Bright car lights and retroreflective signs & roadmarkings have turned the night-time roadscape into an eighties arcade game of neon-bright colours on a black background.
Have reflectors on your bike. Pedal reflectors are surprisingly effective. Get lights. Wear light colours. Customise your bag or clothing by adding retro-reflective material. I am a fan of showing the correct colours in the correct directions, but it probably doesn't matter too much.
Pedal reflectors are so good because being so low down they catch dipped headlights, and their motion is unique to cyclists. Also their lowness also reduces ambiguity about how far away they are - they cannot be further from the driver than where his line of sight intersects the road surface. It is quick and easy for the driver's brain to work out 'low down in field of view = close". Lights or reflectors at driver's eye level could be at any distance.
Bright car lights and retroreflective signs & roadmarkings have turned the night-time roadscape into an eighties arcade game of neon-bright colours on a black background.
Have reflectors on your bike. Pedal reflectors are surprisingly effective. Get lights. Wear light colours. Customise your bag or clothing by adding retro-reflective material. I am a fan of showing the correct colours in the correct directions, but it probably doesn't matter too much.
Pedal reflectors are so good because being so low down they catch dipped headlights, and their motion is unique to cyclists. Also their lowness also reduces ambiguity about how far away they are - they cannot be further from the driver than where his line of sight intersects the road surface. It is quick and easy for the driver's brain to work out 'low down in field of view = close". Lights or reflectors at driver's eye level could be at any distance.