The average driver spends less than a second looking each way at junctions, so they really need to recognise you and your bike clearly! What’s seen needs to be recognised.
Being seen isn’t just about dressing from head to foot in day-glo yellow or fitting more lights to your bike than a Mod’s scooter has mirrors! It’s about considering the environments you will be riding in, before the start of the journey. What may get you noticed in a busy city street may not have the same visibility-enhancing qualities as the gear you may wear on a late summer’s evening when out on idyllic country lanes.
Standing out has never been about merging in with the crowd, dress to be different to the background but also try to present solid blocks of colour so your silhouette is easily recognisable at a glance. Consider the environment, background, light conditions, and colour clash to background potential.
The thinking biker also considers positioning – consider the areas of the road that would be the best place so you can be seen. This is especially important on the approach to junctions. New bikers are constantly told to ‘stay dominant!’ Experienced bikers must make full use of the available road space to give drivers the best possible chance of seeing them sooner. Size DOES matter and a motorcycle’s lack of it means riders are easily obscured.
The Biker Down session covers how to can increase your visibility as a biker and how other vehicle drivers may struggle to see a motorbike due to dazzle camouflage, motion camouflage and looming. Tried and tested rider tactics covering road positioning for visibility are covered to help make riding safer for both bikes and other vehicles.