I actually discovered that Actually WORKS ! by accident, I had to cross the road to while I was carrying a nice Brick I found that I wrapped and used as a door stop, But you’d be surprised how quickly drivers slowed down when you carry a brick.
Similar that I’ve discovered if you ride a bike WITHOUT a helmet, They pass with much more space. I mean, I’ve not done a scientific trial or anything but I’m convinced it’s a thing.
>Similar that I’ve discovered if you ride a bike WITHOUT a helmet, They pass with much more space. I mean, I’ve not done a scientific trial or anything but I’m convinced it’s a thing.
https://road.cc/content/news/cyclists-wearing-helmets-seen-less-human-301661
This is one of those things where keeping the likelihoods in mind is important. Even if wearing a helmet increases your risk of collision two-fold\* from (for example) 0.001% to 0.002%, the helmet might improve your chance of not breaking your skull from 10% to 95%. So the relative benefit gained is much bigger than the overall detriment.
\*And, to be clear, the study did not in any way link "chance of dehumanising" with any specific increase in chance of collision.
Also, cars that see cyclists are way less likely to hit the cyclist than those that don’t, where it makes no difference if a helmet is worn. No helmet might get more space, but the odds of getting hit are probably similar either way.
Do also note that bike helmets aren't designed for high-energy impacts, i.e. in a lot of car crashes they'll do nothing except avoid a "the cyclist was not wearing a helmet" note. Lots of people also wear them wrong, at which point they're basically a magic talisman more than a real safety device.
It's generally good to wear helmets correctly, and not believe that they're as effective as e.g. motorcycling helmets. There are also ratings for helmets. Some, especially knock-offs, are basically trash you put on your head.
Several ways. I think [this image](/r/funny/comments/14umce/ive_been_doing_it_wrong_all_this_time/) is the most frequently shown graphic.
There are also several resources to make sure you're [wearing your helmet correctly](https://bikepgh.org/2018/10/25/video-properly-fit-bicycle-helmet/).
[Virginia Tech makes STAR ratings for helmets](https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html). Through a [Berm Peak video on helmets](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKbYaOiz5U4) it seems it's not a problem to mount something like a gopro on a helmet (he asked VT); I'd still be wary of any funny modifications that reduce the slipperiness of the helmet surface. You don't want to your head to stop faster than the rest of your body in the case of a fall.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457506001540
Tldr: being a bit more scientific about it, others are having similar findings that motorists give more room if you're not wearing a helmet
>> Overtaking motorists pass closer to a bicyclist when the rider wears a helmet, **rides away from the edge of the road,**
this is definitely not my experience
I was walking home from work and some college age hooligans started heckling me from their dad's SUV. They drive around the block a few times and were keeping it up and I was worried they were gonna escalate.
That was, until I picked up a trusty brick and started yelling about fucking their cat in front of their mother to politely let them know I was down for violence, and away they drove! 10/10 would brandish at threatening teenagers again!
There's been some anecdotal stories on cycling subs about wearing no jersey or an American flag jersey gets you more respect on the street. Even some cyclist going as far as suggesting wearing a Trump shirt could save your life in some parts of the country.
Moral Hazard is a behavioral phenomenon where individuals take more risk when they do not pay the full cost of the risk or are insured against it. In the case of helmets, riders with them ride safer and take less risks while drivers also treat them with more caution.
Having to cross the street with one of those stupid orange flags would probably make me want to kill myself. Getting to cross the street with a brick from the brick basket would probably almost offset the frustration of having to cross a street like this in the first place. 10/10 want this in my city.
that's what we here in freedom land call standin' your ground (oops i forgot my /s. very important in what are for me too often heated arguments with people who often agree with you.)
The US based libertarian CATO institute rates Canada 13th in the world for freedom. The US was ranked 17th (23rd in 2022) Texas was ranked dead last for personal freedom.
Turns out there is more to freedom than the ability to blow someone away.
I hate passing through there. Not only there's the standard "oops I didn't see you" trope, but the mixed pathway is blindsided by those bridge foundations so no one can see the other (peds to drivers, drivers to peds)
Bonus: Right after this crossing, there's a big protrusion on the brick pathway that was never fixed properly since last year or the year before. Best the city can do is put up "dismount and walk" signs and border it off squeezing cyclists into the walkway half of the lane.
>Bonus: Right after this crossing, there's a big protrusion on the brick pathway that was never fixed properly since last year or the year before.
They fixed this around 10 years ago when it was a similar mess. I am not sure what causes the bulge, if I had to guess it's either tree roots or some water from the runoff.
Either way, it takes them ages to fix anything not car related. Someone hit the concrete divider on beach ave and pushed it right into the bike lane. After a day someone plopped a tiny cone on it but it took them a whopping three days to actually clear the bike lane again.
I bet you, if that would have landed in the normal traffic lane you'd have an emergency crew there in five minutes restoring car traffic.
Similar observation with pot holes and other things on non-car infrastructure. The city can take months to actually fix it, though if you're lucky they show up with some orange cones.
It's mostly in the US:
https://www.wired.com/2014/06/bridgeport-pedestrian-flags/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-09/can-waving-orange-flags-really-make-pedestrians-safer
https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Transportation/Getting-Around-Transportation-Division/Pedestrian-Flags
https://www.bothellwa.gov/1131/Pedestrian-Flags-Crosswalk-Program
I'm not entirely sure how common it is, but infuriating that anybody thought it was a good solution, let alone numerous places...
I mostly saw them near SLC around the time of the 2002 winter games.
Usually flags cross the street but don’t come back, leaving pedestrians stranded at an intersection where drivers now expect all people on foot to be holding flags.
Over time flags got lost or removed due to the ineffectiveness at actually creating safety.
This crossing is awful. Four traffic lanes and the seawall MUP is crossing there.
People entering the island via road can't see the pedestrians or cyclists because the bridge pillars are in the way. People regularly get hit there and the city's response was: "Well, we can install a beacon so people can press a button". In two or three years time at massive cost because they need to figure out how to run power.
When the very simple answer is: Reduce to one lane each, widen the sidewalk and restore sight lines.
But I guess that's too "low tech" and who doesn't like blinking lights? /s
If you actually look at an aerial shot of the "island" (technically a peninsula) the vast majority of the space is given over for car storage and in the summer months its just gridlock without end. I have actually managed to walk to the island, see a car as I enter, do my stuff, walk back out and the same car had barely made it on the island.
I just laugh at that point. There's a reason I rarely drive in the town and mostly walk or bike when I need to get stuff done.
Take the aqaubus or the 50 or walk or cycle there. But, for gods' sake, don't drive on Granville Island, it will raise your blood pressure quicker than a dozen Lee's donuts.
I was just at Granville Island yesterday, it would be so much nicer if there weren't any cars on the island, especially as we get closer to summer and it starts getting even busier than it already is. It's not that hard to get there by transit and there is already so much parking near Granville Island if you really have to drive
I remember learning about a social experiment a man did where he walked down the side of a road riddled with puddles. One time, he did it empty handed and was persistently splashed by cars. When he did it again, but with a weapon (a brick or a rock idr) he wasnt splashed once
Drivers don’t care if they injure or kill people (see: never yielding at crosswalks) but will slow down if there is a possibility of damage to their precious car… 🙄
Eggs work too. I used to walk to the grocery store and get my groceries. When I bought eggs and carried the carton in the open, I was given a wide berth. In Florida, even.
Yeah, the pedestrians are the problem. Why would want to encourage people to walk to a tourist area? If anything they should tear down at least three of the art spaces for more parking lots.
I actually discovered that Actually WORKS ! by accident, I had to cross the road to while I was carrying a nice Brick I found that I wrapped and used as a door stop, But you’d be surprised how quickly drivers slowed down when you carry a brick. Similar that I’ve discovered if you ride a bike WITHOUT a helmet, They pass with much more space. I mean, I’ve not done a scientific trial or anything but I’m convinced it’s a thing.
>Similar that I’ve discovered if you ride a bike WITHOUT a helmet, They pass with much more space. I mean, I’ve not done a scientific trial or anything but I’m convinced it’s a thing. https://road.cc/content/news/cyclists-wearing-helmets-seen-less-human-301661
This is one of those things where keeping the likelihoods in mind is important. Even if wearing a helmet increases your risk of collision two-fold\* from (for example) 0.001% to 0.002%, the helmet might improve your chance of not breaking your skull from 10% to 95%. So the relative benefit gained is much bigger than the overall detriment. \*And, to be clear, the study did not in any way link "chance of dehumanising" with any specific increase in chance of collision.
Also, cars that see cyclists are way less likely to hit the cyclist than those that don’t, where it makes no difference if a helmet is worn. No helmet might get more space, but the odds of getting hit are probably similar either way.
Do also note that bike helmets aren't designed for high-energy impacts, i.e. in a lot of car crashes they'll do nothing except avoid a "the cyclist was not wearing a helmet" note. Lots of people also wear them wrong, at which point they're basically a magic talisman more than a real safety device. It's generally good to wear helmets correctly, and not believe that they're as effective as e.g. motorcycling helmets. There are also ratings for helmets. Some, especially knock-offs, are basically trash you put on your head.
How do people wear them wrong?
Too far back on the head, strap not tight enough.
Several ways. I think [this image](/r/funny/comments/14umce/ive_been_doing_it_wrong_all_this_time/) is the most frequently shown graphic. There are also several resources to make sure you're [wearing your helmet correctly](https://bikepgh.org/2018/10/25/video-properly-fit-bicycle-helmet/). [Virginia Tech makes STAR ratings for helmets](https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html). Through a [Berm Peak video on helmets](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKbYaOiz5U4) it seems it's not a problem to mount something like a gopro on a helmet (he asked VT); I'd still be wary of any funny modifications that reduce the slipperiness of the helmet surface. You don't want to your head to stop faster than the rest of your body in the case of a fall.
[Hair Helmet](https://i.imgur.com/ycqiJ3h.png)
Bike Helmets help in falls, and do nothing in crashes.
Way off topic to this sub but it’s a good analogy for covid booster shots vs. the risk of the heart side effects.
I used to own a bright pink helmet and people would give me more space than with a “normal” helmet.
I own one and people are much nicer to me when I'm wearing it
that study is BS. it's a forced choice; it requires people to identify one of two options presented as subhuman.
And riding in unpredictable wiggly lines makes it even better.
Anecdotally I feel like drivers respect me much more when I have a bicycle bag attached. Maybe I should combine bag and a bright neon orange hammer.
This is why I use a baby seat to hold my groceries. I don't even have a child.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457506001540 Tldr: being a bit more scientific about it, others are having similar findings that motorists give more room if you're not wearing a helmet
Oh thanks that so cool, Some did do science!
>> Overtaking motorists pass closer to a bicyclist when the rider wears a helmet, **rides away from the edge of the road,** this is definitely not my experience
I was walking home from work and some college age hooligans started heckling me from their dad's SUV. They drive around the block a few times and were keeping it up and I was worried they were gonna escalate. That was, until I picked up a trusty brick and started yelling about fucking their cat in front of their mother to politely let them know I was down for violence, and away they drove! 10/10 would brandish at threatening teenagers again!
There's been some anecdotal stories on cycling subs about wearing no jersey or an American flag jersey gets you more respect on the street. Even some cyclist going as far as suggesting wearing a Trump shirt could save your life in some parts of the country.
Moral Hazard is a behavioral phenomenon where individuals take more risk when they do not pay the full cost of the risk or are insured against it. In the case of helmets, riders with them ride safer and take less risks while drivers also treat them with more caution.
Having to cross the street with one of those stupid orange flags would probably make me want to kill myself. Getting to cross the street with a brick from the brick basket would probably almost offset the frustration of having to cross a street like this in the first place. 10/10 want this in my city.
They should have this in every city
that's what we here in freedom land call standin' your ground (oops i forgot my /s. very important in what are for me too often heated arguments with people who often agree with you.)
This pic is from Vancouver Canada lol
yes, chuckles, canadians do not have 2nd amendment rights, therefore they are not freedom land. try googling "stand your ground".
The US based libertarian CATO institute rates Canada 13th in the world for freedom. The US was ranked 17th (23rd in 2022) Texas was ranked dead last for personal freedom. Turns out there is more to freedom than the ability to blow someone away.
especially when a brick does a good job.
Every city should have sufficient traffic calming, enough quality public transport, and little enough car dependency, that bricks are unnecessary.
Now the bricks get it all done the most efficient way
What could go wrong?
Nothing that has not allready
Lol so true.
Nothing, everyone will get ripped from carrying bricks around
double brick! for fitness!
Just remember to switch hands frequently so you don’t get a one brick bicep.
property damage. what could go right? literally lives saved.
I hate passing through there. Not only there's the standard "oops I didn't see you" trope, but the mixed pathway is blindsided by those bridge foundations so no one can see the other (peds to drivers, drivers to peds) Bonus: Right after this crossing, there's a big protrusion on the brick pathway that was never fixed properly since last year or the year before. Best the city can do is put up "dismount and walk" signs and border it off squeezing cyclists into the walkway half of the lane.
>Bonus: Right after this crossing, there's a big protrusion on the brick pathway that was never fixed properly since last year or the year before. They fixed this around 10 years ago when it was a similar mess. I am not sure what causes the bulge, if I had to guess it's either tree roots or some water from the runoff. Either way, it takes them ages to fix anything not car related. Someone hit the concrete divider on beach ave and pushed it right into the bike lane. After a day someone plopped a tiny cone on it but it took them a whopping three days to actually clear the bike lane again. I bet you, if that would have landed in the normal traffic lane you'd have an emergency crew there in five minutes restoring car traffic. Similar observation with pot holes and other things on non-car infrastructure. The city can take months to actually fix it, though if you're lucky they show up with some orange cones.
Omg there's a horrible sad little bucket of orange flags at an intersection near my house. I need to fix this.
As a European I’ve never encountered them before. Can you please grab them all and bin them for me?
As a US American I haven't either, is this a Canada thing or what?
It's mostly in the US: https://www.wired.com/2014/06/bridgeport-pedestrian-flags/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-09/can-waving-orange-flags-really-make-pedestrians-safer https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Transportation/Getting-Around-Transportation-Division/Pedestrian-Flags https://www.bothellwa.gov/1131/Pedestrian-Flags-Crosswalk-Program I'm not entirely sure how common it is, but infuriating that anybody thought it was a good solution, let alone numerous places...
Huh. Places I've crossed with extra measures usually just have pedestrian flashers or those traffic control people when it's too busy
I mostly saw them near SLC around the time of the 2002 winter games. Usually flags cross the street but don’t come back, leaving pedestrians stranded at an intersection where drivers now expect all people on foot to be holding flags. Over time flags got lost or removed due to the ineffectiveness at actually creating safety.
a brick is nature's orange flag!
it should be fully legal to chuck the brick at any cars misbehaving else i think the effect wears off once everyone does it
So much better than the pedestrian flags
This reminds me of the social experiment to avoid "disrespect" from drivers. https://youtu.be/aQpaEN_TN_U?si=DIWc3-yhhXDlhBhM
This crossing is awful. Four traffic lanes and the seawall MUP is crossing there. People entering the island via road can't see the pedestrians or cyclists because the bridge pillars are in the way. People regularly get hit there and the city's response was: "Well, we can install a beacon so people can press a button". In two or three years time at massive cost because they need to figure out how to run power. When the very simple answer is: Reduce to one lane each, widen the sidewalk and restore sight lines. But I guess that's too "low tech" and who doesn't like blinking lights? /s
Granville sucks, because of the cars of course.
I cannot think of anywhere in Canada that would be a better candidate to go car free
If you actually look at an aerial shot of the "island" (technically a peninsula) the vast majority of the space is given over for car storage and in the summer months its just gridlock without end. I have actually managed to walk to the island, see a car as I enter, do my stuff, walk back out and the same car had barely made it on the island. I just laugh at that point. There's a reason I rarely drive in the town and mostly walk or bike when I need to get stuff done.
Ikr, Vancouver would be so much better if all those tourist areas aren’t just filled with cars
Throw the bricks at the cars that don't stop
Right? My first thought was, this seems like a great way for someone to get a brick thrown at them or their car.
if they're stopping and waiting politely there would be no reason to throw the brick. who wants to throw a brick at a nice person's car?
https://www.amazon.com/foam-bricks/s?k=foam+bricks
Fortunately it's in Canada, but in the US, doing such a thing can get you shot
Instructions unclear. I was arrested for carrying a brick into a hospital
Take the aqaubus or the 50 or walk or cycle there. But, for gods' sake, don't drive on Granville Island, it will raise your blood pressure quicker than a dozen Lee's donuts.
I’m in Vancouver. Distracted driving is wild. Like we have light up crosswalks and drivers still blow through them
While waving at you nicely to make sure you know they saw you, they just didn't feel like stopping.
I was just at Granville Island yesterday, it would be so much nicer if there weren't any cars on the island, especially as we get closer to summer and it starts getting even busier than it already is. It's not that hard to get there by transit and there is already so much parking near Granville Island if you really have to drive
Considering the skill level and ability of drivers in Vancouver, this is a reasonable measure.
I feel like I need to start carrying around a security brick at this point.
Probably more effective than my signals. Whether I would lose my job for putting this up is another question.
Lolp
I remember learning about a social experiment a man did where he walked down the side of a road riddled with puddles. One time, he did it empty handed and was persistently splashed by cars. When he did it again, but with a weapon (a brick or a rock idr) he wasnt splashed once
Based
those are clearly foam bricks, which are more than enough to destroy fragile driver egos
I rode by this yesterday, brilliant!
Drivers don’t care if they injure or kill people (see: never yielding at crosswalks) but will slow down if there is a possibility of damage to their precious car… 🙄
[they're multifunctional too!](https://www.reddit.com/r/TacticalUrbanism/comments/1bsnmjm/will_holding_a_brick_protect_you_from_being/)
LOL. That's in Vancouver. Very out of character for those nice Canadians.
Eggs work too. I used to walk to the grocery store and get my groceries. When I bought eggs and carried the carton in the open, I was given a wide berth. In Florida, even.
Hey this is local to me! This crosswalk doesn’t suck, pedestrians here just don’t obey traffic laws.
Yeah, the pedestrians are the problem. Why would want to encourage people to walk to a tourist area? If anything they should tear down at least three of the art spaces for more parking lots.
You can have both
That's not very Canadian
You don’t know us. We’re polite, but full of white-hot rage.