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Your shadow points at danger...

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Your shadow points at danger...

Old 09-22-22, 10:53 AM
  #1  
flangehead
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Your shadow points at danger...

I'm a little late with this, but today is the equinox and for those of us where most roads were laid out E/W/N/S we've got the sun lined up directly along the road at dawn and dusk.

At low light angles, anything your shadow is pointing at can't see you.

Be careful out there!

Last edited by flangehead; 09-22-22 at 10:54 AM. Reason: grammar
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Old 09-22-22, 11:11 AM
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Bald Paul
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Good advice. I have always tried to avoid riding when the sun is low on the horizon. I know how difficult it can be to see what's ahead of you while driving. Even flashing tail lights are sometimes difficult to pick out.
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Old 09-22-22, 12:48 PM
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That's why I ride at night wearing all black clothes riding an all black bike with no lights. If they can't see you, they can't hit you!
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Old 09-23-22, 04:30 AM
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Originally Posted by flangehead

At low light angles, anything your shadow is pointing at can't see you.
Incorrect.
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Old 09-23-22, 07:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
Incorrect.
They are blinded by the sun behind the shadow, so they don't see you. Why do you say it's incorrect ?
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Old 09-23-22, 07:31 AM
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This is how I take my prey, coming out of the sun like the Red Baron
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Old 09-23-22, 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
Incorrect.
Elaborate.
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Old 09-23-22, 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by holytrousers
They are blinded by the sun behind the shadow, so they don't see you. Why do you say it's incorrect ?
Because it is incorrect. If they are blinded by the sun, why aren't there multiple crashes on every road that faces a sunrise or sunset. Motorists wouldn't be able to see any other road users or any traffic signs if they were blinded by the sun, right?
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Old 09-23-22, 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
Incorrect.
Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
Because it is incorrect. If they are blinded by the sun, why aren't there multiple crashes on every road that faces a sunrise or sunset. Motorists wouldn't be able to see any other road users or any traffic signs if they were blinded by the sun, right?
Sigh. The world isn’t binary, and bicycles are usually smaller than automobiles. But even drivers need to be careful.

People *MAY* have trouble seeing. Be careful out there.

Originally Posted by mr_bill
Speaking of bad driving, this was yesterday in the Minuteman National Park. Since so many of us ride these roads with low sun, just a reminder.

With the gap in oncoming traffic, and the long shadows pointing RIGHT at the driver in the truck, I knew he may not see me. (I had my lights on too!) Oh, my lane position? The lane.

It's gonna be a bright bright Sun-shiney day!

-mr. bill
Originally Posted by mr_bill
Since in North America this is the time of year where sun is most troublesome for people on bikes, I want to expand a bit.

Going into the direction of the sun is only ONE of the problems, where not only are YOU having trouble seeing, but people behind you are also having trouble seeing.

But anytime *you* have a long shadow, your long shadow POINTS to people who may not see you.

So if your long shadow is pointing to 12 o'clock, oncoming people may not see you. Left crosses and pull outs are more likely with your back to the sun.

Similarly, if you are crossing an intersection and your long shadow points at either 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock, people in that direction may not see you.

AND, if you can see long shadows pointing AT you, even if you can't see the sun be aware that you may not see something in that long shadow.

-mr. bill



-mr. bill
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Old 10-01-22, 03:08 PM
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A good and timely reminder------ But

Not only at the equinox, since not all roads are oriented to the compass. ANYTIME the sun is low, visibility is problematic it it's direction. Though I'm generally less concerned about oncoming traffic, except where it might turn left, I'm extremely cautions when I'm facing the sun. My rule is simple, if I'm "sun-blinded" so is everyone behind me.

Note: shadow is less helpful here, even very long shadows with low sun because the shadow that would be most informative is out of sight directly behind me.
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Old 10-03-22, 02:00 PM
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It felt a bit scary as the big shadow was about to engulf my shadow. But not to worry. He followed at a safe distance and once the next lane was clear he safely passed.
Attached Images
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Low Sun Front Cam.jpg (90.8 KB, 36 views)
File Type: jpg
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Old 10-03-22, 02:10 PM
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You're like the groundhog, except that in your case seeing your shadow is a good thing. It means the sun is behind you, and also behind everyone behind you. Of course, there are no guaranties, but this driver would not be able to blame the sun if he hit you.
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Old 10-03-22, 02:46 PM
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Personally, I always have the attitude that others, especially drivers of vehicles, have issues with their vision, whatever the reason, which affects their ability to see me. I mostly wear bright colored clothing and use lights when riding a bike. I do not assume, or trust, that others are going to see me, regardless of the circumstances and environment. There are no guarantees, but caution and self preservation are of utmost importance. That includes making one's presence known to others, and awareness of what is going on nearby.
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Old 10-03-22, 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by delbiker1
Personally, I always have the attitude that others, especially drivers of vehicles, have issues with their vision, whatever the reason, which affects their ability to see me. I mostly wear bright colored clothing and use lights when riding a bike. I do not assume, or trust, that others are going to see me, regardless of the circumstances and environment. There are no guarantees, but caution and self preservation are of utmost importance. That includes making one's presence known to others, and awareness of what is going on nearby.
Always good practice. I add that other than drivers passing from behind, which I have to trust to a degree since I can't do anything about them, I assume that drivers are "trying to hit me" (I know they're not) and ride in a way that they couldn't hit me even if they tried. This applies most to drivers making left turns who rarely calculate my approach speed accurately .

OTOH - when you're riding directly into a low sun, you're just about invisible even if you have Las Vegas style lighting.
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Old 10-03-22, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
You're like the groundhog, except that in your case seeing your shadow is a good thing. It means the sun is behind you, and also behind everyone behind you. Of course, there are no guaranties, but this driver would not be able to blame the sun if he hit you.
His problem is that the sun would in his blind spot hindering his lane change. But I'm sure other drivers in that lane would be aware of his position and try to accomodate.
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