Why do so many cyclists like Dan Walker wear dark clothes making them vulnerable

There need to be more cycle lanes, properly kept.
Here a cyclist who insisted on riding on the road despite there being a good, wide cycle path free of obstacles, swerved out unexpectedly, causing a car to swerve, resulting in the death of two people, one a child.
The cyclist was unhurt and cycled away from the scene.

It's common sense to wear bright clothing with a reflective band. See and be seen.

Reflective strips

To be fair, I think that most cyclists do wear bright clothes, and also have reflective straps on many parts of their gear too. Those in our area do, anyway.

As for bells, yes, cyclists should be either using a bell or a vocal warning as they approach pedestrians. Again, in my experience most do, but there are always going to be some idiots, as there are in any group of people. Not that pedestrians always hear or react well to the warnings, however far away you are when you start trying to alert them to your presence).

Yes but why don’t cyclists wear clothes you can see them in? They wear helmets for safety after all. And why do some whizz silently up the cycle/walk track and practically knock you down? What’s wrong with having a bell and ringing it? Why are some just not safety conscious and get others a bad name?

Oldnproud

Just want to say to those who have mentioned them, that many cycle tracks and cycle lanes are covered in broken glass and other debris, and aren't fit for purpose.

And quite often they have street furniture planted in the middle of them.

Just want to say to those who have mentioned them, that many cycle tracks and cycle lanes are covered in broken glass and other debris, and aren't fit for purpose.

The answer - yes, got rid of the fumes!

Park and Ride to city centre, or no polluting vehicles. And proper cycle lanes that make sense.

well, thank god he was wearing a helmet. the car clearly clipped he's bach wheel and of course should not have been near enough to any cyclist. due care and attention.

Maudi

Perhaps cyclists should pay road tax like car/van owners have to. I personally think some of them are a nuisance and why would you want to cycle in a built up area and breathe in all those fumes.

WOW!

Baggs

Victim blaming.

I say that while agreeing that wearing bright clothes while cycling is a good idea but the video suggests that the driver of the car was careless changing lanes.

Yes

Of course you have to tax your car so you can drive on the road, I've just taxed mine. Perhaps you are thinking about the rip off ULEZ charges.

Maudi

Perhaps cyclists should pay road tax like car/van owners have to. I personally think some of them are a nuisance and why would you want to cycle in a built up area and breathe in all those fumes.

Oh that old chestnut! There hasn't been a road fund licence since the 1930s; roads are funded out of general taxation. What we do have is a tax on vehicles based on emissions, and since bicycles don't emit anything they don't have to pay that tax; nor should they. Besides, the great majority of adult cyclists also own and drive cars where it's more appropriate.

Have I mentioned that I don't drive? I used to, but I made a deliberate decision not to 25 years ago. It was a wrench at first but I've adapted to life without a car. I like to cycle in the city, fumes notwithstanding, because it's good exercise and because often its a lot quicker than driving and certainly faster than the bus. The fumes aren't the main problem, it's the stupid drivers who get annoyed because I pass them as they sit in the queue and then shout abuse or try to cut me up.

LHD you can see it on DM. Clearly the motorist was in the wrong. Cars have to have their lights on when it’s dark so they can see and be seen. I wear light clothes walking a narrow road so I can be seen. It’s common sense. No point in wearing dark clothes as is your right and winding up dead. I don’t think a cyclist wearing dark clothes is at all comparable to a woman getting raped.

Perhaps cyclists should pay road tax like car/van owners have to. I personally think some of them are a nuisance and why would you want to cycle in a built up area and breathe in all those fumes.

I'm trying to find the video of the incident but I can only find stills so I can't comment on the nature of the accident. I have seen quite a bit of comment that he was wearing dark clothes, failed to use a cycle lane, was on a bike so what did he expect, etc. What I haven't seen is much about how the driver was not paying attention to other road-users in front, maybe changed lanes without looking, maybe deliberately tried to intimidate a cyclist (which happens all too often).

Advice to wear bright clothing while cycling or to use a cycle lane is just that, advice. Cyclists have the same right to use the public highway as car drivers. In fact cyclists were there first, before cars existed, and roads were not provided for the benefit of car drivers alone. It's up to the car driver to look out for the more vulnerable road user.

Saying that it's the fault of the cyclist that they were hit because they wore dark clothing is on the same level as saying it's a woman's fault that she was raped because she was wearing a short skirt. It's victim-blaming, pure and simple.

There's no point in being in the right, but dead or injured.

I fail to understand why he wasn’t using the cycle track.

We live on the Coast to Coast cycle route one of the B & B,s they use is in the village. It is also a farming village with a lot of heavy machinery. 'They do always seem to wear black and I call them the "king of the road ", though quite a lot are women. They consider main A roads as cycle tracks and ride two and three abreast which I believe is illegal. We encounter many accidents and near misses.
When we lived in a city which was known for its people using cycles they seemed to know how to use junctions, stay tucked in and not ride in packs.
I think a lot of them now are new to the sport and not aware of the dangers or blatantly ignore them.

Baggs I did say there was NO excuse for the motorist. I am not victim blaming. Dan could have worn brighter clothing and he could have taken the cycle track under the roundabout, but he didn’t have to. Seems sensible however to be seen. My dog has a reflective harness and I never wear dark clothes when walking a local lane. Better safe than sorry especially with idiot car drivers roaring down the narrow lane. I would have more protection from the law if I was on a bike.

Victim blaming.

I say that while agreeing that wearing bright clothes while cycling is a good idea but the video suggests that the driver of the car was careless changing lanes.

A relative of mine wears LED lights on his upper body when cycling.

Cyclists rarely consider that they are in the wrong but they so often are the cause of an accident. So many display little common sense and little knowledge of the Highway Code. I used to live in a university city - university students on bikes in term time, foreign students in the vacs. A total nightmare. And the accidents in London when I worked there, with cyclists weaving in and out of traffic - frequently with fatal results. I have been involved in an accident with a cyclist which was 100% her fault.

Just read there was a special cycle track that went under the roundabout, so although it takes a bit longer it avoids the danger. So many cyclists are doing this. Our council spent a fortune putting in a cycle/walking track next to a dual carriageway. Where do so many still ride? The dual carriageway of course! Yes they have a right to be there but surely it’s better to be safe.

You are both spot on,and they are the first to shout abuse at you.
I watched the video of Dan`s accident,and it looked to me like Dan`s back wheel caught the front of the car.

I do hope Dan is recovering alright. But, yes, I agree. So many cyclist, and walkers, wear dark clothing when cycling or walking down the long country lane that leads to where I live. I often feel like shouting at them "Wear bright clothing so you can be seen" .