Comments on: Commuting 101: Make Eye Contact

By: Abby in Northern Virginia

Abby in Northern Virginia — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:44:07 +0000

Eye contact is important, I agree. However, there are plenty of drivers in this area who buy car window tint which makes it impossible to make eye contact. My husband bikes to work, and has come home with stories about tinted cars that almost crushed him. Is this something other bicyclists are experiencing around the country?

Speaking of getting drivers’ attention, both of us got hit yesterday by a car (husband running, me on my bike) who ran a stop sign. Luckily we walked away with only some bruises (physically, emotionally), but MAN, that was beyond scary. I still don’t understand how he didn’t see us, since I started screaming at the top of my lungs when I realized the car wasn’t stopping.

By: Paul in Minneapolis

Paul in Minneapolis — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:05:11 +0000

Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon I was riding my bike to the store. The sun was still shinning as I entered an intersection on the green light (yes I waited). I was half way across the intersection when a 1 ton extended-cab pickup ran the red and showed no signs of slowing. It happened kind of fast, I was about to be run over by a LARGE pickup doning 40+ mph. No eye contact, just me screaming at the %#$#ing idiot. He did stop, and hard, about 5 feet from me.
What is funny, it didn’t faze me, just another stupid motorist. I don’t know if me looking at him screaming helped, but it caught the attention of others as they started blowing there horns, too. Maybe my awarness saved me…. I have seen TOO MANY people mowed down, none of them ever screamed, they never know it…

I can’t wiat for oil shortages to come, just a year or two to go…

By: mule1

mule1 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:02:53 +0000

The more you stick out the better. I’ve taken to wearing a reflective yellow construction vest on my commute.

By: Jen (SLC)

Jen (SLC) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:58:25 +0000

I have a set of Reelights on my bike that are on all the time and run off of the turning of my wheel. I don’t know how much it helps, but it can’t hurt. It’s a nice option if you would forget to turn on a headlight for daytime rides.

By: Michael Heggen

Michael Heggen — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:22:45 +0000

Speaking of daytime running lights, I highly recommend DiNotte’s amber daytime running light. This is a small lightweight light with multiple flash modes that is visible for more than 1/2 mile in full sunlight. There are two models: a 4AA model and a model that uses DiNotte’s Li-ion battery packs.

The light isn’t cheap, but I use mine at all times. There is nothing else like it on the market. I constantly get positive comments from drivers and cyclists on this light.

http://www.dinottelighting.com

The same company also makes the world’s best bike taillight (same technology, also daylight visible for over 1/2 mile). I recommend that one, too! And DiNotte’s customer service is superb, by the way….

(Disclaimer: No affiliation with DiNotte; just a rabidly happy customer!)

By: Maureen

Maureen — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:06:15 +0000

I have a headlight on my bike that can be steady on, or blinking. I generally ride with it blinking (tail light as well), anytime I’m on the bike. Like tadster said, just yield right of way. It’s not worth dying for. I’ve seen too many car wrecks where it looked like the drivers got into a dogfight over right-of-way. When you’re on a bike is no time to take on a car.

By: tadster

tadster — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:37:13 +0000

jiehrlich, those are my thoughts exactly.

By: Ringer

Ringer — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:24:27 +0000

Good point, jiehrlich. I might start doing the same…

By: jiehrlich

jiehrlich — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:38:44 +0000

I ride during the day with my headlight blinking. It seems like a no-brainer to me that if cars today have daytime running lamps for safety, bikes should do the same or more.

By: danielo

danielo — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:09:13 +0000

I can only reiterate what several now have said. If you trust that eye contact will help you, you’re dead. If you assume that you are invisible, you will live.