My guess is that they have never seen such a thing before, and think: oh – there’s a person on a bike-thing, as opposed to the general street-clutter of another “cyclist” that they are used to seeing.

I think we get compartmentalized in driver’s brains as just another thing floating around on the street – a moving thing, treated as a “cyclist”, not as another human being or person on a bike – just something that’s _in the way_.

Looking like something they haven’t encountered before seems to make them realise that you’re actually a person – a human being.

I agree a little with John Gallagher re: experiences, but surely some experiences we should know we can do without, i.e being run over!!!!! I think it’s more to do with ‘sensory deprivation’, no longer do people look when crossing, they rely on their ears, which in most cases are stuffed with earplugs, phones etc. I include ‘thought’ in this, thinking of others (cyclist/car drivers) when launching yourself out and into the road, zebra crossings are a great lauching pad, people seem to think just running onto one gives them right of access, ha, ha nutters!

I am not an advocate of fining people in general as awareness is a better lesson, but unfortunately the experience of losing ‘cash’ does seem to hurt people more.

We need laws for pedestrians, do we have ANY!!!!

I had a similar experience when cycling last Sunday – three teenage lads stepped off the pavement to cross the road without looking, there were no cars about and it was quiet. Had to take some drastic avoiding action to miss them.