does almost nothing to contribute to the "signature" outline
of a cyclist; requires proper angle for maximum effectiveness; batteries
must be replaced periodically.
Reflective tape. Available as "prismatic" molded plastic strips
(Reflexite) or "glass bead" technology (Scotchlite).
Pro: May be sized to fit in a variety of places, available in many
colors, inexpensive, requires no batteries, highly effective for creating
"signature".
Con: Requires light source to work; may become ineffective if illuminated
at an angle; some types will wear out; certain colors less effective; legal
restrictions on placement of some colors in certain states.
Reflective clothing. Usually consists of regular cycling apparel
with reflective tape sewn on. Some products involve impregnating or coating
fabric with reflective material so that entire garment is reflective.
Pro: Fantastic for creating rider's signature; visible from virtually
any angle.
Con: May lose some effectiveness after several washings.
The key to effective conspicuity is to utilize several of the above methods
to achieve it, while maximizing the effectiveness of each. In the case of
retro-reflective tape, I have often heard that it disappears if the light
source is just a few degrees from a 90-degree angle. Overcome this by applying
it to curved surfaces. Also, remember that with reflective tape, lots of
little pieces are better than one big one. You can spread a one-foot square
over the entire bike, changing your effective signature from a few inches
to several feet.
With active lighting, especially L.E.D. lighting, it is critical that the
light is mounted at the optimum angle. Keep in mind that this angle can change
slightly with your weight added to the bike. Have someone ride the bike while
you observe, then adjust the mounting bracket until you find the best angle.
Remember that you will need to do this from a considerable distance. Fifteen
or twenty yards would provide less than a second of reaction time for even
a slowly moving car. You must allow enough time for the driver to detect
you, recognize you as a cyclist, then react. Move back at least as far as
a hundred yards.
Headlights require some adjustment, too. Higher angles are more visible,
but you can overdo it. Considering the strength of some headlight systems
out there, they can work against you. High-beam bicycle lights can be just
as annoying to drivers as high-beam headlights on a car, and a single beam
provides little reference for depth/speed perception. They can also "wash
out" other devices you are using. Remember that you use these lights to see
where you're going, so the angles change with your speed.
All of the previously mentioned methods are generally used at night. There
are considerations during the day, and bright colors are not always the best
choice. There are some surprising studies floating around concerning daytime
conspicuity. Most show that sharply contrasting colors are more conspicuous
that bright ones. I guess that's another article.
So, if you are prepared to give up your cool image for the sake of surviving
nighttime traffic, pay heed to these hints. If your friends won't ride with
you on your dorky bike, I will. Look for me at IPMBA conferences. I'm the
guy with the mirror…
Nick Gatlin can be reached at bikemedic1208@comcast.net.
This article originally appeared
in the Summer 2002 issue of IPMBA News. |
