Modern Vespa

This is designed for (push)bikes, but it seems like it might have some potential for use by urban scooterists as well.

It is a laser device that 'paints' an illuminated lane around the bike (scooter). It offers a visual reminder to cars and trucks as to what space you 'own'.

Interesting concept.

http://www.amazon.com/X-Fire-5-LED-Taillight-Laser-Marker/dp/B0084U2RKY/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1387879123&sr=1-1

Not sure if it would have legal ramifications or not, but I'm throwing it out there:

Great idea, thx for sharing

This is a more recent version just come out of Kickstarter.

Also an interesting idea.

http://www.blaze.cc/

The difference is that Blaze projects an image of a bicycle which is meant to catch a motorists eye. The device I mentioned actually boxes in the rider within a laser painted lane that moves along on either side of the rider.

My biggest problem in city riding is that cars don't respect the zone around my scooter that I consider inviolate.

It is more than a safety issue. If I don't 'own' the small envelope immediately around my scooter, it robs me of the ability to safely maneuver and make safe lane changes. It is almost a daily event that cars pass me inside my lane (rather than going into the neighboring lane as they would to pass another car). This might help discourage that behavior.

I like this invention because it does more than just catch motorist's eyes... it gives a visual reminder that the rider is traveling within a lane that shouldn't be invaded.

Avid night cyclist and lighting nut here... anything that directs attention away from you (even to the road around you) and makes the driver think WTF is bad. You want to look like a bicycle (or PTW) as much as possible.

In the UK there are lots of problems (as posted recently) with cyclists getting killed by vehicles (usually large lorries) turning left in front of them - the idea of the Blaze is that the cycle warning "arrives" about 20 metres earlier giving lots more advance warning. Also protects from moron pedestrians on mobiles who do not look when crossing in London traffic.

From my point of view, as a scooter rider, I am generally moving at the same speed as or faster than the surrounding traffic so knowing I am coming would be my preference, the situation you describe I do not experience, it is different in different countries. On motorways I have never had a car overtake half in my lane and half in the outside lane but I am normally 2/3 of the way over anyway to prevent that.

If I was on my cycle I might prefer the lane version (which has been around for a while but not taken off here at least).

First problem I see is the value is best for night, second when traveling faster than the speed of light.
The best would be to project a box in 3d to ride in.
I think it is an idea with merit and would like to push to the next generation.

Look a bit and you can find one that does both lane lines and image, at least to the rear.



Mount one facing forward, and it would make it easy to stay in your lane on unlighted roads. Just stay between the red lines and follow the bicycle. Cheaper and easier to use than a GPS.

Genius.

I don't consider that I 'own' a lane, or a space - or that cars do either.

I think this sums up my feelings on the matter-its much more fluid than 'owning' a space

Yes, Mrs Av suffers from sleep deprivation because she stays awake all night watching and admiring me.

Good point. I should have said 'trying to own', or maybe even 'renting'. The goal is to present a more robust presence so that cars don't routinely invade the space you'd like to keep for yourself.

I am kind of "comfortable" with the "lane marking" to the rear, as it is somewhat defensive in nature. At least in my view. The forward projecting bicycle image, on the other hand does hint of lane ownership in a bit of an offensive (vs defensive) manner.

Sadly, there are far too many locales where bicyclists and motor vehicle drivers are at loggerheads over "ownership" of the public thoroughfares, and adversarial relationships are non-productive enough as it is without heightening them with special lanes, or special devices that can appear to be "in your face".

I like these products. I would consider buying something along these lines for a PTW and see if it has a positive impact on my commute.

Wondering if they will be available at the International Motorcycle Show.

They are available through Amazon.com (and thus a small donation to MV) for a relative pittance.

Just access Amazon via the link at the bottom of this page: https://modernvespa.com/forum/

There was a lot of conversation about these some time ago on the bicycle forums. The consensus was that they are not very visible, they move about oddly when the bike leans and maneuvers, and just seem to not get the desired effect. A creative idea that doesn't work very well.

I can imagine other drivers watching the laser images and not the rest of their surroundings...

After thinkin about this for 12 hours I am thinking it has potential.....

One statistic: only a very small amount of motorcycle accidents are from the rear.

Regarding impact; if you use the layout of a 12 hour clock face, with 12 being straight ahead and 9 being mid ship on the left and 3 mid ship to the right, some 90+% of all motorcycle accidents occur from 7 o'clock through 12 and 12 through 5 o'clock. And of this the area covering from 10 to 2 is makes up an extraordinary large amount of all accidents.

Me personally I would like to make sure the accident avoidance software in the new vehicles recognizes scooter/ motorcycles