Measuring the safety benefit of the Flip-Flag

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“There is really no point in waving a flag around while cycling, unless it actually keeps you safer on the road.”

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Quantification methodology:

1. Film a rush-hour traffic commute with and without the Flip-Flag

2. Extract each frame in the footage showing a motor vehicle over-taking

3. Calibrate these images with the known handlebar width measurement

4. Measure and compare the overtaking margins with and without the Flip-Flag

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Results:

From analysis of 49 overtaking events with and 47 overtaking events without the Flip-Flag on the same route at the same time of day:

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Not surprising. Motorists perceive the cyclist as a wider object, so the effective overtaking margin (between the cyclist and the vehicle) increases.

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