The dildo of consequences rarely arrives lubed.
I’m really not a fan of the cops arguing that the cyclist was partly to blame, though, and a €1000 fine is pretty damn low for breaking someone’s leg and wrecking a good six months of their life.
The dildo of consequences rarely arrives lubed.
I’m really not a fan of the cops arguing that the cyclist was partly to blame, though, and a €1000 fine is pretty damn low for breaking someone’s leg and wrecking a good six months of their life.
I’ve nearly been hit several times (like tires screaching to a halt) while wearing high-viz clothing with the right of way.
It makes no difference when the driver isn’t paying attention.
It makes a huge difference if you yourself are paying attention, which seems hard wearing headphones.
And honestly, you said it yourself. “Nearly” hit. Could’ve been worse if you weren’t wearing high-viz clothing.
I cycle daily and just notice how little people are aware of blind spots, cyclists and drivers alike. No harm in driving a little slower, even when you have right of way.
What about the driver? Did he listen to the radio? If it seems so hard to pay attention while wearing headphones, why is it still allowed to sell car radios?
How does wearing high-viz clothing help you when you are in a blind spot? And why does no one ask which colour the taxi was? Was it high-viz or maybe gray or black like most cars?
Drivers also aren’t allowed headphones where I’m from. If the cyclist had a boombox strapped to his bike, that would be comparable to a car radio, but headphones block your perception of external sound a lot more than music from a speaker
Where I’m from, drivers are sitting in sound proofed boxes called cars. The newer the car, the better the sound isolation. So unless the taxi was a convertible, the comparison is invalid.
When I’m wearing my headphones I can easily understand someone talking to me. When I’m sitting in my car I don’t hear a word when someone is talking outside the door.
That’s also a huge problem. Cars should not be so soundproof as to block out people shouting or bike bells.
I do agree that it’s better to be more visible, but that still shifts the responsibility away from the driver.
Wearing headphones is a pet peeve of mine, and I encounter pedestrians on trails all the time (multiple times per ride) who wear them. But it’s still my responsibility as a cyclist to pass with caution.
Nope. These were inattentive drivers who should have noticed me (as a pedestrian or cyclist) well before making their turns.
I wear high viz, ride with lights day and night, added additional reflectors, have tires with sidewall reflectors, and even have one bike that’s high viz yellow! But I do it mostly so I could never be blamed for being invisible, and I sure as hell know that someone looking down at their phone while driving will still miss me.