One of the "hmm... things to make" is a lidar detector for things behind a car that then is mapped to an array of the vibration motors that are in the back of a driver's seat - so that you could feel a car passing you.
I drive a Chevy Suburban (6 kids), its a huge car and can be hard to see my surroundings. When I'm backing out of a parking spot, it will vibrate the left or right side of my seat if a car is coming from the appropriate direction. It'll also do the same if it senses you're drifting into another lane or if you are changing lanes purposefully (blinker on) and someone is in my blindspot. It is extremely convenient
My math teacher would say that the wise Indian parks his horses the direction of escape. Why not back into the parking spot and pull out forward? The overreliance on tech is frightening.
> In all spaces marked for city administered public parking within the city, all vehicles shall be parked with the front end of the vehicle facing into the space provided for parking. It shall be unlawful for any person to back any vehicle into such parking space. No person shall stand or park a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or into the roadway other than as indicated by signs or markings.
I recall this being the case in Palo Alto for city lots at one time and I believe that San Francisco city lots are similarly ordinanced.
Unless you know the city, it's safest to park "the standard way". No one wants to get a ticket in an out of state city.
Furthermore, there is some "unless you do have a backup camera, the backing into a spot between two cars is more difficult than going in forwards and then using the lot space upon leaving to properly orient."
Lastly, if you are to make use of the trunk of the car, most parking lots are set up to allow easier access when not backed in.
> I recall this being the case in Palo Alto for city lots at one time and I believe that San Francisco city lots are similarly ordinanced.
Anecdotally this does not seem to be the case any more, I live in the area and have never been ticketed for backing in. I usually don’t park any other way. You know, in case of zombies and I have to leave quickly.
> Unless you know the city, it's safest to park "the standard way”.
Depends on the city. Which requires…knowing the city? Or at least looking about. So I think that dismisses any idea that one should default to nose-in. Just park like everyone else is doing if you’re so worried. Only thing I’ve seen people ticketed for in SF is not curbing their wheels, which, likely you won’t notice or know about if you’re from out of town.
> Furthermore, there is some "unless you do have a backup camera, the backing into a spot between two cars is more difficult than going in forwards and then using the lot space upon leaving to properly orient."
This is only the case if you have never practiced backing up. It’s actually much easier to make precise movements when you’re reversing, due to the front wheel steering. I’m grateful that this was taught to me by my driving course.
> Lastly, if you are to make use of the trunk of the car, most parking lots are set up to allow easier access when not backed in.
Note that this is for "for city administered public parking within the city" and doesn't apply to private / commercial lots (which may have their own parking restrictions).
I think nose in for 45 degree parking spots makes sense.
There's probably a practicality argument to be made for 90 degree parking to be nose in, because I think it probably results in less blocking of the road is drivers are forced to do the "easier/quicker" front first drive into a spot when arriving avoiding extended time doing "complicated reversing manoeuvres" while other people are trying to get past, and are forced to wait in the parking spot for a big enough gap in traffic (or another driver wanting the spot) before backing out.
I would be wary about replacing a mirror and turning your head with such a system so its main advantage that you don't need to take your eyes off the oncoming road is moot.
As a supplemental system the advantages would include redundancy, lack of a blind spot, and better situational awareness even when you're not planning to change lanes.
because you don't have to turn your head to check; and sometimes you can't hear cars approaching (especially EVs or when there's wind that masks the sound). Mirrors don't provide full visibility and it's also harder to judge the distance and speed of approach (which the radar provides).
yes, exactly this. I thought for sure the radar unit was a gimmick and I'd be returning it, but after seeing so many positive reviews I ordered it to give it a shot. It consistantly tells me there is a car (and how many) well before I hear it.
With a mirror I'd have to be constantly checking which not only takes my eyes off the road ahead, it makes the ride much less enjoyable.
I hadn't considered it until I met a couple this summer who were bikepacking from Seattle to SF. They told me it was one of those items you don't think you need until you get it and then you wonder how you did without it.
It's like blind spot monitoring and rear cameras on cars. I'd been driving without those for decades, but now that I have them I wouldn't buy a car without them.
The Varia radar also connects to the Wahoo bike computer, which is great.
Yes, that's my setup - Varia and Wahoo. I have the original Wahoo from 2015 - 7 years and they're still updating the firmware so that it supports new stuff like radar.
Why not use all of them? Saves having to glance at the mirror consistently, keeping your eyes on the road in front of you, while still having the mirror to check when your other sensor tells you to
It's not like a car, because your person is so much narrower than the structure of a car, less of the rear view is blocked width wise. You just put them towards the outsides of the handlebars and angle them inwards a bit. With careful placement you can have really good awareness of what's going on behind you, both directly and side to side. Oddly not very common on bicycles, but mandated on motorcycles.
I ride a motorcycle and bicycle regularly. I generally don't focus my mirrors on right behind me.
At most, when I'm at a red light, I lean over slightly to make sure the next person is actually going to stop and not rear-end me. Otherwise, while in motion, I have never felt the need for a rearview mirror on any form of two-wheeled vehicle.
I always wished the throttle to be linked to slip sensor on wheels, say push back throttle a bit more when the wheels start slipping and not just wonders why WOT doesn't accelerate as fast as usual all while ECU is pulling power because of slip
One of the "hmm... things to make" is a lidar detector for things behind a car that then is mapped to an array of the vibration motors that are in the back of a driver's seat - so that you could feel a car passing you.