@ascentale @cpm @bikenite as for bright winter garments not existing, the link I sent to my mom for a great Xmas gift to me was https://hivissafety.com/products/hi-vis-plaid-quilted-flannel-shirt-jacket-with-reflective-striping?variant=40319764332625

How to change the framing and conversation? I think we need to talk more about drivers and killers.

That is to say the people who can handle multiton death machines and treat it with respect vs. the people who watch TV or whatever instead of controlling the tons of catastrophe they are behind the wheel of.

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7: personally I am not much for reflective garments. I have a brightly coloured helmet since those are mandatory here.

I use lights all the time, at night I'll generally add a flashing front light to the constant one, and try to have a flashing rear as well as the constant rear one. My bikes also have reflective table wherever I can fit some on.

But mostly I avoid roads that look dangerous if I possibly can. I'd rather ride the extra 10% on safer streets.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7: I like to point out the number of motorists who drive into rubbish trucks every year. The stats can be mildly annoying to find, but in Australia someone dies most years as a result of such a collision.

Yeah, sure, I'll make myself more visible than a great big truck covered in reflective tape with a flashing orange light on it 🙄

#BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite a7 #bikeNite don't change the conversation incrementally, point out the big things:

* the stroad existing is a safety issue for everyone.

* a road is not good cycling infrastructure. At least a federated bike path is needed, if not a completely different route

* use the fact that two cyclists were killed as evidence of the above and that existing infrastructure is daengnrous and therefore current cycling numbers are depressed

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7. I don’t know how to change the framing & convo. Focusing on changing how police are looking at and talking about crashes feels important. In a pedestrian fatality here recently, the police immediately started talking about how the pedestrian was under the influence of alcohol. There is nothing that makes that illegal. So, again, poor infrastructure puts people at risk. #BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7. Victim blaming is a load of garbage. The last bicyclist killed in a crash in my area was hit by someone who it sounds like was under the influence of drugs/alcohol. High viz can’t fix lack of protective infrastructure.

That said, I have built-in lights on my bike & they are on all the time. I also wear a highly reflective vest when biking at night. My teen is more likely to bike after dark & I focus on him taking protected routes as much as possible. #BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite

A7. My heaviest winter jersey is black, with a few reflective spots. I'd much prefer a brighter color and more reflective bits, but it was a gift. I also wish all cycling gloves had reflective patches, palms and backs, to make my hand signals stand out!

I've added reflective strips to my helmet. I had some on my old rims -- need to get some for the new rims.

Both my bicycles have lights front and rear -- dynamo on the gravel bike -- and various reflective bits 'n' bobs.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite #bikenite A7: I've spend a few years working in industrial environments and Hi-Viz makes a *huge* difference in those environments. As a driver I've also found that lights, reflectors, etc make a big difference in identifying and locating cyclists. So, yeah I try to stick to bright colours for gear (also helps stop overheating in the sun) and if I'm on the road at dusk or dawn or night I'll run lights front and back and generally a hi-viz orange-and-reflective vest over everything else.

Okay, so I shouldn't *have to* but there's not much point being right and dead.

I'm also not at all shy about using pedestrian paths / crossings / etc where that's safer for me (and safe for pedestrians).

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite

A7: I ride with a steady tail light, a steady headlight, and a reflective triangle on my saddle bag (that also incidentally has a reflective strip). I do not wear hi-vis myself. Occasionally I will have reflective accessories, but they must fit whatever outfit I have for the day.

I absolutely will not let motonormativity dictate my sense of fashion, on or off the bike.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7. In my opinion, retroreflective surfaces and lights are more effective in the dark than brightly-colored clothing. I ride with extra lights on my frame and back this time of year.

That said, people victim blame cyclists constantly, and wearing brighter clothing won't necessarily help. I try not to take this attitude to heart too much.

@bikenite @ascentale @cpm #BikeNite A7

Not knowing specifics of these incidents, in general:

(1) Cyclists *must* use lights (tail & front) when cycling in low-light. Reflective clothing is a *must*. Can find reflective vests to fit over any winter garments.

(2) Framing: do adequate, separated bike lanes exist? Are they plowed in winter? Demand walk/bike/wheelchair accessibility for all, year-round. Enforce car speed limits. See (1).

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7 in my town I cannot help but see our Sunday morning social riders as they have a rule in their group that they all wear flourescent yellow. Just like road-workers and tradies wear. Not cool or funky but definitely visible.

Personally I hate that squashed cyclists get blamed because of their clothing choices. It's a bit like rapists blaming their victims because of their wardrobe choices.

#bikenite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite maybe A7: "shoulda had a brighter car."

_Life After Cars_ talks about this a little too, though honestly I was a little disappointed by it in some ways. Still, it has some decent ideas.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7. I live in a rural area. I will not ride after dark, except for #24HoursOfBooty which is a protected route with no cars and police protection. There's just no way to do it safely here.

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite A7. If your bike has solid lights, the drivers have no excuses. Flashing lights are hard to locate spatially, and one study found that drunk drivers steered TOWARD them. Flashing lights are illegal in many European countries for analogous reasons: they are not safe. #BikeNite

@ascentale @cpm @bikenite
#bikenite A7.
My wife found a bright orange winter cycling jacket for me.
Before that I would throw a cycling windbreaker over several layers, or a construction safety vest over a winter coat.