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Comment by 11ren | Hacker News Reader

OK, your empiricism beats my theorism.

Thinking of my own experience (I've ridden daily for a couple of years), the only two close-calls I've had are from a car that's in front of me, when it suddenly sees a parking spot, and swerves across, almost side-swiping me.

I could probably avoid this by riding in a full car lane, instead of to the left of it (between the lane and parking spaces), but it seems wasteful to take up a whole car lane (and I can't pass cars then). Also, what I'm doing may be illegal, as it's not marked as a bike lane.

(Bonus: fog/glow is more visible when raining.)

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1. I don't know why I didn't check Instructables sooner. :) http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Glow:-Ground-Effects-Lig...

2. Barring unusual state laws, taking the lane is usually legal. IIRC, in Michigan the law says something handwavey about riding as far to the right as is safe and practical. I will generally take the lane (right lane if there's two, or a wide shoulder), but try to be cognizant of traffic buildup behind me. Riding in a manner that seems predictable to drivers contributes more to safety than following the law to the letter, anyway. Route choice probably also makes a big difference.

1. That glow ground effect is pretty much what I was thinking, except, for the glow source to not be visible itself - you just see a mysterious glow from under the bike.

Easy enough to shade the sides (perhaps with a reflective surface, so as to not waste the light). Of course, being more visible makes it better - just doesn't look as cool (IMO).

But also, it doesn't give a sense of the space around the bike. That was the main idea I got from the original article, of a projected "lane" - it's not to make the bike more visible, but to display a cushion of space around it (a territory), so cars don't drive too close.

2. I meant it was illegal what I do (which is to ride between the parked cars and single lane of the road. Also a danger of a parked car's doors opening). I agree with your other points (esp route taken!)

1. That glow ground effect is pretty much what I was thinking, except, for the glow source to not be visible itself - you just see a mysterious glow from under the bike.

Easy enough to shade the sides (perhaps with a reflective surface, so as to not waste the light). Of course, being more visible makes it better - just doesn't look as cool (IMO).

2. I meant it was illegal what I do (which is to ride between the parked cars and single lane of the road. Also a danger of a parked car's doors opening. I agree with your other points (esp route taken!)

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