[sustran] Re: Give cyclist a safety wing

[Sudhir]

Hi all,

On similar lines... many traffic police across India suggests people to wear
light colored cloths during night while walking for safety reasons... I
would argue that its shameful on our part to expect people to wear special
uniforms while walking so that they are visible to drivers...

http://www.punepolice.com/TRAFFIC.html#some  - see advice to Pedestrians...

Hi Rutul - See
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/world_report/visibility_en.pdf

*Colourful clothing, accessories and vehicle parts can make pedestrians,
riders and non-motorized vehicles more visible to all road users. Brightly
coloured clothing or accessories may be suitable alternatives to the
reflective vests that are used in high-income countries. The use of bright
colours for wheels and rear ends of non-motorized vehicles (e.g. rickshaws)
may also have the potential to increase visibility. However, the actual
effectiveness of such measures has yet to be determined.*

regards
Sudhir


On 25 August 2010 20:22, Rutul Joshi <joshirutul at yahoo.co.in> wrote:

> Hi Carlos,
>
> Yes, I agree with you take on it. The WW2 comparison is not relevant. It
> was a
> bit impulsive.
>
> However, are there any studies which say that wearing reflective
> bands/high-visibility clothing increases the road safety for the cyclists?
>
> Rutul
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Carlosfelipe Pardo <carlosfpardo at gmail.com>
> Cc: Sustran-discuss List <Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
> Sent: Wed, 25 August, 2010 12:00:00 PM
> Subject: [sustran] Re: Give cyclist a safety wing
>
>  Hi,
>
> I also used that outfit when I cycled in London, and actually continue
> to use it here in Bogotá though nobody wears anything similar (they all
> have reflective bands). I used it then and use it now (especially the
> jacket) because of rain issues, not so much with the visibility
> argument. I think it's more like a small fashion statement in London,
> sort of like "I am riding a bike"...I know, they also have a bike
> between their legs which makes it kind of obvious for everyone to see
> what they're doing... I'm not sure if we can compare this with WW2! But
> anyway, it's a useful discussion.
>
> Carlos.
>
> On 23/08/2010 12:00 p.m., Rutul Joshi wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > This is interesting. But I have a slightly different take on this. I am
> > not critiquing Chu Wa's design but making a general comment on the state
> of
> > affairs in our cities.
> >
> > I am a new cyclist in Bristol (which UK's 'first cycling city' - I don't
> know
> > what it means). Imitating the people around me, I have also started
> wearing
> > high-visibility clothing/bands (and a helmet) - which I am told is for my
> own
> > safety. I have always wondered as a cyclist that why do I need to wear
> things
> > and shout that "I am here, please see me". What have I done wrong? I
> might be
> >an
> > outsider to the culture here but I am not comfortable with this whole
> idea of
> > high-visible clothing/bands. Of course, they are no legal requirements to
> wear
> > them. When I see lot of cyclists (including me) wearing them, I end
> > up associating it with the identification marks that Jews were supposed
> to
> wear
> > in the Nazi occupied countries during the second world war. I might be
> wrong
> in
> > this association completely but the sad truth remains - it is the
> cyclists who
> > end up wearing things in name of safety!
> >
> > Rutul
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: CarlosfelipePardo<carlosfpardo at gmail.com>
> > Cc: Sustran-discuss List<Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
> > Sent: Mon, 23 August, 2010 6:45:23 AM
> > Subject: [sustran] Re: Give cyclist a safety wing
> >
> >    Hi,
> >
> > This is very interesting! I am also wondering how much the "minimum"
> > drag actually is, which I guess you'll know from your tests. But also, I
> > think cyclists don't really need to clean the air as they anyway "do so"
> > by riding the bicycle already... what I mean is that I think the concept
> > of the wing should be symbolic (i.e. it doesn't really need to have
> > filters etc but just remind people that bicycles don't have exhausts or
> > emissions when riding). I say it because in your slides you seem to
> > point towards car users being angry at cyclists for not paying road tax
> > (which they do in virtually all countries anyway, despite the blatant
> > ignorance of motorists), so possibly reminding them of the benefits that
> > each cyclists gives to a city in terms of emissions not generated is
> > most significant and should be applauded.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Carlos.
> >
> > On 21/08/2010 05:47 p.m., chuwa wrote:
> >> Hi Ian,
> >>
> >> Thanks for being the first to response. Your question give me the
> opportunity
> >> to
> >> elaborate on the idea:
> >>
> >> How much drag is there on the cyclist?
> >> - The air drag of the wing for slower cyclist is minimum. The wing is
> not
> >> suitable for fast roadies. It is intended to make "Potential" cyclists
> to be
> >> more comfortable on the road, knowing that they are now more visible to
> other
> >> car drivers.
> >>
> >> There is less space for others and overtaking by other cyclists becomes
> >> more hazardous?
> >> - The size of the wing as presented can be adjusted to make it less
> obtrusive.
> >> The structure of the wing is soft and flexible. When it is in contact
> with a
> > by
> >> passing cyclist or car, it should just give way a glides smoothly.
> >>
> >> Road tax when it exists can never pay for the cost of roads
> (construction
> >> and maintenance ) but it is a deep believe for many drivers.
> >> The intention of the air-filter is to bring the issue of
> >> car-induced-air-pollution up for public discussion - hopefully it bring
> out
> >> other car-induced-social burden along the way.
> >>
> >> I will be testing out prototypes soon. If interested I will share the
> finding
> >> here.
> >>
> >> Best regards,
> >>
> >> Chuwa
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: Ian Perry<ianenvironmental at googlemail.com>
> >> Cc: Sustran-discuss List<Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
> >> Sent: Sat, August 21, 2010 9:12:24 PM
> >> Subject: [sustran] Re: Give cyclist a safety wing
> >>
> >> Hi ChuWa,
> >>
> >> This is an interesting idea.  Has this been tested in windy conditions
> and
> >> how much drag is there on the cyclist?  I'd be worried about being blown
> >> backwards in strong winds.  In the event of a strong gust of crosswind,
> what
> >> happens to the cyclist, and any other cyclist alongside them?  Does the
> >> "Cyclist Wing" make it more difficult for other cyclists to use the road
> -
> >> as there is less space for others and overtaking by other cyclists
> becomes
> >> more hazardous?
> >>
> >> There are similar products already such as "safety" flags:
> >> http://americansafetyflag.com/products-page/?category=20&product_id=36
> >>
> >>
> >> Cyclists on the street space that motorists believe is theirs do need to
> >> take ownership of a larger area than many do to be safe.  I think it is
> >> possible that people who are afraid to use a bicycle on the road would
> feel
> >> more comfortable on a larger cargo tricycle.
> >>
> >> n the UK, most motorists believe that they have a right to use the road
> >> because the have paid "Road Tax".  I have had a car for 20 years, but I
> have
> >> never paid "Road Tax".  I'm not illegal, Winston Churchill abolished
> "Road
> >> Tax" in the UK in 1937 - because the tax was not making enough to cover
> the
> >> cost of roads.  It might be worth checking if "Road Tax" really exists
> in
> >> your country.  In the UK we have Vehicle Excise Duty, not Road Tax.
> >> <http://americansafetyflag.com/products-page/?category=20&product_id=36
> >
> >>
> >> As for the air filter - does a cyclist really want to collect and take
> home
> >> the pollution of others?
> >>
> >> Ian
> >>
> >>
> >> On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 6:21 PM, chuwa<chuwasg at yahoo.com>   wrote:
> >>
> >>> As an entry for the Seoul Cycle Design competition. The Cyclist Cyclist
> >>> Wing is
> >>> short-listed for the 2nd round.
> >>>
> >>> Summary of the concept:
> >>> Cyclist safety is one of the main concern that stop potential cyclist
> to
> >>> choose
> >>> bicycle as a mode of transportation.
> >>> Many drivers, and some cyclist, believe that cyclist enjoy the road at
> the
> >>> expenses of road tax paying car-owners.
> >>> Low visibility is associated with poor safety of cyclist.  Since
> cyclist is
> >>> relatively small, slow and near invisible to the drivers.
> >>> The “Cyclist Wing” enhance cyclist visibility and safety on the road.
> From
> >>> the
> >>> driver’s perspective, the “Wing” makes cyclist becomes 300% more
> visible,
> >>> and
> >>> therefore easier to avoid.
> >>> “Safety by number” is an important factor supported by a large body of
> >>> research
> >>> finding. In short, More cyclist = more safety for cyclist .
> >>> The “Wing” makes the visual population of cyclist in any city increased
> to
> >>> 300%
> >>> with the same number of cyclists, causing driver to drive more
> carefully.
> >>> The Cyclist wing is with a built-in air filter. With the air-cleaning
> >>> function
> >>> of the “Wing”, cyclists make a tangible contribution to the
> environment, at
> >>> the
> >>> same time return the right-of-way to cyclist.
> >>> it is also a subtle reminder of the harmful pollution from cars.
> >>> Do you think the “Cyclist Wing” can help to tilt the favor towards
> cyclists
> >>> and
> >>> turn more potential cyclist into real cyclist.
> >>> ChuWa
> >>> An urban cyclist.
> >>> --------------------------------------------------------
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-- 
Sudhir Gota
Transport Specialist
CAI-Asia Center
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