This is the conclusion of a Harvard Medical School ophthalmologist as reported in an absolutely fascinating book called "Why We Make Mistakes" (page 21). It came to mind today as I navigated home through Rutgers University campus in a rainstorm. Probably like most colleges, RU is a scary navigation even in good weather. Kids don't pay any attention to cars, what with their noses in their books...er, um... I mean smartphones. I sometimes find myself holding my breath till I get a few blocks past campus, sure there is a jaywalker about to pop out in front of me from in-between cars. And bikes pop faster than walkers. A few weeks ago I nearly hit one who zipped out blind to me, against a light, after I had already started my turn.
Do you join in the shock and outrage promoted by the media when they report how there was another security breach at the airport...that someone (gasp) got a Samurai sword into the secure area? Read Why We Make Mistakes and see if you don't have a little more compassion for TSA screeners. It seems that our brains are far more accurate seeing things we expect to see. But if you don't expect to see it (a gun in a carry-on bag is a hugely remote possibility given the millions of bags screened every day), you are more likely to miss one that is there! So it's no surprise that the error rate among baggage screeners is pretty high. It has less to do with TSA training and more to do with biology.
What does this have to do with bikers? Well, in most places, bikers on the road are the exception, not the rule. I think car drivers are conditioned to primarily look for cars, so that's what they see. They might not even see a biker in high-visibility clothing. But as a biker, you have to increase your chance of being seen, with clothing, reflectors and lights. One biker even recommends riding somewhat erratically to call attention to yourself and make car drivers be more wary that you don't know what you're doing. I also found a laser device that projects a high visibility bike symbol a distance ahead of you on the road so that vehicles you are riding up on will see that, even if they don't see you first. I have some hi-vis clothing for the street riding, but really, can't we all just get along and share the road? I suppose not. OK, bike defensively out there; you will always lose in a bike:car confrontation.
Do you join in the shock and outrage promoted by the media when they report how there was another security breach at the airport...that someone (gasp) got a Samurai sword into the secure area? Read Why We Make Mistakes and see if you don't have a little more compassion for TSA screeners. It seems that our brains are far more accurate seeing things we expect to see. But if you don't expect to see it (a gun in a carry-on bag is a hugely remote possibility given the millions of bags screened every day), you are more likely to miss one that is there! So it's no surprise that the error rate among baggage screeners is pretty high. It has less to do with TSA training and more to do with biology.
What does this have to do with bikers? Well, in most places, bikers on the road are the exception, not the rule. I think car drivers are conditioned to primarily look for cars, so that's what they see. They might not even see a biker in high-visibility clothing. But as a biker, you have to increase your chance of being seen, with clothing, reflectors and lights. One biker even recommends riding somewhat erratically to call attention to yourself and make car drivers be more wary that you don't know what you're doing. I also found a laser device that projects a high visibility bike symbol a distance ahead of you on the road so that vehicles you are riding up on will see that, even if they don't see you first. I have some hi-vis clothing for the street riding, but really, can't we all just get along and share the road? I suppose not. OK, bike defensively out there; you will always lose in a bike:car confrontation.