Bicygnal Bike Signals

[Roadtrip]

Anyone else see these? Just curious what any of you thought. As a newbie I still don't feel 100% confidant about removing my hands from the bars to signal. I know I NEED to, but end up doing so quickly and I know I could do a better job.

Are they gimmicky or would they really work? They appear pretty bright in the video even during the day.

http://www.cyclefg.com/shop/product.php?productid=714000044&cat=0&page=1

Shannon

[hebe]

They look to be from a British company. I haven't seen any in use.

I think I probably wouldn't use them for daytime riding. The highway code here says that cyclists should use arm signals, and that is what drivers expect to see. I'm not sure that I could trust some of the drivers round here to see a bank of LEDs rather than a firm arm signal. I know what you mean about the wobble, I still do it a bit on left signals and therefore look back and signal in very good time. My signalling is always better at the end of a ride than at the beginning so I'm confident that I'll nail it over time anyway.

I don't ride at night and have no plans to. I think these could be useful after dark though as they would increase visibility.

[Roadtrip]

Yup, I think your right on both counts... seems to be a British company and I believe law still requires use of hand signals here in the states, at least Ohio does.

The way the drivers are here you'd think they have never seen a bicyclist on the road before so they could see you and think... well why is that lady waving her arm around like that... just before running you down.

We have a big problem here with getting drivers to know what to expect from bicyclist and this type of signal is indeed what drivers are USED to seeing from other DRIVERS.

I guess that's why I posted.

Shannon

[malkin]

It cracks me up when I signal a right turn (left hand up) and people wave back.

I'm experimenting with a new "foot signal" where I unclip and exaggeratedly stick my leg out like I'm really stopping. Sometimes cross traffic at a 4-way stop will just hurry up and go when they see it. I think this works if the drivers are also cyclists. :)

[Becky]

It cracks me up when I signal a right turn (left hand up) and people wave back.



I gave up on signaling right turns with my left arm....no one knows what it means anymore! I just use my right arm now.

[tulip]

Those lights are too close together to be differentiated by an approaching motorist. Think about it: car blinkers are 5 or 6 feet apart. Bike blinkers that are only 6 inches apart or less are not going to be very useful because it will just look like a blinking light (too close to center of bike) to a motorist.

You may wish to take a bicycling class offered by the League of American Bicyclists (for those of you in the US) to get more comfortable on the bike and in traffic.

[hebe]

We have a big problem here with getting drivers to know what to expect from bicyclist and this type of signal is indeed what drivers are USED to seeing from other DRIVERS.

I guess that's why I posted.

Shannon

I wonder if in a more car-centric place drivers would expect to see indicators on a bike? It might well work well in the US. I'm not sure that people would expect to see indicators on a bike here, so therefore whether they would actually register that a bike did have indicators, and that the cyclist was about to make a turn? Please do bear in mind that I ride in a town where beer is still delivered by horse and cart so people are used to watching out for slow-moving traffic. I really am quite intrigued by the idea though. I took some lessons with a Bikeability instructor and was taught right arm out for right turn, left arm out for left, and that the most important thing is to get a couple of good looks behind and make eye contact with any driver there. Apparently once they've actually seen you they are more likely to expect you to do *something*. Then another "lifesaver" look immediately before turning.

I can imagine that in twilight rush-hour traffic it could be a useful adjunct though.

[OakLeaf]

I'm with Tulip. Lots of people modify their motorcycles, for a more streamlined appearance, by removing the blinkers and putting small lights, like yours, on either side of the taillight. It's the minimum to meet legal requirements, but if you've ever been behind a bike with those blinkers, they're useless. Use hand signals.

I still signal right turns with my left hand. When I'm signaling for the benefit of automobile drivers (rather than other riders), I always hold the signal for a good long time. Mainly for visibility's sake, but there's also no mistaking it for a wave. I figure that signaling for a right turn with my right hand will be completely invisible to automobile drivers approaching me from the left rear.


ETA: the MOST important signal you will ever use is the slowing/stopping signal. If that thing has a brake light in it, then maybe it's worth it. I didn't download the manual and it's not really apparent from the product page how it works. Again, when I make that signal, I splay my fingers wide so that anyone with a little common sense can figure it out, even if they've never learned the signal.

[maryellen]

Quote:
Originally Posted by malkin
It cracks me up when I signal a right turn (left hand up) and people wave back.

Originally Posted by Becky
I gave up on signaling right turns with my left arm....no one knows what it means anymore! I just use my right arm now.

I wonder if they even teach that in driving school anymore? Personally, I always got confused when using my left arm for the signals for stop and right turn. Somehow when I'm on the bike, the arm down for stop makes sense--but I use my right arm as I'm more comfortable taking that off the bike for a sustained period.

[OakLeaf]

I wonder if they even teach that in driving school anymore?

In a car there's no way for a driver to get their right hand out the right window, on a motorcycle you need that hand for the throttle and front brake, so yes, they still teach all signals with the left hand. It's only bicyclists who even have an option.

[Kerry1976]

It cracks me up when I signal a right turn (left hand up) and people wave back.


Me too! One day it seemed to happen at every intersection.

[Roadtrip]

Those lights are too close together to be differentiated by an approaching motorist.

I was thinking the same thing actually. The color is different, but from a distance your not even going to see that. Also if it's required that you use hand signals, these are doing more of a dis-service then actually helping, even tho any light that draws attention to you is helping you... a $20 blinky is just as effective.

Shannon

[Melalvai]

I remember reading about a study that more people correctly interpret pointing right than sticking your left hand up as a right-turn signal. Sorry I don't have the reference for the study.