Hi Vis Clothing - do you use it?
Do you wear Hi Vis (High Visibility) clothing or adornments?
Personally I'm a big fan of High Visibility clothing when cycling and never go anywhere without a bright coloured top, usually with reflective panels or stripes.
If I’m riding somewhere and don’t wish to stand out when I get there, I’ll slip on my fluorescent Hi Vis wait coat – easily folds to nothing and sits inside my helmet when I arrive.
I just figure that the more visible I am, the more easily I can be seen and the safer I’ll be.
I always feel somewhat puzzled though when I see people that look like they are trying to make themselves invisible to drivers.
Case example being - when driving into the Central Market around sunset last night I saw a man with a black bike, black pants, grey top and black and grey backpack. Perfectly colour coordinated but at dusk, on a grey road he was almost impossible to see. No lights or fluorescent straps to help him be seen in the peak hour traffic.
At night I see some people riding with great headlights and flashing rear lights and feel quite envious of these safety features. I don’t ride at night because lights of this quality (while I’m sure they are good value for money) are not cheap and I wouldn’t feel safe enough with something more affordable.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Lynch on
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Certainly when I began riding I thought I was too cool for the dorky flouro jacket, but increasingly I am leaning towards being seen.
Given that, I only bring the jacket out during winter, and just rely on my lights the rest of the time.
During the day I think that visibility shouldn't be a problem!
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Permalink Reply by Sharpsa on -
I wear hi-vis jersey and a wind jacket that is painful to look at when I commute to work and back. I figure that I already look totally daft in my cycling gear, I might as well do what I can to stay safe by being more visible.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on -
I never leave the house without hi vis road positioning.
And i certainly don't expect motorists to have x ray vision.
Other than that i wear whatever i want.
If people can't see they should be more careful.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
Man, if I was driving/riding on that road I wouldn't know which way or where to look either, its a death trap. Parking bays for people turning right. Stop lines when exiting the intersection. No lines when entering the intersection. Difficult to see traffic lights only on the far side of the intersection. All the hi-viz in the world wouldn't help! Better to get off and push.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on
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I know, everyone drives on the wrong side of the road in North American diagram land.
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Permalink Reply by Dean Malden on
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Dean, suggest you add if vests are mesh or solid material. I made my own vest from basketball mesh, when I could not find mesh safety vests. Told that a work standard for solid colour / material, and mesh cycling vests no longer available.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Murray on -
Heather this is mesh from Cell.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Michael, cheaper than making your own. But then my vest is special with even more reflective strips than the one pictured above.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Merrett on -
Thanks Dean,
I wonder if AC could add a Hi Vis cycling vest - possibly with an AC logo - to compliment the other offerings for cycling attire?
For me, a small pocket with zip at the rear would be good - so that the whole light weight vest could fold into the pocket for easy storage. It's a shame that mesh is not available - breathes so much better..
What do others think??
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on
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