tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post1986531753283340823..comments2024-03-29T03:57:48.696-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: The 'Death Farm': Some Thoughts on Obstacle Blindness Velouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-34134593134628590062016-02-26T06:51:38.329-05:002016-02-26T06:51:38.329-05:00nciencieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01999019367020712723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-1388267951797221732016-02-10T11:06:51.917-05:002016-02-10T11:06:51.917-05:00Than why don't I ever see Bigfoot? Huh? HUH?
...Than why don't I ever see Bigfoot? Huh? HUH?<br /><br />Maybe someday...<br /><br />SpindizzyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47303850877613238382016-02-10T06:29:23.951-05:002016-02-10T06:29:23.951-05:00Looking ahead works for me when I'm unsure of ...Looking ahead works for me when I'm unsure of my maneuver or road position, both when cycling and when practicing driving. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51608105433444199172016-02-10T04:36:45.348-05:002016-02-10T04:36:45.348-05:00Speaking of using the senses, sometimes one can be...Speaking of using the senses, sometimes one can be used in place of the other. Whilst I cannot see a car approaching over a crest on a narrow road I can usually hear it. Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10087760719851502652016-02-09T09:05:47.894-05:002016-02-09T09:05:47.894-05:00For me, my DIY 650B bike is the most "auto-ev...For me, my DIY 650B bike is the most "auto-evasive," so I assumed it was the low trail. But of course it could be any number of things. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67348965553628946352016-02-09T08:30:22.959-05:002016-02-09T08:30:22.959-05:00Forced to think about it, I would have to say I am...Forced to think about it, I would have to say I am less likely to do a duh! when riding the Kellogg road bike.<br /><br />Suppose one possible reason may be the Kellogg is the more adroit of my bikes. Path corrections can seem almost telepathic on that bike. Also, unlike my other bikes which I typically ride when I have to get somewhere, or do something other than riding, when I am on the Kellogg my sole purpose is riding a bike. Perhaps the riding senses are better attuned then. Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-9948656328180803482016-02-09T06:26:25.141-05:002016-02-09T06:26:25.141-05:00Ha. Do you mean the too-subtle colour of the links...Ha. Do you mean the too-subtle colour of the links within the text? <br /><br />I found the previous colour distracting. But maybe I should make it a tiny bit more contrasty. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-73316396512116471792016-02-09T06:23:23.297-05:002016-02-09T06:23:23.297-05:00Thanks, this is very interesting. My husband is a ...Thanks, this is very interesting. My husband is a glider pilot instructor and he talks about this as well. <br /><br />Visual illusions such as the "death farm," however, are a little different than target fixation: We look, and we do see, but we see something different from what is actually there. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22053723539856466052016-02-09T06:19:06.811-05:002016-02-09T06:19:06.811-05:00Have you noticed this happening with specific bicy...Have you noticed this happening with specific bicycles?<br /><br />I have noticed that some bikes seem to be "psychic" in this regard, evading the pothole before my conscious reaction time catches up, whereas on other bikes I need to be more deliberate about it, and even then can end up riding straight into the thing despite knowing it's coming. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-62940448011025105992016-02-09T06:16:56.598-05:002016-02-09T06:16:56.598-05:00Ouch, sorry to hear that. After a few situations t...Ouch, sorry to hear that. After a few situations that nearly resulted in same, if I don't know the route I always ride with a zoomed-in Garmin map in front of me, which allows me to anticipate bad bends. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-9559468435959727742016-02-09T06:10:22.145-05:002016-02-09T06:10:22.145-05:00Thanks for the back story; I had been wondering ab...Thanks for the back story; I had been wondering about "the death farm"! <br /><br />My one close encounter with a stone wall was on a steep descent. My mates knew the road and I didn't, I had too much speed on and did not anticipate the hairpin bend. Lucky I got off with a broken arm! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-6807063712544244042016-02-08T11:36:10.986-05:002016-02-08T11:36:10.986-05:00Target fixation is a little different in that you ...Target fixation is a little different in that you notice the object, but are compelled toward it despite trying to avoid it. Happens to motorists too, especially at night. (And yes I believe that is the main reason blinkies are illegal in some countries.)Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-24669871483596423042016-02-08T08:20:49.605-05:002016-02-08T08:20:49.605-05:00I would like to think anyhow I would take measures...I would like to think anyhow I would take measures to avoid hitting a building or balustrade.<br /><br />There have been times I have definitely perceived a pot hole in my path yet failed to take evasive measures or slow the bike before riding into it.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54427820267850161732016-02-07T16:24:31.724-05:002016-02-07T16:24:31.724-05:00Have a listen to the podcast on fatcyclist with Me...Have a listen to the podcast on fatcyclist with Megan Hottman, especially the last 5 or 10 mins about how she rides, very interestingTim Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03277034044977018254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31222527188776314012016-02-06T20:29:28.898-05:002016-02-06T20:29:28.898-05:00What you describe seems like the phenomenon "...What you describe seems like the phenomenon "Target Fixation". Pilots are trained not to look directly at a an object.<br />Look just to the side of the object otherwise they will be more likely to hit the object. I have read that that is why blinking bike lights are not allowed in Germany. I personally find them annoying and for a moment, stare at it. Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710715433883677736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-33694135291749167532016-02-06T18:34:19.890-05:002016-02-06T18:34:19.890-05:00All this about saccades and fovea is just fine. It...All this about saccades and fovea is just fine. It is simpler than that.<br /><br />People see what they expect to see.<br /><br />People see what they want to see.<br /><br />Mere sensory input is far less potent than preconceived ideas.<br /><br />If you start to see your physical surroundings you will be a much safer cyclist. You will also be at constant loggerheads with your companions and with your culture. One reason why cycling is and will remain an outsider activity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87443139230078933142016-02-06T06:14:39.875-05:002016-02-06T06:14:39.875-05:00I immediately thought of that same article, Michae...I immediately thought of that same article, Michael!<br />The original source article is cited but can be found here:<br />https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/90471/1211%20Road%20Survival%20Guide%20Final.pdfRebecca Oldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979821146538393459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18744623198264216652016-02-05T19:07:54.907-05:002016-02-05T19:07:54.907-05:00With all that talk I ended up not addressing the o...With all that talk I ended up not addressing the original question: how can we cyclists train ourselves to notice obstacles? Beyond the well know fact that our wheels follow our eyes, thus look ahead, not straight at the thing you want to avoid, I do not know if there are any useful general techniques. What we may call good 'ridership', a mix of attention, proficiency and preparedness, that's it.Francisco de Almeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14147944912098034703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-6522042750427932182016-02-05T18:40:49.208-05:002016-02-05T18:40:49.208-05:00Michael, I believe these are different issues. The...Michael, I believe these are different issues. The pilot's problem is that it is hard for converging aircraft to spot each other because converging paths define a constant relative bearing. Our peripheral vision is wired to detect relative movement, of which in collisions courses there is none except at the very end. Saccadic movement comes into the picture too but it is actually helpful - certainly better than attempting a 'fluid scan'. Optical illusions are a different matter, having to do with our pattern recognition hardware (that exists at several levels starting at the retina itself before going into the brain proper). Our gentle host provides a deadly example of a perspectival illusion, but optical illusions may be hazardous or benign depending on context. I am amused by the occasional bits of road (we have all encountered them) that seem to climb while descending or vice-versa. Architects and other artists have used perspectival illusions scientifically since the renaissance and empirically long before that. The Death Farm could cease to be with a more judicious choice of colour.Francisco de Almeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14147944912098034703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-36075518493556400602016-02-05T14:50:11.723-05:002016-02-05T14:50:11.723-05:00Is it a perception test? My brain said there must ...Is it a perception test? My brain said there must be a missing picture, my gut said find a link...<br /><br />The local cycleway into the city has these death traps along with a random collection of stupid obstacles no cyclist would ever have allowed. Why do they only ever employ those who have no clue?Colinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01667939789517989280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-74341753670735318102016-02-05T12:34:58.113-05:002016-02-05T12:34:58.113-05:00Apparently it is all to do with saccades and fixat...Apparently it is all to do with saccades and fixations!<br /><br />I came across this article by a pilot that explains why people sometimes "look but don't see".<br /><br />www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/<br /><br />Like a lot of things, training can improve this but of course road users aren't trained...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12826498172261997737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-45092536231173930432016-02-05T12:32:12.871-05:002016-02-05T12:32:12.871-05:00Very useful pointer about reliability of our perce...Very useful pointer about reliability of our perceptions on the road. As you note, the brain is economical. It "fills in" the visual field but in especially tricky lighting/circumstances, appearances can be deceptive. Often in low light, the brain renders an object ahead as a person that upon drawing closer turns out to be a post or sign or whatever. Maybe we need collision avoidance systems for bikes:)! Does show that we need to do constant scanning of the road and not become complacent. Thanks. Jim DuncanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com