Hard to believe, but daylight saving’s time is just around the corner. It will get darker a lot earlier, but that’s NO reason to stop cycling and every reason to make sure you’re WELL-LIT! White lights on front, red lights on back, and plenty of reflectors and reflective clothing. Join us in chanting the mantra “See and be seen!”
On the weekend of October 31st-November 1st, head to Newport Bicycle, Ten Speed Spokes, or Pedal Power Bicycle Shop. to “Fall Back and Light Up!” See and be seen by outfitting your bike and yourself with lights and high-visibility gear/apparel. Head to your local bike shop and take advantage of this great 20% off sale! Please spread the word!
Statistically, there are more accidents at night than during the day. This is due in part to the difficulty motorists have in seeing cyclists at night, and in part to cyclists not seeing unsafe road conditions in the dark. There are several ways to improve cyclist visibility and safety at night:
Headlights: Handlebar mounted headlights can be rechargeable or run on batteries. There’s a range of brightness, and settings that are steady and flashing. Newport law requires a white lamp on the front of your bike that can be seen from 500 feet. Bike shops can help riders choose the best light based on how and where they ride.
Front light on your helmet: Helmet headlamps send light whichever way the cyclist looks. Smart!
Rear light: Law also requires a red light on the rear of a bicycle. Many cyclists use red blinking lights throughout the day to be more visible as cars approach from the rear. Rear lights can be mounted on fenders, seat posts, seat stays, racks, or saddlebags.
Reflective Vest or Jacket: Reflective material increases visibility exponentially and can make cyclists much more obvious on the road at night. In fact, highly reflective material can be far brighter even than the bike lights. Be careful – brightly colored clothing is not the same as reflective. Bright clothing may be highly visible in the daylight, but no different from any other color at night. Be sure that nightwear is reflective.
In addition to encouraging all cyclists to visit the local bike shops to be prepared for night riding, Bike Newport also provides free equipment to lower-income riders. “Night Bright” is a granted program that provides bike lights and reflective vests free of charge to bicycle dependent workers, thanks to grants from the RI Department of Transportation and support from Newport Federal Savings. Please contact Bike Newport at 619-4900 for more information about the “Night Bright” program.
For more bike safety information and local ordinances, head to our Resources page.
Bike Newport