I Hate High Vis, But Should I Wear It?

What are your thoughts on high-vis? 🦺

I really like these longer form, journalism type pieces. It’s not just some of the cuff random thoughts. It’s considered, researched, and well delivered.

The best advice I ever received: NEVER give someone in a car almost enough room to pass you. Almost everyone is willing to hurt you “accidentally”, but very very few will hurt you on purpose (as they will have to suffer the legal consequences).
Most accidents are indeed the second option discussed (saw the cyclist, but not patient enough to maneuver successfully)

You are missing a couple things:
1. The hierarchy of safety controls in order: elimination of the hazard (remove cars from cycling areas), substitution of the hazard with a lesser hazard (make cars smaller and with better bumpers), engineering controls (protected bicycle lanes), administrative controls (speed limits for example), and PPE.
2. PPE is the least effective of the controls, but like the good lady said, you should still use helmets and vests because safety is everyone’s responsibility including your own.

Reflectors on flat pedals now make a hell of a lot more sense with this information

I ride, (and drive) with the mentality that no one can see me.

Bike Lights #1 - makes you visible from a much farther distance. I like the idea of high vis/reflectivity on ankles (moving parts).

Great video. Today on my commute home, a driver stopped to tell me that my rear flashing seatpost light was mostly obscured by my rack bag. I thanked him and, I've figured out a better placement. Stay safe everyone!

I'd suggest using retro-reflective tape on the cranks if you regularly ride at night. Just on one side of each crank arm, it's always moving and flashing the light back at the driver

Prof Wood does highlight an important factor of conspicuity, that we only see things well in the center of our vision. This is why it's important to take the lane. Being out in in center of the driver's vision is much safer, and since they have to go around you anyway, it's no hardship.
I see a lot of cyclists hugging the edge of the road and trying to make themselves small in the gutter. This also encourages drivers to close pass so a double issue.

I wear hiviz regularly when I ride- not over the top, but bright jersey and tights with high viz accents. I was out on a route and had a utility worker in his van go out of his way to flag me down at a traffic light and THANK ME for wearing it. He said so many riders wear black or dark colors and for him they blend into the scenery, especially with the restricted vision and size of his vehicle. I popped right out, and it made his day just a bit less stressful.

Great video, nice to know the science backs up what I’ve been doing for years - fluorescent in the day, reflective at night and use road positioning to enhance conspicuousness. Yesterday I was out riding on a typical grey UK winters day and saw a rider up ahead coming towards me in bright orange. He was easy to spot a long way into the distance, but as we got closer to each other I became aware of a tiny flashing white light alongside him. It was only when we were virtually passing each other that I was able to see his companion who was dressed all in black.

Well done on this video, back to your roots, so to speak. This is essential to keep non-competitive, commuter style cyclists on board. The pressure is back on to get these videos stronger on YouTube since the loss of GCN+. More of this material please.

Infrastructure is key, PPE is always the last resort. Very interesting regarding reflective / hi-viz difference

In all my years of cycling, what I've noticed is that drivers being distracted was by far the #1 reason for collisions and near misses. I also drive the fwy's 55 miles one way every day and can tell you the number of drivers on their phones has grown exponentially over the years. The number of accidents I've witnessed is horrific. I do agree that fluorescent and reflective gear is very helpful. you also have to be very aware of traffic.

This was a really great video. I liked your attention to both sides and really poking at the underlying problem. As a big man myself, I would point at another problem in the cycling world. Most clothing produced for cyclists, including hi-vis, is made for someone of the more fit/thin persuasion, which puts those of us who love to bike but don't fit the "normal" in a tough spot for finding and employing all the tools at our disposal for our own safety.

Saw a retro-reflective jacket running down my street the other night, took a few seconds before I saw the rest of him and nearly didn't see his friend dressed in black if it weren't for his shoes. Great points and another great video.

The comment about the fact that thousands of drivers have passed me without hitting me, while 3 have in the last 20 years, really struck home. The 3 who hit me definitely "did not see me" (in their words), but more than likely, they weren't "looking for me" (expecting me). I do believe that wearing reflective elements on my feet would improve side and rear visibility, but oddly, all 3 of the drivers who hit me were approaching from head on, not from behind or from the side. Each turned either in front of me or into me from the side. I suspect these drivers were looking for approaching cars and not focused on potential cyclists.

When my eyes naturally moved from Si to the fellow in the orange hi-vis in the background at about 13:15, the point was made for me.

Thank you so much GCN for this video: Yes, it it not all up to us, car drivers can get distracted, but as cyclists we must do whatever we can to avoid being injured while riding. I will definitely remember these ideas when buying my next cycling clothing. Cheers!