Why I'm lit up like a Christmas tree (and also use cameras)
06-01-18, 04:27 PM
#1
Poseur Extraordinaire
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 341
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Why I'm lit up like a Christmas tree (and also use cameras)
Came upon this last night (screen capture from front camera):
Motorist presumably drifted right, plowed into the guard rail (which ate their tire/strut/spring/more), and the momentum spun the rear end of the car across the road. No cop or other help yet on scene, so it happened not long before I got there.
Questions: Did that vehicle pass me shortly before? And did they give me ample room? Yes and yes. A few minutes prior (screen capture from rear camera):
Reminds me why I use two rear lights (one blinking, one solid) in addition to the cameras. The lights will hopefully help me avoid getting hit. The camera will provide "proof" if I ever do.
Btw, I use two front lights (again one blinking, one solid) as well
Motorist presumably drifted right, plowed into the guard rail (which ate their tire/strut/spring/more), and the momentum spun the rear end of the car across the road. No cop or other help yet on scene, so it happened not long before I got there.
Questions: Did that vehicle pass me shortly before? And did they give me ample room? Yes and yes. A few minutes prior (screen capture from rear camera):
Reminds me why I use two rear lights (one blinking, one solid) in addition to the cameras. The lights will hopefully help me avoid getting hit. The camera will provide "proof" if I ever do.
Btw, I use two front lights (again one blinking, one solid) as well
Last edited by JohnnyCyclist; 06-01-18 at 04:35 PM.
06-01-18, 07:10 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,202
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2010 Post(s)
Liked 408 Times
in
234 Posts
Close call...but not close. Driver distracted, perhaps.
I am like you--two front lights, one of which is on blinking, usually two or more rear lights, one of which is blinking, front camera and rear camera.
I am like you--two front lights, one of which is on blinking, usually two or more rear lights, one of which is blinking, front camera and rear camera.
06-01-18, 09:12 PM
#3
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
Interesting. I once watched a car stopped in the opposite lane to make a left get rear ended at 50 mph. Got spun around into the oncoming lane and hit again by a truck. I was about 15-20 feet away. No video though, I don't do 'em.
06-02-18, 04:11 AM
#4
Senior Member
It works until it doesn’t.
Like you, I ride with two very bright red lights in the rear, a very tight flashing white light in the front, hi-viz Jersey, shoes, socks, rear radar, mirror, etc. I was hit by a driver on May 15 , who “never saw me”. This after having two opportunities to do so. He should have seen my white flashings light as he approached the intersection and then he should have seen the flashing reds after he made his turn and came up behind me.
I have the freedom to choose to not ride solo on the road anymore. I sympathize with those who don’t have that option.
Like you, I ride with two very bright red lights in the rear, a very tight flashing white light in the front, hi-viz Jersey, shoes, socks, rear radar, mirror, etc. I was hit by a driver on May 15 , who “never saw me”. This after having two opportunities to do so. He should have seen my white flashings light as he approached the intersection and then he should have seen the flashing reds after he made his turn and came up behind me.
I have the freedom to choose to not ride solo on the road anymore. I sympathize with those who don’t have that option.
06-04-18, 12:01 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,992
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2494 Post(s)
Liked 738 Times
in
522 Posts
??? Is there a bicycle in either picture?! Whatever justification there might be for using two flashers (and does it need saying that that hardly comes close to being a "Christmas Tree" ...) or a camera that some shot of a mangled motorcycle or whatever that thing is should not empower any bicyclist one way or another. Why does it matter? Because my wife reads this #$%#%. We go out on the tandem and have a nice meal and we come out and its dark and she is like "do you have a flasher???" Me: "No." Her:"then how are we going to get home?!" Me: "we'll be fine" Her: "<mutter, mutter>" stink eye all the way home, and of course no you know what. You guys are killing my love life. Stop it. Just cut it out. Please, and thank you.
06-04-18, 01:10 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
wow, pretty amazing share. glad you survived what could be considered a near death experience
my car was once struck by a truck's front strut (sans wheel) as seen in the photo, while driving to work. those things do a lot of damage
my car was once struck by a truck's front strut (sans wheel) as seen in the photo, while driving to work. those things do a lot of damage
06-04-18, 05:42 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,977
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1638 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
495 Posts
I was at my Dad's bedside when he passed away. Can I consider that a near death experience?
__________________
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
06-05-18, 07:30 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Hotel CA / DFW
Posts: 1,732
Bikes: 83 Colnago Super, 87 50th Daccordi, 79 & 87 Guerciotti's, 90s DB/GT Mtn Bikes, 90s Colnago Master and Titanio, 96 Serotta Colorado TG, 95/05 Colnago C40/C50, 06 DbyLS TI, 08 Lemond Filmore FG SS, 12 Cervelo R3, 20/15 Surly Stragler & Steamroller
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 601 Post(s)
Liked 779 Times
in
497 Posts
Came upon this last night (screen capture from front camera):
Motorist presumably drifted right, plowed into the guard rail (which ate their tire/strut/spring/more), and the momentum spun the rear end of the car across the road. No cop or other help yet on scene, so it happened not long before I got there.
Questions: Did that vehicle pass me shortly before? And did they give me ample room? Yes and yes. A few minutes prior (screen capture from rear camera):
Reminds me why I use two rear lights (one blinking, one solid) in addition to the cameras. The lights will hopefully help me avoid getting hit. The camera will provide "proof" if I ever do.
Btw, I use two front lights (again one blinking, one solid) as well
Motorist presumably drifted right, plowed into the guard rail (which ate their tire/strut/spring/more), and the momentum spun the rear end of the car across the road. No cop or other help yet on scene, so it happened not long before I got there.
Questions: Did that vehicle pass me shortly before? And did they give me ample room? Yes and yes. A few minutes prior (screen capture from rear camera):
Reminds me why I use two rear lights (one blinking, one solid) in addition to the cameras. The lights will hopefully help me avoid getting hit. The camera will provide "proof" if I ever do.
Btw, I use two front lights (again one blinking, one solid) as well
06-05-18, 07:57 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
sorry for your loss, that must have been difficult. here's wishing you nothing but the best memories. & yes that certainly is a near death experience but in a different way for sure
06-07-18, 10:08 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Long Beach, Ca.
Posts: 591
Bikes: Raleigh Sojourn, '67 Raleigh Super Course, old Gary Fisher Mamba, and a generic Chinese folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The driver swerved off the road, so obviously wasn't looking (probably checking their phone or something). All the lights in the world wouldn't have helped if you were between the car and the guardrail. The driver has to actually be looking for them to work. The cameras may have helped in the following lawsuit, however.
06-07-18, 10:54 PM
#12
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
Maybe the driver was disoriented from the strobe lights and lost control.
06-08-18, 10:48 AM
#13
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
The driver swerved off the road, so obviously wasn't looking (probably checking their phone or something). All the lights in the world wouldn't have helped if you were between the car and the guardrail. The driver has to actually be looking for them to work. The cameras may have helped in the following lawsuit, however.
I suppose that if the OP was near the guard rail the motorist would have seen him and avoided both. Even texting motorists have to look up every few seconds. Why not give 'em something to see?
06-09-18, 06:16 PM
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That is kind of scary really, I do not know if there is a way to enhance the photo to see if the driver was on his cell phone, or nodding off while driving, maybe he was getting sleepy and his phone rang then he crashed, because the railing just came out of no where. I can recall drivers not seeing me, even with a reflective vest and lights on, and I know of a cyclist who was killed from behind, while he had a rear light on.
06-10-18, 10:49 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,617
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1068 Post(s)
Liked 781 Times
in
503 Posts
OP, keep the cameras rolling and lights on.
June 16, 2007, BTW---the same daily calendar month configuration as this month and our wedding day in 1973, we were stopped at traffic light. Driver of car that hit us said he bent down to pick-up cigarette and DID NOT APPLY BRAKES. Since no brakes were applied, front of the car went over our bumper and into our trunk and we proceeded down the road for 200 feet joined together. Speed limit is 55mph and in the fast lane most everyone is 55+.
Last week we were returning to our cruise ship from a shore excursion to Emerald Lake, Yukon, Canada
on the Klondike Highway when the driver dozed off. A front seat passenger grabbed the wheel as the bus drifted right and slightly down. Corrected left crossing over center then right with a final left to get bus straight.
Last week we were returning to our cruise ship from a shore excursion to Emerald Lake, Yukon, Canada
