[SDCBC] Nader Holes & St. Christopher

[John Forester]

Stump's argument fails because he fails to recognize the difference 
between lights, which produce light, and retro-reflectors, which can 
reflect only the light that already falls on them, and reflect it 
back to the near the source.


At 09:48 PM 9/20/2007, J. W. Stump wrote:
>Dear Serge,
>
>You sound like the Detroit automakers' criticism of Ralph Naders 
>side lights on automobiles in the 60's.  We called the side lights 
>Nader holes in the quarter panels.
>
>When you are talking about your life,  I endorse spending  $10 
>bucks.  Maybe your reflectors will be lit by a car waiting at the 
>limit line and the car that sees you will be oncoming next to it.
>
>There is nothing wrong with placing a St. Christopher medal in your 
>grips.  Prayer can bring blessings.
>
>All the best
>John Stump
>4133 Poplar
>City Heights, California 92105
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:serge at issakov.org>Serge Issakov
>To: <mailto:tlettington at san.rr.com>Tom Lettington
>Cc: <mailto:sdcbc at bikesandiego.org>sdcbc at bikesandiego.org
>Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:37 PM
>Subject: Re: [SDCBC] Bicyclist Dies After Being Hit By Mercedes
>
>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 
><<mailto:tlettington at san.rr.com>tlettington at san.rr.com> wrote:
> > At 04:10 PM 9/20/2007, Serge Issakov wrote:
> > >On 9/20/07, Frank  Paiano 
> <<mailto:wondernerd at juno.com>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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John Forester, MS, PE
Bicycle Transportation Engineer
7585 Church St.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945-2306
619-644-5481 www.johnforester.com
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