The problem with this is that the majority of motorists will have no respect for the rights of the bicyclist to 'share the road'. The real solution would be to have the bike lanes painted on the rode properly and the space being designated to them. I can see motorists becoming disgruntled by the cyclist audacity to create their own personal lane.
@Software_Goddess: I have to agree. The only real way to "enforce" the personal space rule for cyclists is to have an actual official lane designated for them. As many cyclists wouldn't have anything like this, the ones that do will probably not be given any more regard than what they had before, and if your lights are bright enough, the lines may just disappear anyway.
Looks like a pretty nifty concept, but it's too bad that many drivers won't give a sprocket about the green lines projecting from the rear of the bike.
@devonbowers: Now they just need to make an automobile version so driving sloshed is covered, as well.
Seriously - it looks like a nice concept, and I can understand the appeal - to an extent. As a regular commute to work cyclist, I just cannot imagine this ever truly helping. Every time I have been in a near accident it has been because of a driver who is not paying attention at all, and a green light on the ground is not going to help them one bit, unfortunately. (And it is always during the day since standard dusk/night bike lights are plenty good at getting the attention of nearly all drivers.)
But, I guess it is nice just to make the cyclist feel better, regardless of any practical use.
From the video footage, the lines aren't super clear. It's much more easy to spot the biker than the green lines. I guess it's more clear when you see it in person?
@Purple Monkey Dishwasher: the point isn't so much to see the bike, but for motorists to appreciate the "personal space" that they should respect. I think it's the kind of thing that could have a big impact on how much space drivers give to riders.
@Purple Monkey Dishwasher: I'm thinking that from a driver's perspective, the green lines dancing around on the street won't mean much to me at all, and you're right about the cyclist being more conspicuous than the lines. I'll stick to a good red strobe.
@Kaiser-Machead: Weatherman makes a good point though. Motorist often have a hard time figuring out how much space to give the cyclist. They either cut it really close or go way around.
@Purple Monkey Dishwasher: After watching prickwads swerve halfway into bike lanes to beat traffic lights, people switch lanes in the Lincoln Tunnel and observe car after car parked in a disturbing diagonal to the curb, my faith in motorists wanes.
@Kaiser-Machead: Also, it seems like by the time a car is close enough to see them, the lines would be out of sight below the "horizon" of the car's hood, fender, etc.
I always wanted to do something like this to put on large trucks to show their blindspots. You could mount a laser on the top of the cab to show car drivers where the driver can't see in the front.
I hate when people cut me and think I can see their economy car 6 inches from my bumper...
@Jack the lazy guy: Can you modify one for me that'll let me blow oversized trucks off the road? I may not be driving an economy-sized car, but I get a bit sick of the idiots around here driving flip-mobiles like they're Formula 1 racecars, and blocking my view with a hood that's higher than the roof of my car when I'm waiting for a clear spot to turn into traffic.
@Jack the lazy guy: I'd really prefer the solution that some European police force came up with, which was flip-down grapples that were mounted to the front bumper of their car, which, when they'd intentionally crash into the rear end of the fleeing vehicle would punch into the trunk, thus allowing the cop car to bring the other car to a slow crawl, if not a complete stop, simply by applying their own brakes. Now, granted, either solution pretty much screws any kidnap victims who have been thrown in the trunk...
@Claytons: BC Canada. Don't know if it is.. And really couldn't care, lol. Chances of being penalized for it is quite low, let alone having a cop care enough to stop and talking to you here.
@Kakkoister: Ah, but a swift kick to your front tire will quickly end your sidewalk-riding days. I've driven more than a few assholes who biked too close to my kid into the street. And once, into a lamp post. Dumbass beady-eyed flappyheaded Canadian.
Lol, I'd like to see you try and kick my front tire while I'm heading towards you at 20-30km/h. Mountain bikes are different from those little wire frame racing bikes. The mass of it could hurt you quite bad if you tried that. And you'd have to have some really good timing to effectively hit the front portion of the front tire from the side in time.. Otherwise your ass is getting caught in the frame.
And obviously I'm going to be putting good distance between children. I'm just having fun, not trying to be an asshole to people :).
@Kakkoister: The sidewalks in my city mostly suck (mostly uneven brick from slightly before the turn of the century). So riding on the sidewalk is pretty pointless in the first place.
And the real problem in my town is drunk people on bicycles (in the street)...
@Kakkoister: I'm pretty much in the same boat as gyffes. As one who also rides, it irks me when other cyclists decide to be rude assholes and ride on the sidewalk, where I shouldn't have to worry about inconsiderate riders zipping around from behind without giving me notice (far too many do this). I walk fast, so when I turn into an entrance on a building, I'm not expecting to have a bicycle cut between me and the door, but it's happened, and sometimes they got away...other times they did not. One even hit a siamese outlet pipe because of it. I had a good laugh.
06/24/09
-Remember "Share the road" means there are absolutely no rules for us bikers only for you lower class people in cars.
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Probably the second iteration of this would emit sound to notify either the biker or the driver if they're in close proximity.
I'd call it the LL S.
06/24/09
Ping...........Ping......Ping.....Ping...Ping..Ping.PingPingPing BAM!
That would be even better than the light for knocking cyclists off their smug perches.
06/24/09
i dunno -- run it over.
06/24/09
06/24/09
/sorry, people always flash me cause they think i am using my highbeams.
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06/24/09
And because it adjusts to your movement, you can't get pulled over for crossing over out of your lane when your biking sloshed.
06/24/09
Seriously - it looks like a nice concept, and I can understand the appeal - to an extent. As a regular commute to work cyclist, I just cannot imagine this ever truly helping. Every time I have been in a near accident it has been because of a driver who is not paying attention at all, and a green light on the ground is not going to help them one bit, unfortunately. (And it is always during the day since standard dusk/night bike lights are plenty good at getting the attention of nearly all drivers.)
But, I guess it is nice just to make the cyclist feel better, regardless of any practical use.
06/24/09
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06/24/09
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01/17/09
I hate when people cut me and think I can see their economy car 6 inches from my bumper...
01/18/09
Can you modify one for me that'll let me blow oversized trucks off the road? I may not be driving an economy-sized car, but I get a bit sick of the idiots around here driving flip-mobiles like they're Formula 1 racecars, and blocking my view with a hood that's higher than the roof of my car when I'm waiting for a clear spot to turn into traffic.
01/18/09
Imagine seeing a cop chase from the news copter then police chopper just blow the guys car with a friggin laser...
01/18/09
I'd really prefer the solution that some European police force came up with, which was flip-down grapples that were mounted to the front bumper of their car, which, when they'd intentionally crash into the rear end of the fleeing vehicle would punch into the trunk, thus allowing the cop car to bring the other car to a slow crawl, if not a complete stop, simply by applying their own brakes. Now, granted, either solution pretty much screws any kidnap victims who have been thrown in the trunk...
01/17/09
01/17/09
01/17/09
01/17/09
01/17/09
Lol, I'd like to see you try and kick my front tire while I'm heading towards you at 20-30km/h. Mountain bikes are different from those little wire frame racing bikes. The mass of it could hurt you quite bad if you tried that. And you'd have to have some really good timing to effectively hit the front portion of the front tire from the side in time.. Otherwise your ass is getting caught in the frame.
And obviously I'm going to be putting good distance between children. I'm just having fun, not trying to be an asshole to people :).
PS: Dumbass fat bellied uneducated American. ;)
01/18/09
And the real problem in my town is drunk people on bicycles (in the street)...
01/18/09
01/18/09