Help remembering, please - "width"

[Denver C. Fox]

Sometime back there was discussion regarding the perception
of automobile drivers of objects in the roadway, with some
research indicating that motorists subconsciouly are looking
for width as an identifier, meaning that bicycles, which are
narrow and tall are at a disadvantage, no matter how many
rear flashers or bright clothes worn.

Does anyone remember this? I have searched the archives
through the Google groups search engine, to no avail.
Don't even know the proper search terms - have tried
"width," "perception," etc., with no luck. I would like to
read the research.

Thanks

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rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox (Family Web Page)

 

[Doug]

I remember something along the lines of research that was
published that because drivers are not looking for "small"
objects like bikes, the bike becomes invisible. As I recall
it involved a study of basketball players and a gorilla. Is
this the one you are referring to?

Doug

"Denver C. Fox" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:20040620093357.19468.00000287@mb-
m17.aol.com...
> Sometime back there was discussion regarding the
> perception of automobile drivers of objects in the
> roadway, with some research indicating that
motorists
> subconsciouly are looking for width as an identifier,
> meaning that
bicycles,
> which are narrow and tall are at a disadvantage, no matter
> how many rear flashers or bright clothes worn.
>
> Does anyone remember this? I have searched the archives
> through the
Google
> groups search engine, to no avail. Don't even know the
> proper search
terms -
> have tried "width," "perception," etc., with no luck. I
> would like to
read the
> research.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns (Colorado
> rental condo)
>
> http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox (Family Web Page)
>

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[Doug]

Found it!

Article: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000A011D-C17F-
101E-B40D83414B7F0000&pageNumber=1

Discussion: http://tinyurl.com/2x8vu

"Denver C. Fox" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:20040620093357.19468.00000287@mb-
m17.aol.com...
> Sometime back there was discussion regarding the
> perception of automobile drivers of objects in the
> roadway, with some research indicating that
motorists
> subconsciouly are looking for width as an identifier,
> meaning that
bicycles,
> which are narrow and tall are at a disadvantage, no matter
> how many rear flashers or bright clothes worn.
>
> Does anyone remember this? I have searched the archives
> through the
Google
> groups search engine, to no avail. Don't even know the
> proper search
terms -
> have tried "width," "perception," etc., with no luck. I
> would like to
read the
> research.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns (Colorado
> rental condo)
>
> http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox (Family Web Page)
>

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-
virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.705 /
Virus Database: 461 - Release Date: 6/12/2004

 

[Jeremy Parker]

"Denver C. Fox" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Sometime back there was discussion regarding the
> perception of
automobile
> drivers of objects in the roadway,

Well, I don't have research of my own, but my theory is
that if you look like an object necessary to take
account of as part of the driving task, then you are
taken account of. It's best, therefore, to look like
an-object-possibly-in-the-driver's-way.

In the cited article, basketball passes were relevant,
gorillas were irrelevant. Thus the watchers noticed
basketballs, not gorillas, even though gorillas are a lot
wider than a basketball. If anything, the article proves
that width does not matter at all.

Folk wisdom among cyclists seems to agree with me. The usual
rules are that drivers will give you an amount of room equal
to the room that you give the curb, or else they say ride in
the left (in the USA) tire track of the general traffic.

Worst, I think, is to get yourself defined as an object that
can be ignored. That's why I hate bike lanes.

Jeremy Parker

 

[Denver C. Fox]

>Found it!
>
>Article:
>
>http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000A011D-C17F-
>101E-B40D83414B7
F0000&pageNumber=1
>
>Discussion: http://tinyurl.com/2x8vu
>

Thanks - that is the one!

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rental condo)

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