{"id":3028,"date":"2024-10-18T10:35:16","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T10:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.happycyclist.org\/?p=3028"},"modified":"2024-10-19T15:54:43","modified_gmt":"2024-10-19T15:54:43","slug":"the-safety-paddle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happycyclist.grahamecooper.com\/?p=3028","title":{"rendered":"The Safety Paddle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This seems to attract interest each time I show it on Twitter (sometimes called X), so I’ve added this article to explain it in a more concise way than my earlier post<\/a>, which you can still read for the full story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a picture of it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It extends 1 metre from the centre line of the bicycle, so 70cm beyond the end of the handlebar of the bicycle. This is less than half of the 1.5 metre gap that drivers are supposed to leave when passing at speeds up to 30mph, so if a driver hits it, they are definitely far too close. However, this Twitter post shows just one example of its effect on driver behaviour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just the safety paddle doing the job I designed it for. 99% certain this driver would have close-passed me through the pinch point. pic.twitter.com\/44w0uELpkc<\/a><\/p>— Bicycle-Riding Motorist (@MrHappyCyclist) October 17, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>