[SDCBC] will THERE BE A GHOST bike?

[jwstump at cox.net]

WILL THERE BE A GHOST BIKE?

---- Jim Baross <JimBaross at cox.net> wrote: 

=============
A regrettable crash. My sympathy for his family and friends.

On the subject of reflectors versus a front light, I'm siding with 
Serge.  The front light is far more valuable than side reflectors in 
this and most other situations... primarily for the reasons Serge 
stated. Side facing and other reflectors are required for legal night 
riding though, and if you want to use more than required go for it, 
but don't skimp on the front lights!  And, legal headlights are to be 
visible from the sides as well.

Do you suppose those folks riding at night with no lights and wearing 
dark clothing are following to often stated safety, and faulty, 
advice to "ride as though you are invisible"?

Jim B

At 09:37 PM 9/20/2007, Serge Issakov wrote:
>Huh.  I always that side reflectors were useless.
>
>If the bicyclist is moving perpendicular to the motorist, consider how
>long he will be in the motorist's headlights.   Even only 10 mph is 14
>feet per second.  How wide is the span of a car's headlights even 2
>seconds in front of the car?  It seems to me that by the time the
>cyclist is in the "cone" of the headlights, it's too late for the
>motorist to notice and react.
>
>A nice bright headlight, on the other hand, should get the motorist's
>notice long before it's too late when he naturally looks in the
>direction traffic might be coming from.
>
>Serge
>
>
>
>On 9/20/07, Tom Lettington <tlettington at san.rr.com> wrote:
> > At 04:10 PM 9/20/2007, Serge Issakov wrote:
> > >On 9/20/07, Frank  Paiano <wondernerd at juno.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > A man riding a bicycle without a light ...
> >
> > A headlight and/or taillight would have probably done very little to
> > enhance the cyclist's visibility in this case.  What we need to learn
> > from this incident (assuming the reported circumstances are accurate)
> > is that side visibility is very important. I'm willing to bet the
> > cyclist had no reflectors on his wheels or, even better,  reflective
> > sidewalls on his tires and was not wearing any kind of reflective clothing.
> >
> >      - Tom
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>--
>NOTE: Any opinions expressed above are mine and not necessarily shared
>by any organization in which I am involved.
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