A friend of mine recently recommended that I consider getting a CO2 vest, the kind that inflates (*POOF*) if you are thrown from your bike. It works like this: A cord attaches to your bike. If at some point you are separated from your bike unexpectedly, then the CO2 cartridge is activated and it rapidly inflates your vest, including a neck roll. Great idea, but rather steep price tag at $450.
I'm not sure I will spring for this, but if I start riding freeways, it might not be a bad idea. He said he gets a lot more respect from cars now, especially in slower traffic when he splits lanes.
I don't know if it's that people can see him better, or also the fact that by wearing it he looks more *responsible* and less like a hot dogger reckless motoist, which is what I think a lot of people see when they see a bike pulling up behind them. When I am in a car, I witness some pretty anti-moto aggressive tactics by car drivers, such as crowding the bike rider on purpose, etc. It really saddens me to see car drivers risking the health and safety of a motorcycle rider just because maybe they don't like motorcycle enthusiasts. Maybe this vest helps communicate, "Hey, look, I'm no speedster, I'm a safe dude/chick who just wants to ride and stay alive doing it."
I don't know if it's that people can see him better, or also the fact that by wearing it he looks more *responsible* and less like a hot dogger reckless motoist, which is what I think a lot of people see when they see a bike pulling up behind them. When I am in a car, I witness some pretty anti-moto aggressive tactics by car drivers, such as crowding the bike rider on purpose, etc. It really saddens me to see car drivers risking the health and safety of a motorcycle rider just because maybe they don't like motorcycle enthusiasts. Maybe this vest helps communicate, "Hey, look, I'm no speedster, I'm a safe dude/chick who just wants to ride and stay alive doing it."
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