Want to educate drivers?

MTB-Roadie-Commuter

I can be absolutely certain I'm not the only person who commutes by bike and gets frustrated by the ridiculous antics of drivers and the lack of a way for riders to let drivers know how they feel or educate the drivers in the first place. We have no horn, we have no "road-presence" - there's basically nothing we can do when drivers behave stupidly (every day in my London experience). Personally I'm fed up of having to risk my life to get to work in using a much better mode of transport than the car! :evil:

I've looked into the cost of getting a jersey printed with something suitable (but much less offensive than what I'd sometimes like to say to drivers) and there are minimum order quantities involved.

Would anyone else be interested in clubbing together to get a bulk order of jerseys made?

I'm thinking of a full sleeve jersey (can roll up the sleeves in summer) with a 1/4 zip and the usual 3 back pockets. Probably in red with blue side panels/detailing and white writing.

Ideas for the text on the back (and perhaps reversed text on the front so drivers can see it in their mirrors, if they ever use those)...


Idea 1:

QUICKER
GREENER
FITTER
CLEANER
CHEAPER

ONE LESS CAR


Idea 2:

WIFE (tick)
KIDS (tick)
AIR BAGS (cross)
CRUMPLE ZONES (cross)

GIVE BIKES ROOM!



Idea 3:

FED UP
WITH THE
TRAFFIC?

YOU ARE
THE TRAFFIC


All other ideas welcome!!

I'd be happy to place the order and post the jerseys out to people after payment. If interested please indicate your preferred text idea or suggest your own

Wallace1492

How about giving out ones to the less responsible cyclist:

RED LIGHT JUMPER (tick)
PAVEMENT PANSY (tick)
LYCRA LOUT (tick)


In all seriousness though, I doubt any motorist would take any notice, it needs a grass roots shift in driver/cyclist perception. Harsher penalties for bad driving, and more enforced 20 mph zones.

deptfordmarmoset

I like idea 2 but I haven't got a wife...I've got a grandchild though, but that's a bit long for a jersey

Sewinman

Why not go the whole hog and stick a bullseye on your back!

UndercoverElephant

Undercover Elephant's Duncan Bannatyne Impression wrote:

I would imagine that with that amount of text, the font would have to be quite small (printed designs are usually sized for the XS jersey), thereby meaning that the cars would have to drive very close to you in order to read it, and for that reason, I'm out.

dhope

Like the sentiment but I don't think it'd make any more difference than the pointless 'Baby on board' signs that dangle in the back of cars. Also reckon it'd just reinforce the smug cyclist stereotype.

bails87

1 and 3 won't help with non-cyclists who think we're patronising and 'holier-than-thou'.

And 2 makes a good point, but only works if you've got a wife and kids. Could replace wife and kids with heart and brain.

Not that I'd wear one because I wear a backpack on my commute so the message would be missed.

I don't think the bad drivers would have time to read it anyway.

Maybe just a big white arrow on a blue background, pointing down and to the right. Like you'd get on a bollard on a traffic island.

bails87

dhope wrote:

the pointless 'Baby on board' signs.

I always assume they refer to the driver......

MTB-Roadie-Commuter

Wallace1492 wrote:

How about giving out ones to the less responsible cyclist:

RED LIGHT JUMPER (tick)
PAVEMENT PANSY (tick)
LYCRA LOUT (tick)


In all seriousness though, I doubt any motorist would take any notice, it needs a grass roots shift in driver/cyclist perception. Harsher penalties for bad driving, and more enforced 20 mph zones.

Agreed, but let's face it that's never going to happen. Of course not all cyclists are as responsible as others but even an irresponsible cyclist is much less dangerous to others than an irresponsible driver.

As for jumping red lights, if divers had to pedal their cars and could get away with it they wouldn't think twice!

UndercoverElephant

bails87 wrote:

dhope wrote:

the pointless 'Baby on board' signs.

I always assume they refer to the driver......

They do have a purpose: in case of an accident, the Emergency Services will check round-about the wreckage of your car to find any kiddie-seats that may have been flung during the impact.

MTB-Roadie-Commuter

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Undercover Elephant's Duncan Bannatyne Impression wrote:

I would imagine that with that amount of text, the font would have to be quite small (printed designs are usually sized for the XS jersey), thereby meaning that the cars would have to drive very close to you in order to read it, and for that reason, I'm out.

I've actually mocked them up using some online "jersey-builders" and it can be made to fit without being too small. Can email you an example image if you PM me

UndercoverElephant

MTB-Roadie-Commuter wrote:

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Undercover Elephant's Duncan Bannatyne Impression wrote:

I would imagine that with that amount of text, the font would have to be quite small (printed designs are usually sized for the XS jersey), thereby meaning that the cars would have to drive very close to you in order to read it, and for that reason, I'm out.

I've actually mocked them up using some online "jersey-builders" and it can be made to fit without being too small. Can email you an example image if you PM me

You know, once a dragon has declared that they're out, they can't go back in. No amount of whining will win me back. I'm out, Sonny-Jim. Plus, I have a backpack, so nobody would read it anyway.

You know, I used to buy ice-creams off Duncan Bannatyne when I was a nipper.

Clare_M

I have a bag on my back, so they wouldn't be able to see the writing.... Must get some panniers!

sketchley

why so fuck1ng close

bails87

UndercoverElephant wrote:

bails87 wrote:

dhope wrote:

the pointless 'Baby on board' signs.

I always assume they refer to the driver......

They do have a purpose: in case of an accident, the Emergency Services will check round-about the wreckage of your car to find any kiddie-seats that may have been flung during the impact.

Thing is, round here a pretty big proportion are in cars with just the driver in. And then you get the "Spoiled Princess on board" type ones. Where you genuinely don't know if it means the driver or any children who may or may not be in the car.

sketchley

NSFW

http://tinyurl.com/3636agu

MTB-Roadie-Commuter

bails87 wrote:

1 and 3 won't help with non-cyclists who think we're patronising and 'holier-than-thou'.

And 2 makes a good point, but only works if you've got a wife and kids. Could replace wife and kids with heart and brain.

Not that I'd wear one because I wear a backpack on my commute so the message would be missed.

I don't think the bad drivers would have time to read it anyway.

Maybe just a big white arrow on a blue background, pointing down and to the right. Like you'd get on a bollard on a traffic island.

You and dhope are probably right about cyclists appearing smug, however I don't mind that tbh because I think we do have the moral high ground. Most of the Chelsea tractor/BMW/Audi/Porsche drivers look pretty smugly back at me when they drive like idiots to get 5m further down the road.

Most who commute by car in London could use public transport or cycle - after all if they weren't blocking up the road their bus could get them to work twice as quickly as it would now.

rick_chasey

How about

"My c0ck is so enourmous you desperately want to run me over so you can feel better about not having seen your own hiding away underneath your beer belly like a shriveled acorn for at least 5 years, or because you know you'll never be able to to bag a man who can actually perform like me"


Very snappy.

sketchley

http://1lesscar.com/

Clever Pun

I would have expected more discussion on the new on the spot fines for drivers who are careless (I may have missed it)

if a few people driving like w@nkers get stung for £100 they'll certainly think before being a douche in future

bails87

Sketchley wrote:

NSFW

http://tinyurl.com/3636agu

Although how "English f***ing rose" is from Stoke is a mystery.....she's got the right amount of fingers for a start.

mudcow007

Rick Chasey wrote:

How about

"My c0ck is so enourmous you desperately want to run me over so can feel better about not having seen your own hiding away underneath your beer belly like a shriveled acorn for at least 5 years, or because you know you'll never be able to to bag a man who can actually perform like me"

i like the way that just rolls off the tongue

dhope

MTB-Roadie-Commuter wrote:

As for jumping red lights, if divers had to pedal their cars and could get away with it they wouldn't think twice!

Hm, sounds like you RLJ. You realise this invalidates all collected scalps when SCR...

bails87

mudcow007 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

How about

"My c0ck

i like the way that just rolls off the tongue

snailracer

"CAMERA ON BOARD"

gtvlusso

Just wear a Man Utd shirt - that'll pi$$ off more people than you know....

In other news, don't bother.....almost as bad as the "I Pay Roadtax" shirts....lame....

rick_chasey

bails87 wrote:

mudcow007 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

How about

"My c0ck

i like the way that just rolls off the tongue

*shrugs*

Must have a big mouth.

jds_1981

Pictures'd be better

notsoblue

Unfortunately, the drivers you'd want to target with all this aren't very open, or susceptible to "education" :S

bails87

notsoblue wrote:

Unfortunately, the drivers you'd want to target with all this aren't very open, or susceptible to "education" :S

True. It's probably the same as people putting a "Jesus loves you" sticker on their car. People who already agree will....agree. And people who disagree won't pay any attention.

rick_chasey

notsoblue wrote:

Unfortunately, the drivers you'd want to target with all this aren't very open, or susceptible to "education" :S

Ironic, given they regularly say things like " I'll give 'im a lesson 'e'll neva forget" and "That'll learn ya!".