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As a cyclist, I've worn a hi-vis vest while walking around after riding, and it's been weird how many people assume that I am a repair guy or even a police offi

As a cyclist, I've worn a hi-vis vest while walking around after riding, and it's been weird how many people assume that I am a repair guy or even a police officer. The thesis of the article matches my experience. If you wear the vest confidently you could probably get into many things free.

ethbro 8y ago
"Who would claim to be that who was not?" - The Untouchables (On Eliot Ness announcing himself as an armed officer of the Treasury department)
Consultant32452 8y ago
For some reason your post reminded me of this classic Dave Chapelle bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL-1kHxsavI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL-1kHxsavI
rectang 8y ago
I used to cycle in an orange jumpsuit I bought at a surplus store. Lots of people just about sprained their brains trying to figure out whether I was an escaped convict, but I'm an ordinary white guy with glasses so nothing ever went down.
daurnimator 8y ago
It turns out the vest isn't required: if you walk with confidence, you can get in almost anywhere for free without waiting. I've walked confidently into concerts (deadmau5!), sports games, bars, sales events.....
- johnpowell 8y ago
  I tore tickets at a movie theater for a few years and this worked with me. You could go either left or right when you walked past me. If you looked like you knew where you were going I would never question it.
gaius 8y ago
I am a repair guy or even a police officer I've seen a few cyclists wearing gear that was obviously intended to be mistaken for police uniform at a distance e.g. blue and white checks, and only when you get closer do you realise it says "polite". Presumably this is in the hope of getting away with riding on the pavement or jumping red lights. Joke's on them - the real police never enforce those rules anyway.
- gokhan 8y ago
  https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclists-join-high-vis-polite-force-to-be-seen-by-motorists-8568155.html https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclists-join-high-vi...
  - btrettel 8y ago
    Looks like you can buy a variety of different styles here: https://equisafety.com/collections/polite https://equisafety.com/collections/polite
- isostatic 8y ago
  It’s to try to stop drivers from driving illegally next to them.
- btrettel 8y ago
  > Presumably this is in the hope of getting away with riding on the pavement or jumping red lights. Let's not jump to conclusions. Have you seen these folks break the law? The cyclists who wear hi-vis are much less likely break the law than cyclists who don't in my experience. In fact, I can't recall a single instance in my decade of riding where I saw a hi-vis cyclist break the law. The folks you saw probably were trying to improve their visibility. Though, as a motorcyclist on HN told me, a driver seeing you and being angry at you is often better than them not seeing you.

ethbro 8y ago

"Who would claim to be that who was not?" - The Untouchables (On Eliot Ness announcing himself as an armed officer of the Treasury department)

Consultant32452 8y ago

For some reason your post reminded me of this classic Dave Chapelle bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL-1kHxsavI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL-1kHxsavI

rectang 8y ago

I used to cycle in an orange jumpsuit I bought at a surplus store. Lots of people just about sprained their brains trying to figure out whether I was an escaped convict, but I'm an ordinary white guy with glasses so nothing ever went down.

daurnimator 8y ago

It turns out the vest isn't required: if you walk with confidence, you can get in almost anywhere for free without waiting. I've walked confidently into concerts (deadmau5!), sports games, bars, sales events.....

johnpowell 8y ago
I tore tickets at a movie theater for a few years and this worked with me. You could go either left or right when you walked past me. If you looked like you knew where you were going I would never question it.

gaius 8y ago

I am a repair guy or even a police officer I've seen a few cyclists wearing gear that was obviously intended to be mistaken for police uniform at a distance e.g. blue and white checks, and only when you get closer do you realise it says "polite". Presumably this is in the hope of getting away with riding on the pavement or jumping red lights. Joke's on them - the real police never enforce those rules anyway.

gokhan 8y ago
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclists-join-high-vis-polite-force-to-be-seen-by-motorists-8568155.html https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclists-join-high-vi...
- btrettel 8y ago
  Looks like you can buy a variety of different styles here: https://equisafety.com/collections/polite https://equisafety.com/collections/polite
isostatic 8y ago
It’s to try to stop drivers from driving illegally next to them.
btrettel 8y ago
> Presumably this is in the hope of getting away with riding on the pavement or jumping red lights. Let's not jump to conclusions. Have you seen these folks break the law? The cyclists who wear hi-vis are much less likely break the law than cyclists who don't in my experience. In fact, I can't recall a single instance in my decade of riding where I saw a hi-vis cyclist break the law. The folks you saw probably were trying to improve their visibility. Though, as a motorcyclist on HN told me, a driver seeing you and being angry at you is often better than them not seeing you.