The arrival of high-intensity LEDs has certainly made a huge difference to the brightness of bicycle headlights. Some people, however, are now looking at using the bulbs not just as a means of lighting the cyclist's way, but of making their bicycles more visible to motorists. A couple of examples include the Aura and Revolights systems, both of which incorporate LEDs into a bike's wheel rims. Another system, that looks like it might be considerably less involved yet still effective, is called LED by LITE.
Developed by Utah father and son team Rick and Brandon Smith, LED by LITE consists of four strips of silicone-encased LED bulbs. Two of those strips (containing white bulbs) mount on the bicycle's front forks, while the other two (with red bulbs) go on the seat stays. All four strips are waterproof, can be removed and reinstalled by the cyclist in a matter of seconds, and receive their power from a rechargeable 12-volt lithium-ion battery pack.
The LEDs are bright enough to both light the road ahead of the rider, and to make the bicycle stand out to motorists.
What makes the system particularly interesting, however, is its Dashboard. Mounted on the handlebars, this wireless unit features left- and right-turn buttons - press the left-turn button, and the left front and rear light strips will flash on and off, press the right, and ... you get the idea. It also allows users to switch the running lights between continuous and modulated (flashing) modes.
Rick and Brandon are currently in the process of raising funds from prospective customers, to commercially produce LED by LITE. A system with a total of 36 bulbs is planned to retail for US$175, although a pledge of $125 will get you one once they're ready to go. Versions with 24 and 48 bulbs are also available.
The product can be seen in action in the video below.
These are too bright and their well-meant but dangerous signal-function creates a kind of safety gulf between people who have it and people who do not. My view is that everything a cyclist does to significantly increase their illumination above the minimum legal requirement both 1 - Makes other cyclists - and pedestrians - less visible in comparison, and 2- Gets motor vehicle operators used to this level of illumination to the point where they don\'t look for less lit up - but still legal - cyclists, who may LEGALLY signal only using their arms. In sum, wearing this makes others less safe.
I wish we could stop being narcissistic about safety.This cult of high lux is a disease and a distraction from really solutions for safety.
On automobiles, trucks, etc. we would normally see two sets of lights, and often with each set (on either side) with contrasting colours like amber and red. So the blinking light is contrasted by the steady one at the other end and perhaps by the light immediately adjacent. In addition with other running lights, e.g. on tall vehicles like trucks and buses, one can easily see what direction the vehicle is signalling at a distance which enables one to react, or of course if it is braking (typically both sets of the red parts of lights becoming more intense or additional red lights turning on).
Even on a motorcycle there are generally two amber lights on either side of a centre running light/brake light. Again, contrast and expected juxtapositioning make things clear.
These lights may even be illegal in some countries.
The pedal and spoke reflectors which move are much more noticeable to a motorist than any bright light that lacks motion. Battery powered LED lights in the pedals or ones that pulse and appear to give a sense of motion, like the ones used on highway patrol cars and roadway hazards are going to be much more effective.
Lights like the ones shown in the article are going to give the average cyclist a false sense of security when they are only marginally more visible in the overall scene to a motorist - even if the motorist is not drinking a soda or eating junk fast food or texting or talking without a earplug but with the phone held to the side of their face (which becomes their blind side).
I would suggest you get off your narcissistic trip and make room for people and vehicles that are not exactly like yours.
@Calson, the use of pedals as a location for reflectors is a good one and this is why they are required by law in most places. If the illumination is active (with batteries or other electronics) instead of passive (reflectors, possibly including those reflective trouser thingeys) it becomes more complicated and has the same \"gulf of lux\" effect as the super-bright subject of the article. There are literally hundreds of millions of bicycles out there, and getting even close to everyone using passive pedal illumination has so far proven impossible. So I don\'t think it makes sense to start a new standard for what is required, and - as I hope I have made clear - I don\'t think people should be allowed to be much brighter than the normal, legally-illuminated cyclist.
Vanson has it right. If Todd Edelman had his way, all cyclists would ditch the flashing LED lights that have become ubiquitous after Vistalite introduced them a couple of decades ago.
As for Calson\'s statement that spoke reflectors are good, all safety experts say they\'re essentially worthless. They only reflect to the side. If a car\'s headlights are shining on them, chances are that car is just about to T-bone you. In fact, despite what Todd Edelman propounds with not a whit of evidence or research backing it, every safety expert says bike reflectors are worse than the bare minimum you should have on the bike and certainly not the maximum as Todd wants. Reflectors are what the CPSC demands from manufacturers, but everyone who rides at night should have an actual lighting system.