Poles that stick out from the bike to prevent close pass.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Is there such a thing as a pole that protruded 1.5 metres from the right of the bike. I'm aware it'll cause wind resistance though.

Far too many close passes lately. It's not on. Some at ridiculous speeds from professional drivers such as taxi drivers and couriers.

and if a cyclist needs to pass you?

bobbyy gee

i would use a flashing red light a pole could be hit and send you onto the road
https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/42984/safety-of-lateral-flexible-flags-to-prevent-cars-from-passing-too-closely-and

Sam Hain

Mental.

Rodney Bathgate

:rolleyes:

PCeeeee

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Is there such a thing as a pole that protruded 1.5 metres from the right of the bike. I'm aware it'll cause wind resistance though.

Far too many close passes lately. It's not on. Some at ridiculous speeds from professional drivers such as taxi drivers and couriers.

It would make your bike effectively 1.5m wide. Hardly convenient.

bobbyy gee

bobbyy gee wrote: »

i would use a flashing red light a pole could be hit and send you onto the road
https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/42984/safety-of-lateral-flexible-flags-to-prevent-cars-from-passing-too-closely-and

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/42984/safety-of-lateral-flexible-flags-to-prevent-cars-from-passing-too-closely-and

mamax

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Some at ridiculous speeds from professional drivers such as taxi drivers and couriers.

A driving instructor close passed 2 of us today with traffic oncoming, AVIVA written all over his car, I shouted at him but he just drove on, I'll issue a complaint to aviva and see what response I get, anyhoo I'd say your asking about those swimming aids people use.
https://qz.com/1620913/the-best-cycling-hack-is-a-pool-noodle/

OP what you are talking about is actually a thing in some parts.

https://qz.com/1620913/the-best-cycling-hack-is-a-pool-noodle/

cletus

I can't see the he pool noodle working, it's just move as people close pass you, and something rigid would be plain dangerous

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

PCeeeee wrote: »

It would make your bike effectively 1.5m wide. Hardly convenient.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

and if a cyclist needs to pass you?

What's the issue?

Minimum passing distance is 1.5 m anyway.

punisher5112

There are reflective ones you can get that stick out.... But not 1.5 or 1.0 meters....


How does a cyclist pass you safely?
Best off with good lighting and a good helmet.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

punisher5112 wrote: »

There are reflective ones you can get that stick out.... But not 1.5 or 1.0 meters....


How does a cyclist pass you safely?
Best off with good lighting and a good helmet.

What in the name of tap dancing Jesus does a helmet have to do with preventing close passes?

I have very good LED lights already.

Bubbaclaus

Great idea. Particularly when it catches the side of a truck and you get sent under the wheel of it as a result. You will have really shown that driver who's boss.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

Great idea. Particularly when it catches the side of a truck and you get sent under the wheel of it as a result. You will have really shown that driver who's boss.

Then the driver is passing too closely.

Bubbaclaus

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Then the driver is passing too closely.

You'll really have shown him good. Your face will be pancaked into the road, but at least you will have shown the driver that they were passing too close.

John Hutton

Is there such thing as a sidecar for a bicycle

the_pen_turner

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Then the driver is passing too closely.

not necciserally, if the driver is 1.6m away and you take a wobble or turn to avoid a pothole then you will be putting what ever stupid attachment into their path and end up rapidly turning the handle bars and causing an accident.

these things arent a solution to this problem

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

I would've thought I'd get more support in this forum.

Welcome to boards, where the OP is always (somehow) in the wrong.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

the_pen_turner wrote: »

not necciserally, if the driver is 1.6m away and you take a wobble or turn to avoid a pothole then you will be putting what ever stupid attachment into their path and end up rapidly turning the handle bars and causing an accident.

these things arent a solution to this problem

Then we need rigid enforcement of close passes.

Dangerous overtaking penalty points cannot be applied here?

cletus

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

I would've thought I'd get more support in this forum.

Welcome to boards, where the OP is always (somehow) in the wrong.

Are you suggesting that people on this forum should agree with whatever nonsense people post, just because it's about cycling

the_pen_turner

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Then we need rigid enforcement of close passes.

Dangerous overtaking penalty points cannot be applied here?

i agree about the close passes. im not a cyclist but i have seen some close calls. its crazy

why cant the points be applied

0ph0rce0

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

What in the name of tap dancing Jesus does a helmet have to do with preventing close passes?

Could be handy if you did get smashed out of it with a close pass that ended up too close. Could prevent you from death

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote: »

OP what you are talking about is actually a thing in some parts.

https://qz.com/1620913/the-best-cycling-hack-is-a-pool-noodle/

That wouldn't damage a car in any way.

the_pen_turner

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

Could be handy if you did get smashed out of it with a close pass that ended up too close. Could prevent you from death

yes if from behind but it would pull you in if coming against you

punisher5112

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

What in the name of tap dancing Jesus does a helmet have to do with preventing close passes?

I have very good LED lights already.

Helmet with lights on.... Its something else to stand out with but honestly aren't a substitute for a light on the bike, bike needs one two imo.

ED E

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Dangerous overtaking penalty points cannot be applied here?

You can get an inconsiderate or careless conviction easy enough for it but getting a member of AGS whos willing is like winning the lotto. Right to bike in Cork has 1 or 2 such convictions under his belt.

punisher5112

Where is cycledub, he preys on elderly women and other road users....
Shouts at them even when they're broken down.

Daroxtar

Just get bike cameras everywhere and make sure that drivers know you have them and will use them. Tell all your friends and family you have front and rear facing cameras. Say that most cyclists have rear cameras disguised as lights. Tell them your Garmin has a built in camera. Tell them all you've had a heap of prosecutions against close passes. Get the word out. Close pass **** need to have the fear of God put into them, not a pool noodle

fergus1001

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote:

Then the driver is passing too closely.

yeah and if your brains are running down the road sure good enough for him, I've seen that happen and safe to say I'm scared for life

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

That wouldn't damage a car in any way.

How could it damage a car?

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

How could it damage a car?

That's what I said, they wouldn't. I assume the idea for the poles would be to do damage.

blackbox

[Deleted User] wrote: »

and if a cyclist needs to pass you?

Does the passing rule not apply to cyclists as well as other vehicles?

CramCycle

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

I would've thought I'd get more support in this forum.

Welcome to boards, where the OP is always (somehow) in the wrong.

Not that you're wrong but the truth of the matter is, while it may work on some, it is likely that an inattentive nitwit or a scummer will hit it intentionally and then possibly knock you off.

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

That's what I said, they wouldn't. I assume the idea for the poles would be to do damage.

Why would it be? The point is to get people to give space, nothing else.

CramCycle

CramCycle wrote: »

Not that you're wrong but the truth of the matter is, while it may work on some, it is likely that an inattentive nitwit or a scummer will hit it intentionally and then possibly knock you off.

Why would it be? The point is to get people to give space, nothing else.

I know that but to be a deterrent then it would have to do damage or what's the point?

CramCycle

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

I know that but to be a deterrent then it would have to do damage or what's the point?

A visual aid to wake people up. Personally I think its not worth it. If they can't see me before, this won't improve it, if they are going to close pass, whether it causes damage or not is irrelevant as I suspect I am more likely to come off worse.

ted1

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

What's the issue?

Minimum passing distance is 1.5 m anyway.

Not according to the Gardai

kenmm

Something like this you mean?

https://youtu.be/lLuNstLjP1c?t=48


Would add more than a few grams, but I guess it could work!

Duckjob

The 3 most positive things we could have to eliminate close passing would be :

- Proper infrastructure that removes conflict points between drivers and cyclists.
- A general populace that is more educated and enlightened towards the benefits of non-car travel.
- Supportive legislation like presumed liability laws (and of course a supportive police force) that help drivers to do the right thing when they're driving in close proximity to cyclists.

Unfortunately in Ireland, we current don't have any of these 3 things, and given how close-minded we are as a nation to change we're probably still a couple of decades away from having all 3.

The best tool any cyclist currently has to protect him/herself from close passes is the art of knowing when and how to take control of the road at key times.

It's not perfect or ideal but the sad reality when you're on a bike is if someone is a**eholey minded enough they can hurt you with their car regardless of what you do.

Bass Reeves

ED E wrote: »

You can get an inconsiderate or careless conviction easy enough for it but getting a member of AGS whos willing is like winning the lotto. Right to bike in Cork has 1 or 2 such convictions under his belt.

We get a member of AGS to flue every cyclists around to make sure that there is no dangerous overtaking

Kewreeuss

Ben Hur on a bicycle!:D:D

Zookey123

you are upset at drivers passing you too closely so your solution is to make the bike wider? You cant be serious.

cletus

Do most close passes happen in cities? I could count on one hand the amount of close passes/asshole drivers I've encountered in the last year

CramCycle

Zookey123 wrote: »

you are upset at drivers passing you too closely so your solution is to make the bike wider? You cant be serious.

While I don't agree with it, I see the principle. Its not to make the bike wider, the same way the 1.5 m isn't to be 1.5m from the vehicle, it is to be 1.5 m from the person. By being 1.5m away you reduce the risk of blowing the person of, scaring the sh1t out of them, misjudging it even slightly and actually hitting them (which is easier than you think when you understand the reason motor way lanes have to be so much wider than N roads) etc, It also means if they fell for another reason, the driver is unlikely to crush them under their wheels. Pretty simples.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Zookey123 wrote: »

you are upset at drivers passing you too closely so your solution is to make the bike wider? You cant be serious.

My intention is to use a visual aid to force drivers to overtake with the minimum 1.5 metres.

Some drivers will just skim by my handlebars.

I can either keep left with a pool noodle attached or own the road and cycle in the middle of the lane. Either way, you have to give me 1.5 m, preferably using the other side of the road to overtake.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Zookey123 wrote: »

you are upset at drivers passing you too closely so your solution is to make the bike wider? You cant be serious.

Yes, I am upset at close passes. A car passing closely is roughly the same weight, shape and speed as a charging rhinoceros.

CramCycle

To be honest, if everyone was educated on the reasoning at an early age, and didn't grow up to be a ****, it would solve an awful amount of problems.

Zookey123

No I completely understand wanting a driver to be 1.5m away when overtaking but the logic behind a pole on the bike doesn't make sense. Not only would it cause balance issues but it will decrease the distance between the car and the bike thus making it much more dangerous especially on narrow country roads.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Zookey123 wrote: »

No I completely understand wanting a driver to be 1.5m away when overtaking but the logic behind a pole on the bike doesn't make sense. Not only would it cause balance issues but it will decrease the distance between the car and the bike thus making it much more dangerous especially on narrow country roads.

The pole is a flexible styrofoam material.

If it is struck, it'll bend as the vehicle hits it.

Worst case scenario, a driver will barge through it.

Best case, it'll work as a visual aid and force drivers to give distance.

ted1

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

My intention is to use a visual aid to force drivers to overtake with the minimum 1.5 metres.

Some drivers will just skim by my handlebars.

I can either keep left with a pool noodle attached or own the road and cycle in the middle of the lane. Either way, you have to give me 1.5 m, preferably using the other side of the road to overtake.

You can get lights which project lines into the ground

https://ride.lezyne.com/products/1-led-23r-v104

Also the 1.5m law never came into effect

o1s1n

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

The pole is a flexible styrofoam material.

If it is struck, it'll bend as the vehicle hits it.

Worst case scenario, a driver will barge through it.

Best case, it'll work as a visual aid and force drivers to give distance.

Worst case scenario it will somehow cause an accident and kill you.

Cycling with something sticking out which cars can hit is idiotic and asking for trouble.