Pedal Safety Song

Here's a PIF from 1978, about making sure you're visible to other road users when you ride a bike. Cycle safety was a very big thing in those days. Even when I was a young child not so long ago (late '80s/early '90s) you had to know the Highway Code almost as well as a car driver if you wanted to pass your Cycling Proficiency Test, and the police would go round to schools and hand out reflective armbands for you to wear when riding at night. We still have a few half - arsed campaigns telling kids to wear a cycle helmet, but generally, no one gives a toss.

Apart from these cool cats, that is. They're showing you how to "GET YOURSELF SEEN" so you won't be run over by a driver who didn't know you were there until it was too late. Make it big! Make it bold! Make it bright! If like the poor bloke at 00:50 you have to get done up like an oven - ready turkey wrapped in tinfoil, so much the better! Why don't you and your friends get some matching fluorescent apron things with "Get", "Yourself" and "Seen" on them, and go out in convoy to show you're here, you're queer, gay rights now? Sorry, wrong issue.

Seriously, it does make you wonder how they actually thought anyone would take this advice. Would you slap paint and Sellotape all over your treasured, expensive bike?

If nothing else, it's worth a look just to remember how quiet Britain's roads were back then. No congestion charges, no fucking speed cameras, no letters from bossy council people. Whoever said you don't know a good thing until it's gone was absolutely right. This is why we have '70s theme nights in pubs, and Life on Mars. To remind you that the best is already behind, and now it's just a long, slow decline to the grave.