Zombie Master wrote:Major Softie wrote:
As an instructor, senior instructor, chief instructor, and program manager for motorcycle rider training, I have been taught to observe and analyze rider behavior. I have seen numerous riders that have made large investments in high viz products for their bikes ride in a less defensive manner. They are counting on the observation skills of untrained, unconcerned, and inattentive car operators that are ubiquitous on North American roadways. The are deluded.
You know, about seven years ago I sold a really nice bicycle to a man who was a MSF instructor. I had just reentered the motorcycling world and assumed he could have some wisdom to impart on motorcycling safety. We never got that far in conversation. Fast forward a few months. I had just finished some work on Stan, the bike that is now R90S spec. I headed out for a test ride and had electrical problems. Very minor, but not important to the story. As I was stopped at the side of the road trying to find out why Stan had quit on me, up rode the MSF instructor on his R1100RT. We talked for a while. He told me he had recently been in an accident. At an intersection, he was hit by a car driven by a young woman and his bike's jug had contributed to the safety of his foot. I can't remember the details of the accident. He proudly showed me the new brightly colored helmet he had bought to contribute to his conspicuity. It was painted yellow, blue, and white mostly, with some other colors thrown in. The pattern is based on what tattoo people call "tribal". So, here was a very *well camouflaged helmet that the rider, an ex military man, considered safer than his old one.
What does this have to do with your argument that brightly colored clothing essentially makes people less safe riders? Nothing. It has to do with your reasoning that you are so gosh darn good at discerning what brightly colored gear does to riders mindsets because you have credentials.
The arguments made by you, ZM about brightly colored clothing do not make sense. Actually, they may make sense for a few riders but you do not qualify that at all and have written as if all people who ride in Hi-Viz clothing are automatically stricken with otherwise counterproductive riding habits. I ask you this question: If you were to wear an Olympia Hi-Viz suit on a given ride, would it change your mindset and riding habits? And if not, how can you say that most other riders who choose bright colors will end up in a quagmire of dangerous riding practices?
Chuey
*One of the main principles of camouflage is that no large bodies of the same color should be used. Breaking up the shapes of things with smaller pattern that don't show the larger, more identifiable form make it harder to see. It would be better to have a large presence of one color for conspicuity. The colors that have been shown to be best are Bright Yellow, White, and Fluorescent Pink. A helmet in one of those colors, without interruption by patterns of other colors will stand out more than if you break them up.
