Can't think of a good title.

Anyway, seeing that I'm deaf and tend not to recognised sound (incoming car, police/ambulance/fire engine sirens, people going OI!.) and even a simple wind blowing at my hearing aids will sound like a radio with no reception, so trying to listen is impossible, also poor balance which mean if someone hit me I'd come down a cropper (you need to able to hear properly in order to have good balance).

Riding around London is alright, I tend to spend a lots of time looking over my shoulder and observing the road ahead more often as if I was cycling with a NoBrake, no worried there really, but in the evening run back to South Wimbledon from Bloomsbury at 2am can get quite scary with children speeding in their car/scooter, police/ambulance/fire engine literally pop up from behind, driver driving too close to me, etc.

Would having a bright red hoodies with 'DEAF' in white helvetica (none other than) on the back would make a bit of a difference or not?

while in theory it would be awesome.... people will think its just a fashion label/band.

i imagine

'I'm a deaf person' ?
or
'I'm super dope def' ?

+1

It would work better if you could get the name/logo of a Deaf person's society/charity on there as well

Is there not an international symbol that would be recognised that showed you are deaf? I think it could be like someone else already said, people would think that maybe its just a fashion statement or even a brand name similar to Blind.

that someone has a name!



maybe

Yeah sorry pete, couldn't remember your name as I was writting my reply, no offence meant.

hehe.. its ok... its a hard name to remember :P

i jest i jest! its early in the morning for you guys ;)

Get it done in something reflective if you feel most vulnerable at night.

Yeah like the above are saying i think it would look like a label too... I always give cyclists with head phones on a lot more space. (no pisstake intended)

have it say :

I ACTUALLY AM
DEAF
PLEASE BE CAREFUL
YOU CUNTS.

In principle I think it's a good idea, but in practice I wonder whether anyone would treat you any differently from how they would a non-hearing impaired person? While I think most of the people on this forum who drive (and even those who don't) would see it and think 'hey - that's a bloody good idea!', the rest of the people on the road are out and out arseholes, so it's unlikely to make a difference.

In the end it doesn't matter if you're deaf - they should be keeping an eye out for you anyway - but they don't.

In fact, you could be wearing a full on Tron suit with 'DEAF' in neon lights on a sign covering your entire back and they wouldn't see you.

+1

or

I AM STONE DEAF
NOTHING YOU DO OR SAY WILL BE HEARD BY ME
THIS IS NOT A BRAND YOU ASSHOLES THIS IS REAL LIFE
GIVE ME SOME MOTHERFUCKIN ROOM YO

A white T-shirt, or a Hi-Viz with that deaf^^ logo on it should work fine.
You can get discreet bar plug mirrors for drop bars too, not like the ones above of course!

"DEAF CYCLIST" might be better, less brand-like.

Those plug bar ends are so dangerous! there is nothing safer than a look over the shoulder.

actually yeah, that's probably the best solution.

I'd have to agree.

Sadly Londoners are bombarded with so much information, advertising, branding, overt individuality, fashion statements, political statements, mission statements..... (the list is nigh endless) that they often become inured into a state of blinkeredness that only accepts the bare minimum nessecary information to allow them to continue doing what they want, especially in the sacred haven of their cars.

They will see only a cyclist, if that, and react accordingly. Frankly you could ride naked, screaming and covered in somebody elses blood and you'd be lucky to solicit a sigh and an extra two inches of space.

I could only advise riding around with a big pair of dayglo Sennheisers on to illuminate the fact that you can't hear them.

Until some alleged "coolhunter" ends up appropriating it as a fashion item, rendering it useless and giving one more reason to beat hipsters with sticks.

You can get those Hi-Vis vest printed up cheap from "work wear" websites.

You could put that over whatever your wearing... I'd wear a hoody that said DEAF on it and I'm not, so agreed DEAF CYCLIST is better.

Can you Print me one Saying "DAFT CYCLIST"

Would it be too self agrandising to go for DEFT CYCLIST.

Actually the DEAF CYCLIST jacket is probably a good idea and I imagine it would have some impact.

.

unfortunately, more than half the people don't know what this symbol represent, as if it's not uncommon for American to not know where Europe is.

more letter = smaller font size, easily covered by a stachel/bag, the capital four letters 'DEAF' allow me to carry a bag on the long stretch really.

Dunno about that, used to cycles with a helmet, cars seemed to drive nearer me, doesn't take care on the road, etc. but for some odd reason they give me more space if I don't wear a helmet, hence the idea of a bright red hoodie with 'DEAF' written on the back, so they know i won't be able to hear incoming car from behind.

Hearing Impaired?

You could also consider getting a bag with "I am Deaf" on the flap. You could even have the manufacturer make the outline of the text, or the whole thing, reflective. It wouldn't get covered that way.

Peace

Peace

Why not wear large headphones, dark glasses and act oblivious to all traffic you should get loads of space.

maybe a blind fold and a unicycle?

And juggling knives.

It's a good idea, but I'd probably use Transport instead.

I find cars treat me much better on the road if I have a helmet, and lights. I think it kind of shows that your doing everything 'properly' and being as safe as possible. Which pressures drivers to behave properly too.

If drivers see someone in the dark with no lights for example, they think 'look at that cunt with no lights' and feel obliged to show them the road is a dangerous place.

When I try to ride my BMX on the road, its impossible to do any roundabout etc. Drivers treat you like some stupid kid that shouldnt be there, you get no respect at all.

Brilliant idea, do it.

I just wonder what the reaction would be if the government passed a law making it obligatory for deaf people to wear something like this.
I'm fairly sure it would be far from universally welcomed...

OMG you are right ! Ed sticking the word DEAF on his back so he doesn't get mashed up by some tosser in his Audi is at the top end of the same slippery slope that saw the attempted genocide of the Jews in the 1940's.

Ed, you filthy deaf racist.

:p