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Vehicle: Bicycle: Safety
Four-Arms   (+17)  [vote for, against]
For indicating on bicycles

Cycling can be treacherous, especially here in London, where the cyclist has to be aware, in control, and visible to all. Taking one's arms off the handle bars to indicate to the left or right whilst weaving through traffic and dodging the people getting off a bus where there's no bus stop is just plain crazy.

To resolve this problem let me introduce the Four-Arms. This is an attachment that can be worn like a rucksack or clipped onto a backpack. It has two life size arms that when dormant rest around your waist. When indicating to other drivers that you are about to turn left/right, the cyclist flicks a switch on the handlebars and the corresponding arm extends, hand open. The cyclist is then free to control the vehicle more precisely with both arms whilst signaling to drivers of his motionward intentions.

The arms can be configured to give a tight squeeze when inactive to create the sensation of a traveling companion behind you holding on (perhaps a saucy partner (with no torso, head or legs) for instance).

The fingers can also be remotely adjusted to a set of predefined configurations to give thumbs up showing appreciation to conscientious drivers; in order to convey gang hand-signs for blending in in rough neighbourhoods whilst avoiding potholes; or in the case of someone shouting "Nice one Four-Arms!" they can be set to flip them the proverbial finger.

Both arms can be extended if you want to look like a no-hands cycling maverick.

Unsure whether to make the arms mechanical, or have a cheaper version that works on an inflation/deflation system (but then you get no half-extras).
-- theleopard, Sep 13 2007

Bike turn signals http://www.global-m...s.com/home/bike.htm
Safe cycling, DrCurry [GutPunchLullabies, Sep 13 2007]

Trafficators http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafficators
[hippo, Sep 14 2007]

(??) Morris Minor Trafficators http://www.morrismi...6b5ev0d2h4l03gm8se6
These run on a 12v supply and cost £55 - probably quite simple to fit to any car or bicycle... [hippo, Sep 14 2007]

Ah, I see, "flip you" etc. http://www.urbandic...?term=flip+the+bird
Yeah, I reckon it could do that... [theleopard, Sep 14 2007]

Four arms - cross country http://picasaweb.go...5079370396746694626
[theleopard, Jul 24 2008, last modified Jul 25 2008]

Could also be used for delivering Newspapers. Especially in Eureka.
-- Galbinus_Caeli, Sep 13 2007


I would have thought that handlebar operated indicator lights both more expedient and Baked, but I can't find any.
-- DrCurry, Sep 13 2007


abbreviated version:

//Cycling, here in London, is just plain crazy.//

the rest of that is baffling, except the bit about the configurable grasping fingers like a saucy partner reaching into your lap. <looks askance at [theleopard]>
-- k_sra, Sep 13 2007


If they were on springs, and wore boxing gloves, they could also punch stupid car drivers through their open windows, especially the ones who drive 4x4s. Big croissant.
-- xenzag, Sep 13 2007


Bravo.
-- Texticle, Sep 13 2007


They must still both flip the bird or no bun for you.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 13 2007


[BrauBeaton] These are called "Trafficators" - see links
-- hippo, Sep 14 2007


[2 fries], could you please divulge as to what "flipping the bird" might entail? I am most intrigued. And when I am satisfactorily enlightened I shall endeavour to devise a method with which the Four-Arms might provide this particular function, forthwith.
-- theleopard, Sep 14 2007


"Look Mum, four hands!"

Bubs, "the bird" is just another form of the proverbial finger mentioned at the end of your fourth paragraph.
-- zen_tom, Sep 14 2007


In that case, no problem.
-- theleopard, Sep 14 2007


(slightly off topic) [hippo] I remember well the trafficators on my dad's Morris Minor Shooting Brake.... I even remember its registration number.
-- xenzag, Sep 14 2007


I like this, but again I think it should be fitted to a bike rather than a body. [+|
-- vincevincevince, Sep 14 2007


Alrighty then. (+)
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 14 2007


The only demographic I need not promote these to for their daily cycle to work is Hindu deities. Plus General Grievious, and Kintaro from Mortal Kombat. Sorted!
-- theleopard, Sep 14 2007


[Ian] You have a decent recipe for seagull? I only eat them raw, when I am lost at sea, and they taste terrible.
-- normzone, Sep 14 2007


1 Seagull
1 Coconut
1 1/2 c dried crushed desert island berries
1 tsp sea salt

On a shiny piece of aircraft wreckage, spread cleaned bird carcass and flatten. Open coconut and save the milk. Shred coconut meat with a shard of the shell over the bird. Sprinkle the dried crushed berries and salt over one side and leave out in midday sun for several hours. Flip the bird and repeat. Serves one.
-- globaltourniquet, Sep 14 2007


Doctor Bicycloctopus.
-- croissantz, Sep 14 2007


[Ian], where is [normzone] going to get a lime on a deserted island? Unless, of course, he signs up for the "desert island drink delivery service" add-on...
-- globaltourniquet, Sep 15 2007


[ian], you're such a silly woman!
-- theleopard, Sep 15 2007


Anyone else read this and wish for a [bristolz] illustration?
-- david_scothern, Sep 15 2007


four armed is four warned.

d_s - yep.
-- po, Sep 15 2007


[d_s], I was going to draw one of the Vitruvian Man with a push bike between his legs. Unfortunately my illustrations will never be as good as [Bristolz]'s, I having no artistic talent to speak of...

However, will endeavour to try in the coming week.
-- theleopard, Sep 18 2007


Baked, as per [linky].
-- theleopard, Jul 24 2008


New name: Coat of Arms

Don't know how we missed that one, to be honest.
-- theleopard, Jun 07 2011



random, halfbakery