Bike flags in traffic... - The Oregonian

Bike flags...
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com

Q: In the past week, I've nearly hit two people riding reclining recumbent bicycles because I didn't see them when I checked my mirrors and blind spots. Since these bikes are so low to the ground, isn't there a law requiring them to be outfitted with a warning flag?




A:In Oregon, reclining recumbent riders, whose seats are often less than a foot off the ground, are not required to mount a flag on the back of their bicycles (and tricycles) to be more visible.

But thank you for pointing out why it's a good idea. Flags with flexible poles aren't hard to find. In fact, Southeast Portland recumbent dealer Coventry Cycle Works sells dozens of styles, from basic fluorescent orange to tie-dye to ones that read no gas."

"Our best seller is the Dragonfly," said Coventry employee Louie "Bandana Man, who declined to give his last name. "It's like a kite. The wings come out like a dragonfly and moves about when you ride. So it really draws the attention of autoists....

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Q: In the past week, I've nearly hit two people riding reclining recumbent bicycles because I didn't see them when I checked my mirrors and blind spots. Since these bikes are so low to the ground, isn't there a law requiring them to be outfitted with a warning flag?

A. What an interesting statement. My question is what ever happened to this driver and looking forward, scanning “all” traffic, instead of “nearly hitting cyclists when checking their mirror and blind spots”. Texting? Chatting? Doesn’t make a difference if the bents had flags or not since this driver didn’t “see” them in the first place. FWIIW: I run two flags, along with ICE’s flags and streamers on each pole. Multiple strobe lights front and rear.

 

I was wondering the same thing. But then after rereading "In the past week, I've nearly hit two people riding reclining recumbent bicycles because I didn't see them when I checked my mirrors and blind spots.", that maybe he was in a parking lot and was attempting to back up.

Whatever he was doing, I am NOT defending someone for hitting or almost hitting a cyclist, pedestrian, or anything. Careless Driving is still Careless Driving.

I also use multiple poles and flags and run my lights. The flags may or may not help on the roads at speed (I've been told by motorists that they saw my flags before the lights), but in parking lots which I try to avoid, they get motorist attention.

As I said above I try to avoid parking lots, but there are times I have to be in them to get to a store. I DON'T use parking lots as short cuts.

Gary