I know with a post title like that, most of you might be thinking this is about hi-vis gear or bike lighting. Not so, but it is about assessing your risk and being seen.
Life itself is full of risk assessment. Conscious or subconscious, we are continually assessing our risk and making decisions accordingly.
Whether on a bike or walking across the street. We assess the situation, determine the risks, and decide how much risk we are willing to take.
ON THE BIKE
I am just heading to the store should I wear ATGATT? Do I really need those riding pants? Should I wear the armored jacket or just a t-shirt? Assess the risk.
It is raining and I need new tires, should I go on that 200 mile ride anyway? Assess the risk.
There is a dog on the side of the road, should I slow down and prepare for evasive maneuvers or should I just assume he'll stay put? Assess the risk.
IN LIFE
I need to cross the street - should I walk to the crosswalk or dart across? Assess the risk.
I am in a hurry. There is no traffic, but the speed limit is only 45 mph, should I speed to get there faster? Assess the risk.
I want to go walking at night - should I wear my black jacket and pants and not take a flashlight? Assess the risk.
* * * *
We live in a college town and Oregon State University's colors are black and orange. For some reason the students usually just wear the black..... especially at night..... when darting across the street in traffic. For the most part they are very hard to see. Although it is a risk they obviously have chosen to take, it is dangerous.
While Troubadour has been commuting by Subaru these last few months I have been taking the city bus. Before the one-hour time change, that meant standing at the bus stop in the dark at 7am. I realized I was wearing my black jacket and when it was raining, my umbrella was also black. I assessed my risk and determined I was not making any better choices than the college students.
Luckily Troubadour found a pretty cool umbrella online and ordered it for me. He first saw the umbrella in a Gizmodo article. LINK. And is made by SUCK UK. The perfect umbrella for a motorcyclist that wants to be seen off the bike - the canopy is completely retro-reflective. He ordered it from Hammacher Schlemmer and it arrived within a few days.
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| (Hi Reflective Umbrella by SuckUK) |
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| (Umbrella with no flash or bright light - looks grey) |
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| (Umbrella with camera flash mimicking headlights) |
I have used it twice now and have noticed the following:
1. People will actually turn down their high-beams since light reflects so brightly back to them.
2. The handle isn't nearly long enough for me. I have to hold my hand by my chin.
3. The canopy does not feel quite wide enough, but it does pack small for travel.
4. It is an awesome idea for anyone walking in the dark in the rain.
$28 including shipping is a small price to pay for added safety.
Our goal as motorcyclists is to reduce our risks while maintaining the fun factor of riding on two-wheels.
What else do you do in your everyday life to assess and reduce risk?
- Au Revoir
"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash." - George S. Patton
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Pretty nice find, a retroreflective umbrella. And it gets some of the cars to turn down their brights, amazing.
ReplyDeleteRight off hand I can't think of any examples of assessing and reducing risk. Maybe later....
I was really surprised when a car turned down his brights. They came out from under the train trestle and the bright umbrella must have surprised them.
DeleteNice brolly...I have a very small one that folds into a case not much bigger than one you might keep your glasses in. Haven't used it yet...I get wet regularly...
ReplyDeleteAt work we have a very high emphasis on safety - risk assessments, hazard ID etc. One of the most important things I think is personal responsibility - taking responsibility for your own safety. Don't walk out into the road and expect cars to stop is a simple example. Choosing reflective clothing etc is another good example but don't rely on others seeing you...(Sorry, probably preaching to the converted).
As an interesting aside a lot of the H&S professionals I have worked with are motorcyclists. Apart from being decent people (hey, they ride bikes) I wonder if motorcyclists make good H&S professionals - we are continually assessing hazards as we pootle down the road....
A lot of times I don't bother with an umbrella but when headed to work in a downpour it is a necessity.
DeleteYou said it perfectly - "personal responsibility". While we expect others to obey the rules of the road when we ride, we have a personal responsibility to assess risks and act accordingly. Like those people turning left (right for you) in front of us. Always assume they will. We'll either be pleasantly surprised if they don't or already have scrubbed off speed and are covering our brakes if they do.
Great idea - I bet Mary Poppins would be jealous!
ReplyDeleteYou think? I dunno......
DeleteI have never considered a reflective umbrella. Good thinking! My jacket (black) and my backpack (dark red) however have reflective features. Also, when I walk or hike in the dark I wear a headlamp. This time of the year I definitely wear hi-viz gear on the bike...
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know they existed until Brad found the Gizmodo article.
DeleteA headlamp is a good idea. When we walk in the dark we usually each have a flashlight that has the red cone on the end and will swing it to be more visible.
Great find that umbrella! I bet some cagers are startled to see what looks like a small flying saucer walking on the street! :)
ReplyDeleteI do think they are a little surprised not knowing what it is at first. Hey, if it slows them down a little, that is a bonus too. They like to speed along the road where the bus stop is.
DeleteAn excellent tool to put in the safety toolbox!
ReplyDeleteMadison bicycle riders and walkers are seriously visibility challenged. The other day I passed by a bike rider along the road where there were no street lights as it was bordering rural, it was raining, he was wearing dark clothing, no headlight and no taillight. Not the first time I've seen that either. Share the responsibility!
I also say "Don't dress in the colors of the pavement". Nice post and needs to shared!
Thanks Martha.
DeleteIt never hurts to be more visible. I don't understand why people don't wear reflective or bright colors when it is dusk or dark. I guess because they think they can see, they assume people can see them. I agree with you about not dressing like the pavement. We don't want to blend in, we want to stand out for safety.
I've seen pants/jackets in bicycling gear made of this reflective stuff. The downside of most of the gear I've seen is that it's black in daylight. So good for dark, not so good for daytime. Needless to say, when light hits it sure does light up! The nice thing with the umbrella is it's big. I think that would potentially standout well amongst all the lights and other distractions that fill city streets.
ReplyDeleteI liked the fact that it was grey in daylight too. It turns a weird glowing color when wet and is that way until it dries. Definitely different.
DeleteYou know I wear hi viz gear on the bike ... but I also take walking just as seriously with a high viz / reflective stipe jacket to which I pin (actually it's a magnetic gizmo) flasher on the back. I also have a flashing arm band and carry a flashlight. It gets dark so early .... I hate it. I'm loving the umbrella...Might be worth carrying even if it isn't raining.
ReplyDeleteThe flasher when walking is a good idea. I also have a small round light on my zipper pull I can turn on when it is dark.
DeleteI've thought about carrying it when not raining as it is about 8 inches long when closed so it is a retro-reflectve baton.
"The perfect umbrella for a motorcyclist that wants to be seen off the bike." LOL.
ReplyDeleteAll kidding aside, what a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Now, if only they'd make riding gear with that material. And doggie outfits. :-)
I could carry it on the bike and if I ever have to pull over could open it up as a road flare of sorts. Of course I don't ride in the dark.
DeleteThey really should make doggie outfits in it. Great idea, now patent it and you shall be rich.
With more and more of us "old eyes" around, added visibility can only be a good thing. There are already so many distractions....Highlighting objects that absolutely need to be seen only makes sense and a very appropriate use of that reflective use of that material.
ReplyDeleteThe more visible the better in our grey rainy days of Oregon.
DeleteWow.... I've never seen anything like that. Very cool idea.
ReplyDeleteI never knew they existed either until Brad found them.
DeleteWow! Love that umbrella! Excellent and timely topic, now that the days are getting shorter. Always an issue for runners and bicyclists too. My neighbors always get a laugh at me wearing my headlamp and copious amounts of blinking red lights when I run in the dark.
ReplyDeleteWe went for a walk Thursday night and we had reflective arm band and each had a flashlight with colored cone on it. Most people out walking their dogs were wearing black. No surprise there. I still like the headlamp idea.
DeleteI don't assume other road users are well trained or even paying attention when they drive so I dress to suit myself, and black hides the dirt of daily riding. A reflective umbrella that springs to life only when shined upon sounds brilliant. I have done a good job of not losing while keeping close to hand my current brolly so perhaps twenty eight bucks is justifiable even though I don't live and drown in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteI agree, we have to assume they are all distracted and won't/don't see us. The umbrella is kind of a moot point right now, as we finally splurged and bought a second car. We've had only 1 for the last 7 years or so. Riding the bus was getting old after 3 months and darn inconvenient with its afternoon time schedule. But the good news is we have a shiny Fiat 500 (5-speed manual) in the driveway to accent the trusty Subaru. What a fun car.
DeleteCongratulations! It is a fun car and until one has driven a 500 it is impossible to explain how much fun it is.
ReplyDeletePS I have a favor to ask and hoped you might be able to drop me a line at mikigboat@hotmail.com
We are absolutely loving it so far. Almost 300 miles. Will send an email now.
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