Be Seen on a Bike

Response to JohnB:

Quoted message said:

Anyone seen this?

http://www.beseenonabike.com/bsoab/

This seems to have some 'interesting' ideas for those who wish to dress
up like Christmas trees.
The helmet and bell angle is noteworthy too.

"Rule 46 says "you cycle MUST have front and rear lights lit. It MUST
also be fitted with a red rear reflector, amber pedal reflectors, white
front reflectors and spoke reflectors.""

No, it doesn't.

From their mission statement:

"...to be a leading source of cycle safety information"

"...to campaign for legislation for compulsory use of cycle helmets &
bells"

Hmmm....

--
Mark, UK

"The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one
of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions."

JohnB said:

Anyone seen this?

http://www.beseenonabike.com/bsoab/

This seems to have some 'interesting' ideas for those who wish to dress
up like Christmas trees.
The helmet and bell angle is noteworthy too.

"BeSeenOnABike support the introduction of legislation making wearing of
cycle helmets and bells compulsory."

So where are we supposed to wear our compulsory bells?

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon

JohnB <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Anyone seen this?

Quoted message said:

http://www.beseenonabike.com/bsoab/

Quoted message said:

This seems to have some 'interesting' ideas for those who wish to dress
up like Christmas trees.
The helmet and bell angle is noteworthy too.

Quoted message said:

JohnB

Do you know this Chris Street chap from the Hampshire Cycle Training Scheme?

He's done well to enlist Adam Hart-Davies as patron.

Shame his English is appalling and he can't spell 'phenomenon' and can't
distinguish 'science' from 'pseudoscience'...

My astronomer partner and cyclist in residence points out there are two
ways to tackle the issue of dazzle by security lights: one is to
campaign against dazzly lights, the other to escalate what I call the
'Glare Generation Game'.

Cyclists can never win this game as they will not have the power to put
out more lumens than a car and have a narrower profile. They are also
not seen as a 'threat' by drivers...

"Since 1999, Chris Street has been a Hampshire Cycle Training Scheme
Instructor. Each year at Burley School during Summer term he teaches 10
year old children the Stage 2 Cycle Training Scheme. Chris had a fall
off his bike in summer 2004. He was unconscious for 7 minutes and
remembered nothing for 3 days thereafter. Fortunately he was wearing a
bike helmet and escaped serious injury."

I think this means he had a serious head injury which was not prevented
by his h*lm*t, even if his scalp remained intact...

I'd like to know how and why he fell too...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

Helen Deborah Vecht said:

JohnB <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Anyone seen this?

Quoted message said:

http://www.beseenonabike.com/bsoab/

Quoted message said:

This seems to have some 'interesting' ideas for those who wish to dress
up like Christmas trees.
The helmet and bell angle is noteworthy too.

Quoted message said:

JohnB

Do you know this Chris Street chap from the Hampshire Cycle Training Scheme?

No I don't, but I'm contacting him as he has shown interest in the
national training through my own organisation: http://www.hampshirecycletraining.org.uk/
HCC has a lot of 'parent volunteer' instructors - the training
consisting mainly of two hours in a meeting room, learning how to fill
in forms.
To be fair it does look as if he is a regular cyclist and the more
national instructors, the better.

Quoted message said:

"Since 1999, Chris Street has been a Hampshire Cycle Training Scheme
Instructor. Each year at Burley School during Summer term he teaches 10
year old children the Stage 2 Cycle Training Scheme.

This surprised me.
Earlier this year I was enlisted by local parents in Burley to deliver
national cycle training to their children (due to no/limited/unsuitable
training being available) and have already run two courses in the
village.
I am also running further training there this week (I'll be staying at
Burley YH) as well as having been asked to run a course in nearby
Ringwood [1] by another parent.
[1] where Chris runs 'Be Seen on a Bike'.

Quoted message said:

Chris had a fall
off his bike in summer 2004. He was unconscious for 7 minutes and
remembered nothing for 3 days thereafter. Fortunately he was wearing a
bike helmet and escaped serious injury."

I think this means he had a serious head injury which was not prevented
by his h*lm*t, even if his scalp remained intact...

I'd like to know how and why he fell too...

Me too.

John B

JohnB <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Helen Deborah Vecht said:

JohnB <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Anyone seen this?

Quoted message said:

http://www.beseenonabike.com/bsoab/

Quoted message said:

This seems to have some 'interesting' ideas for those who wish to dress
up like Christmas trees.
The helmet and bell angle is noteworthy too.

Quoted message said:

JohnB

Do you know this Chris Street chap from the Hampshire Cycle Training
Scheme?

Quoted message said:

No I don't, but I'm contacting him as he has shown interest in the
national training through my own organisation:
http://www.hampshirecycletraining.org.uk/
HCC has a lot of 'parent volunteer' instructors - the training
consisting mainly of two hours in a meeting room, learning how to fill
in forms.
To be fair it does look as if he is a regular cyclist and the more
national instructors, the better.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Since 1999, Chris Street has been a Hampshire Cycle Training Scheme
Instructor. Each year at Burley School during Summer term he teaches 10
year old children the Stage 2 Cycle Training Scheme.

Quoted message said:

This surprised me.
Earlier this year I was enlisted by local parents in Burley to deliver
national cycle training to their children (due to no/limited/unsuitable
training being available) and have already run two courses in the
village.
I am also running further training there this week (I'll be staying at
Burley YH) as well as having been asked to run a course in nearby
Ringwood [1] by another parent.
[1] where Chris runs 'Be Seen on a Bike'.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Chris had a fall
off his bike in summer 2004. He was unconscious for 7 minutes and
remembered nothing for 3 days thereafter. Fortunately he was wearing a
bike helmet and escaped serious injury."

I think this means he had a serious head injury which was not prevented
by his h*lm*t, even if his scalp remained intact...

I'd like to know how and why he fell too...

Quoted message said:

Me too.

Quoted message said:

John B

I believe Bob Mizon, the astronomer who runs the Campaign for Dark Skies
lives in Ringwood. I might just send him an email...

Mischievous of Middlesex

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

Helen Deborah Vecht said:

I believe Bob Mizon, the astronomer who runs the Campaign for Dark Skies
lives in Ringwood. I might just send him an email...

Mischievous of Middlesex

:-) Like it.

John B

Response to Helen Deborah Vecht:

Quoted message said:

Do you know this Chris Street chap from the Hampshire Cycle Training Scheme?

There was/is a Chris Street who used to post in this parish; dunno if
it's the same one.

--
Mark, UK

"Our opinions do not really blossom into fruition until we have expressed
them to someone else."

Mark McNeill said:

"Rule 46 says "you cycle MUST have front and rear lights lit. It MUST also
be fitted with a red rear reflector, amber pedal reflectors, white front
reflectors and spoke reflectors.""

No, it doesn't.

Thanks for that.
I was surprised to read that on the site, and took it at face value.

As far as I was aware, bikes have to be sold with the above.
For instance, my bike came with wheel reflectors, which I left on the bike.
New set of wheels didn't have them, and I didn't transfer across.
But I do use reflective tape on the bike, lights and a reflective vest.

in message <[email hidden]>, Helen Deborah Vecht

(') said:

JohnB <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Helen Deborah Vecht said:

JohnB <[email hidden]>typed

> Anyone seen this?

> http://www.beseenonabike.com/bsoab/

> This seems to have some 'interesting' ideas for those who wish to
> dress up like Christmas trees.
> The helmet and bell angle is noteworthy too.

> JohnB

Do you know this Chris Street chap from the Hampshire Cycle Training
Scheme?

Quoted message said:

No I don't, but I'm contacting him as he has shown interest in the
national training through my own organisation:
http://www.hampshirecycletraining.org.uk/
HCC has a lot of 'parent volunteer' instructors - the training
consisting mainly of two hours in a meeting room, learning how to fill
in forms.
To be fair it does look as if he is a regular cyclist and the more
national instructors, the better.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Since 1999, Chris Street has been a Hampshire Cycle Training Scheme
Instructor. Each year at Burley School during Summer term he teaches
10 year old children the Stage 2 Cycle Training Scheme.

Quoted message said:

This surprised me.
Earlier this year I was enlisted by local parents in Burley to deliver
national cycle training to their children (due to
no/limited/unsuitable training being available) and have already run
two courses in the village.
I am also running further training there this week (I'll be staying at
Burley YH) as well as having been asked to run a course in nearby
Ringwood [1] by another parent.
[1] where Chris runs 'Be Seen on a Bike'.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Chris had a fall
off his bike in summer 2004. He was unconscious for 7 minutes and
remembered nothing for 3 days thereafter. Fortunately he was wearing
a bike helmet and escaped serious injury."

I think this means he had a serious head injury which was not
prevented by his h*lm*t, even if his scalp remained intact...

I'd like to know how and why he fell too...

Quoted message said:

Me too.

Quoted message said:

John B

I believe Bob Mizon, the astronomer who runs the Campaign for Dark
Skies lives in Ringwood. I might just send him an email...

Mischievous of Middlesex

That ain't mischievous, that is a - possibly the - serious point. In a
'brighter lights' arms race, cyclists are always going to lose. Rather
than campaigning to brighten the lights of cyclists we should be
campaigning to limit the light intensity of other light sources on the
roads at night. Glare - from many sources, but particularly from sources
allegedly provided to 'help' the road user - is getting to be a
significant factor in accidents, particularly on wet nights.

The other night the streetlamps in the village failed, and we commented
to one another as we cycled home in the dark on what an improvement it
was.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; I'll have a proper rant later, when I get the time.

It's a pity they've conflated the helmet and the visibility issue as
they are quite separate and contentious - I tend to disagree with the
helmet proponents and don't wear one but I do believe visibility is
important for safety and probably much more so than helmets, the
following I posted last year;

Much more important than bike helmet (if they have any value at all)
is bright colour, in my recent experience. I was pedalling along the
kendal by-pass on a hot sunny weekday and getting alarmed by speed and
closeness of passing traffic. Van mirror whisked pass v close to my
ear - just the right size and height to bat your head right off.
So I stopped and changed into bright yellow rain top instead of navy T
shirt.
The difference was immediate and obvious, it was as though everyone
was allowing an extra metre or more and felt much safer.
Drivers react automatically to bright yellow - it could be the cops,
or workman etc - familiar objects to avoid, but a dull looking cyclist
requires a moments thought, perhaps not a long enough moment,
especially for tired drivers on autopilot.
Rain top alone quite comfortable on hot day - open a bit at front and
vented at back gives pleasant circulation of air around sweaty body

cheers

Jacob

John Hearns said:

Mark McNeill said:

"Rule 46 says "you cycle MUST have front and rear lights lit. It MUST also
be fitted with a red rear reflector, amber pedal reflectors, white front
reflectors and spoke reflectors.""

No, it doesn't.

Indeed it does not. http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/03.htm#46

46: At night your cycle MUST have front and rear lights lit. It MUST
also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors,
if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke
reflectors will also help you to be seen.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for that.
I was surprised to read that on the site, and took it at face value.

As far as I was aware, bikes have to be sold with the above.
For instance, my bike came with wheel reflectors, which I left on the bike.
New set of wheels didn't have them, and I didn't transfer across.

Spoke reflectors are not required by any regulations and are of
dubious value in any case since they only reflect from the side.

--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Phil Cook said:

Spoke reflectors are not required by any regulations and are of
dubious value in any case since they only reflect from the side.

And worse still - they rattle :-(

John B

Simon Brooke <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I believe Bob Mizon, the astronomer who runs the Campaign for Dark
Skies lives in Ringwood. I might just send him an email...

Mischievous of Middlesex

I did send that email...

Quoted message said:

That ain't mischievous, that is a - possibly the - serious point. In a
'brighter lights' arms race, cyclists are always going to lose.

I coined the term 'Glare Generation Game' in the 1980s, reaching the
same conclusion!

Quoted message said:

Rather
than campaigning to brighten the lights of cyclists we should be
campaigning to limit the light intensity of other light sources on the
roads at night. Glare - from many sources, but particularly from sources
allegedly provided to 'help' the road user - is getting to be a
significant factor in accidents, particularly on wet nights.

Agreed. Methinks Chris Street is earnest but in need of much education.

Quoted message said:

The other night the streetlamps in the village failed, and we commented
to one another as we cycled home in the dark on what an improvement it
was.

Until a car comes along with chavved-up lights...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

JohnB said:

Anyone seen this?

http://www.beseenonabike.com/bsoab/

This seems to have some 'interesting' ideas for those who wish to dress
up like Christmas trees.

Some interesting pricing too.

£2.75 vests from hivis.net are being sold at £5.10: they've even
lifted hivis.net's jpegs.

http://www.hivis.net/
http://www.beseenonabike.com/shopuk/index.php?cPath=1_29

Simon Brooke said:

Rather
than campaigning to brighten the lights of cyclists we should be
campaigning to limit the light intensity of other light sources on the
roads at night.

Like they do (or more likely used to do) in China. All the buses ran with
only side lights on at night so the cyclists weren't dazzled.

Graeme

Simon Brooke wrote on Mon, 29 Aug 2005

Quoted message said:

That ain't mischievous, that is a - possibly the - serious point. In a
'brighter lights' arms race, cyclists are always going to lose. Rather
than campaigning to brighten the lights of cyclists we should be
campaigning to limit the light intensity of other light sources on the
roads at night.

Once upon a time:

"By 3 Geo.4, c.126, s.121, ...

Or if any blacksmith, or other person occupying a blacksmith's shop
situate near any turnpike road, and having a window or windows fronting
the said road, shall not, by good and close shutters, every evening
after it becomes twilight, bar and prevent the light from such shop
shining into or upon the said road; ...

shall, for each and every such offence, forfeit and pay any sum not
exceeding 40s, over and above the damages occasioned thereby."

- Burn's Justice of The Peace and Parish Officer, 30th edition, 1869
--
Iain Archer To email, please use Reply-To address

John Hearns said:

On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 20:40:46 +0100, Mark McNeill wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Rule 46 says "you cycle MUST have front and rear lights lit. It
MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector, amber pedal
reflectors, white front reflectors and spoke reflectors.""

No, it doesn't.

Thanks for that.
I was surprised to read that on the site, and took it at face
value.

The Be-Seen-on-a-Bike "quote" is actually a thoroughly dishonest
editing of the rule. People who resort to that kind of shabby tactic
lose all credibility as far as I'm concerned.

--
Dave...

Response to dkahn400:

Quoted message said:

The Be-Seen-on-a-Bike "quote" is actually a thoroughly dishonest
editing of the rule. People who resort to that kind of shabby tactic
lose all credibility as far as I'm concerned.

Ar. Difficult to see how it could be an honest mistake.

There's a forum on the site, but it's moribund: the
most recent post is from May.

--
Mark, UK

"Common sense, to most people, is nothing more than their own opinions."

Mark McNeill said:

There's a forum on the site, but it's moribund: the
most recent post is from May.

Probably best not to risk bringing it back to life by posting to it.

--
Dave...