We hate to say it, 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! On the weekend of Nov. 1st-2nd, 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 discounted lights and high-visibility gear/apparel. Head to your local bike shop and take advantage of this great sale.
For bike enthusiasts, riding at night can be fun, relaxing, and a delightful end to the day. For bike commuters, riding in the dark is a fact of life. 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 she rides.
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.
Bike Newport