Yellow does not always improve your visibility

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08-02-2006, 08:53 AM
DrBee

Yellow does not always improve your visibility

Well, sometimes it doesn't.

I was riding yesterday morning and one of my coworkers was pulling out from his street onto the street I was riding on. I was approaching him and he almost pulled out and hit me. Luckily he slammed on his brakes and didn't pull out. I work at home on Tuesdays, so my first chance to talk to him was today. He said that the yellow jersey I was wearing blended in with the early morning sun (he was pulling out to the east - I was coming from the east). The thing that caught his eye was not my blinking headlight or my yellow gloves or yellow jersey, but my black shorts.

So I know many of us do early morning rides - especially with this heat. Be careful and mindful that you might be blending in with the sun and somewhat invisible. Scary!
08-02-2006, 08:59 AM
mimitabby

sheesh. thank goodness for overcast weather!
08-02-2006, 09:14 AM
DebW

Here on the east coast, the majority of people commute east in the morning and west in the afternoon. At certain times of year, the solar glare is a major problem and often responsible for traffic jams. Sometimes you end up biking into the glare and almost unable to see. Then you think: "If I can't see the road, drivers can't see me either". Scary.
08-02-2006, 09:39 AM
tulip

Hi-viz yellow is supposed to be more visible in cities, while bright orange is supposed to be more visible in rural areas.

I think drivers should actively look for cyclists, however.
08-02-2006, 01:57 PM
pooks

Sounds like a good reason to wear contrast -- yellow and black worked. If one thing blends in, hopefully the other won't.
08-02-2006, 05:50 PM
Veronica

I think it's cool you got feedback. Yeah... I know it was a coworker. But he took the time to mention it, instead of just forgetting/repressing that he almost killed you. :)

V.
08-02-2006, 06:26 PM
Lise

I first read this title as being about our friend, "yellow", who lives in Salt Lake City and posts here! Confused! :confused: :p

Interesting point about light and visibility.
08-02-2006, 10:41 PM
bikerz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lise

I first read this title as being about our friend, "yellow", who lives in Salt Lake City and posts here! Confused! :confused: :p

Interesting point about light and visibility.

Me too! I was thinking "What does Yellow have to do with visibility? Does she have some kind of cloaking device?"
08-03-2006, 05:37 AM
DrBee

yah yah - I was afraid you might think it was about Yellow. Sorry about that! As far as I know - she does not have a cloaking device.
08-03-2006, 05:39 AM
Veronica

Yellow rides so fast that you can't see her!

V.
08-03-2006, 05:49 AM
Lise

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishdr

As far as I know - she does not have a cloaking device.

As far as you know...but the knowledge itself could be cloaked. Does anyone else think yellow looks...vaguely... Romulan?!? :eek:
08-10-2006, 11:46 PM
RoadRaven

The best colour we have is red - I wont wear it, but my oldest two sons have red shorts and I can see them from a distance more easily than when they where any other colour...