On Being Visible

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I do wonder if it's better to be standing out brightly in broad daylight - it might lure the car in like a shiny Hunkerfish is irresistible to Bass I'm only half kidding here.

Worthy of thought and consideration.

Myself, I find I prefer being otherwise visible to the hundreds who otherwise might not see me as opposed to the few dozen who might manage to target fixate on me.

I'm not using visibility to attract Johny Hot-Rod as he slides around the turn mostly out of control. I'm using it to be seen on the otherwise empty looking road or lane. So Betty Boop doesn't make that left turn in front of me, or pulls out from the side.

In reply to foxtrapper:

I agree. Worrying about being an object of target-fixation reminds me of the arguement against seat-belts and comparitively few times they are more dangerous than not wearing them.

In reply to Ian F:

We practice for when something happens - and trust we are ready to react properly to entirely avoid or minimize the damage. When we can't - we have to accept some risk that our fate may be entirely out of our control or we wouldn't be sitting on that bike.

So, In reality, I don't worry about any of it. I ATGATT, I assume I'm invisible and I ride with the understanding that worrying about fringe issues is pointless. We discuss it here but I never think about this stuff normally. I just ride.

I hear ya... of course, I'm on a bicycle riding along the shoulder at ~20 mph... and "ATGATT" means I'm wearing my underwear with protective gear consisting of a cycling helmet and maybe gloves. I've adjusted my riding route over the years to avoid as much heavy traffic roads as possible, but in some cases it's unavoidable. I've ridden with heavy suburban traffic all my life - nothing really phases me anymore.

I've accepted that every time I go out, there is a chance I won't come home and my life will end on the grill of some SUV with a texting driver.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Agreed with not worrying and just riding. If you worry, you shouldn't be riding.

I still will probably always have white gloves......wash housing HID users deserve to see the finger.

yamaha wrote: wash housing HID users deserve to see the finger.

Translation please?

High Intensity Discharge (the bright blue lights) headlight conversions put into housings not designed for them, thus blinding all other oncoming motorists

That's what wash housing means? Light washes over everything? Got it.