POLITE Notice, Think Bike
Discussion
Phon_E87 said:
If you're the sort of driver who takes that as a signal that you have to charge past me to prove something because you don't like what's written on my vest, then that says more about you, than it does about me.
I wouldn't wear one but 100% agree and it's nice to see that the PH morons are out in force with first hand evidence of their inability to restrain themselves when faced with someone wearing clothes they don't like.Yes... clothes FFS.
jjr1 said:
I think they are a bunch of utter cock tards and would happily inconvenience one given half a chance.
Mr2Mike said:
It says that you are a cock, and that the person charging past knows this. No more, no less.
MattOz said:
Anyone wearing one should just simply be removed from the gene pool.
rxe said:
Makes me inclined to boot the car harder as I go (safely) past them.
Toyoda said:
Totally agree with this sentiment. Oooh what a coincidence that 'polite' looks like 'police' at a quick glance. Let's wear a stupid high vis and pretend I'm the law.
But they're not pretending they are the law, are they?"POLITE" looks like "POLICE" - that's all it is. you make the association yourself, and then get bent out of shape about it.
It may well inhabit the same sort of area of dubiousness that flashing bike lights do, but there's no denying it works.
The decision to act like a retard when you come across someone wearing one, because of an assumption that you have made based upon the (entirely deliberate and effective) way in which the vest that they are exploits your brain, is yours and yours alone. I doubt very much whether said (motor)cyclist\horserider gives two s
ts whether you're getting all worked up or not, except and unless your "I'm going to deliberately act like a numpty to teach them a lesson" shenanigans put them in casualty.which, again, would be your fault, not theirs.
Phon_E87 said:
But they're not pretending they are the law, are they?
"POLITE" looks like "POLICE" - that's all it is. you make the association yourself, and then get bent out of shape about it.
It may well inhabit the same sort of area of dubiousness that flashing bike lights do, but there's no denying it works.
The decision to act like a retard when you come across someone wearing one, because of an assumption that you have made based upon the (entirely deliberate and effective) way in which the vest that they are exploits your brain, is yours and yours alone. I doubt very much whether said (motor)cyclist\horserider gives two sts whether you're getting all worked up or not, except and unless your "I'm going to deliberately act like a numpty to teach them a lesson" shenanigans put them in casualty.
which, again, would be your fault, not theirs.
Yak yak yak. Didn't say it got me worked up, just that they deserve extra disdain. Sounds like you're the one getting worked up in your pretendy police coat."POLITE" looks like "POLICE" - that's all it is. you make the association yourself, and then get bent out of shape about it.
It may well inhabit the same sort of area of dubiousness that flashing bike lights do, but there's no denying it works.
The decision to act like a retard when you come across someone wearing one, because of an assumption that you have made based upon the (entirely deliberate and effective) way in which the vest that they are exploits your brain, is yours and yours alone. I doubt very much whether said (motor)cyclist\horserider gives two s
ts whether you're getting all worked up or not, except and unless your "I'm going to deliberately act like a numpty to teach them a lesson" shenanigans put them in casualty.which, again, would be your fault, not theirs.
Also a biker here.. No issue with Hi-Vis, Low-Vis, whatever you fancy but as is flamin' obvious this 'POLITE' plays on looking like 'POLICE' and as a result makes people act irrationally..
Much like on the Motorway when traffic unexpectedly slows up only to find some people crawling past one of those 'Traffic Officer' cars. It causes an overreaction.
You also see SOME people that wear them riding white Police bike looky-likeys with a white helmet etc and seemingly thinking they are the Police.
In a nutshell, a step too far for road safety..
Much like on the Motorway when traffic unexpectedly slows up only to find some people crawling past one of those 'Traffic Officer' cars. It causes an overreaction.
You also see SOME people that wear them riding white Police bike looky-likeys with a white helmet etc and seemingly thinking they are the Police.
In a nutshell, a step too far for road safety..
walm said:
In fairness, they kind-of are.
Mmmm, all right maybe - or at least they are not going out of their way to dissuade other road users that that is the case...I'd still argue that the majority of assumptions and activities based upon them are all down to the drivers of the other vehicles however.
Which on the basis of this thread run the full gamut of contemptuous to willfully negligent.
Even allowing for Walm's point, I'd further argue that if you're getting that annoyed about what someone else is wearing, to the point of over-reaction, then you probably need to pull over and take a couple of deep breaths, possibly whilst listening to something soothing!
I'm a biker and I wear hi-vis stuff when I'm out and about.
I think these 'polite' vests are pretty unnecessary and whilst they shouldn't be a cause for other road users to get upset, they're clearly - judging from the comments on here so far - inflammatory and therefore would seem to be detrimental to personal safety.
Normal hi-vis will make you visible. These things will make you visible and then appear to either distract attention or draw unwanted attention.
There is no upside to these.
I think these 'polite' vests are pretty unnecessary and whilst they shouldn't be a cause for other road users to get upset, they're clearly - judging from the comments on here so far - inflammatory and therefore would seem to be detrimental to personal safety.
Normal hi-vis will make you visible. These things will make you visible and then appear to either distract attention or draw unwanted attention.
There is no upside to these.
How legal would it be to paint your car to look like a police car (leaving the blue light off the top) but change the word to "Polite" instead of "Police" because, rightly or wrongly, it's the same thing as wearing this bib? You are trying to fool people into thinking you are a policeman to make them to drive sensibly past you.
Personally I don't mind the ones wearing it when the bike they're on is obviously not a police bike but I've seen several on Tourers with white panniers who are desperately trying to fool people into thinking, for just a second, that they might actually be genuine police.
As an aside, I was driving through Birmingham a few years ago and there was "marked" police car which was being used in a TV show (guessing the Bill?) being driven between shooting locations in the inside lane and, as I passed, I could see that all the "Police" markings were covered and there were A4 posters in most windows saying "NOT A REAL POLICE CAR - FILMING PURPOSES ONLY" or words to that effect.
Personally I don't mind the ones wearing it when the bike they're on is obviously not a police bike but I've seen several on Tourers with white panniers who are desperately trying to fool people into thinking, for just a second, that they might actually be genuine police.
As an aside, I was driving through Birmingham a few years ago and there was "marked" police car which was being used in a TV show (guessing the Bill?) being driven between shooting locations in the inside lane and, as I passed, I could see that all the "Police" markings were covered and there were A4 posters in most windows saying "NOT A REAL POLICE CAR - FILMING PURPOSES ONLY" or words to that effect.
Tonsko said:
When I see the Think Bike signs on the road, it's clearly a reminder to car drivers... but I automatically think that it's reminding bikers not to make bad decisions too. Then realise it's for me 
. It does go both ways though, I think.
We have "think bike" and "bikers think" signs along some of the more popular MotoGP-Sunday roads in our area.. It does go both ways though, I think.Perhaps it will make a couple of them think that when rounding a right hander, having your wheels just to the left of the white line means that your head is in direct line with my headlight on my side of the road.
IanH755 said:
Personally I don't mind the ones wearing it when the bike they're on is obviously not a police bike but I've seen several on Tourers with white panniers who are desperately trying to fool people into thinking, for just a second, that they might actually be genuine police.
I actually agree with this - it can be taken too far and whilst the vest is one thing, going all out at obvious Plastic-Ploddery is clearly a step too far, and I don't agree with that.That said, my response would be more of a "Tut" and shake of the head rather accelerator\brake hammering ridiculousness, but that's just me...
Phon_E87 said:
But they're not pretending they are the law, are they?
"POLITE" looks like "POLICE" - that's all it is. you make the association yourself, and then get bent out of shape about it.
It may well inhabit the same sort of area of dubiousness that flashing bike lights do, but there's no denying it works.
Ha ha bullcrap they aren't trying to impersonate the Police. That is the whole point of it. If they really wanted to be seen they would wear orange overalls like prisoners wear....."POLITE" looks like "POLICE" - that's all it is. you make the association yourself, and then get bent out of shape about it.
It may well inhabit the same sort of area of dubiousness that flashing bike lights do, but there's no denying it works.
So do people who have these on what to be police? Well know, its just a little trick to make people think twice. People get it on the second look so for most that is the end of it.
Why do people hate on them? I think they dont like being tricked and so hate on the people doing it.
Does it work? I was given one to try so did test it out. I dont ride with a high-viz so it could be that but from one ride for about 2h threw London it worked quite well. People did just behave better.
Should people have them on, well that is up to them. Some of us are of the age where we dont care what we look like. Also it is fun to see people have to look two times. Not for me but I am not going to hate on people that do have them as anything that you feel will keep you safe on the road is a good choice?
Why do people hate on them? I think they dont like being tricked and so hate on the people doing it.
Does it work? I was given one to try so did test it out. I dont ride with a high-viz so it could be that but from one ride for about 2h threw London it worked quite well. People did just behave better.
Should people have them on, well that is up to them. Some of us are of the age where we dont care what we look like. Also it is fun to see people have to look two times. Not for me but I am not going to hate on people that do have them as anything that you feel will keep you safe on the road is a good choice?
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