It is hard to feel strongly about self-driving and connected cars. As vulnerable road users, cyclists account for over half of all road fatalities in the U.S. The statistics are alarming. With so much technology being developed to augment the abilities of drivers, cyclists are left wondering how these advancements create a safer ride. Notwithstanding the attention on vehicular developments, technology has increased bike safety as well.
In most States, cyclists have to share the road with gas-guzzling automobiles. Despite the fact that the two have co-existed on public roadways for a very long time, motor vehicle accidents involving bicyclists continue to happen. Cyclists are still suffering damages daily. To put it plainly, cyclists want better visibility and more ways to enhance bicycle safety. Beyond that, they want to make their commutes and cruises fun again. With more and more people trading in their vehicles for two-wheeled modes of transportation, it has become increasingly important to educate the population on new technology that has increased bike safety. This article highlights some of the amazing new gadgets that should lead to a reduction in fatalities.
Loud Bicycle Horn
One of the biggest complaints by cyclists is that motorists do not share the road or exercise due care. Starting in 2013, the market was flooded with products to help drivers keep a lookout for cyclists when driving. What about cyclists? Last year, Loud Bicycle Horn produced a 112 decibel horn that bellows like an 18-wheeler. According to founder Jonathan Lansey, drivers recognize horns and instantaneously react when they hear one. The horn should help drivers to develop a sharper awareness of cyclists traveling near them.
Orp SmartHorn
The Orp SmartHorn Bike Light is first light to also integrate a patented sound to alert drivers of their presence with a simple push of the light’s tail. The product is equipped with two LEDs which have a max output of 87 lumens each. When a rider sounds the horn, the light strobes, providing a visual presence in addition to the audio warning.
See.Sense
Sometimes, drivers truly do not see cyclists on the road. In fact, “I did not see him” is the number one excuse drivers make after they collide into a cyclist. Last year, See.Sense. developed a bike light with advanced sensor technology that reacts to surrounding light levels and movement. If a cyclist swerves or brakes, the broad beam lights flash from all angles in a pattern similar to those on a police car. It is truly amazing. Motorists will be forced to recognize the cyclist sharing the roadway.
XFIRE Bike Lane Light
When riding at night or in low light conditions, such as fog or heavy rain, the law requires cyclists to equip their bikes with lights and reflectors. The XFIRE Bike Lane Light is designed to address the problems of motorists who unknowingly get close too cyclists. The light is equipped with two highly-visible red lasers that project two lines onto the road, creating an ad hoc bike lane. According to the company’s website, the lighted lane is visible to motorists up to one mile away. In it simplest form, the XFIRE Bike Lane Light is providing one more line of protection.
BLAZE Bike Light
Although cyclists are well within their legal right to ride at night, they can significantly reduce accidents if they ensure drivers see them. The BLAZE Bike Light boasts a bright LED light designed to significantly improve a cyclist’s visibility and safety. BLAZE is a front light that projects the symbol of a bike ten feet ahead. By illuminating the road in front of a cyclist, the light helps prevent the most common cycling accident scenarios – vehicles maneuvering in front of unseen bikes. There is no reason for a motorist to miss the illuminated cyclist.
Monkey Light
The Monkey Light 8-Bit Bike Wheel Light is a unit that is installed on a bike’s wheel hub near the tire. With a press of the button, cyclists can select one of twenty different light patterns which blast out on both sides of the bike using 5 very bright LED lights on each side.
Torch Bicycle Helmet
Torch Apparel, born from a Kickstarter campaign last year, has made some waves in the cycling community with their debut line of Torch T1 polycarbonate commuter helmets. The Torch T1 integrates high-flux LED lights that wrap to the sides of the helmet for 360-degree nighttime visibility and exposure. The lights charge via a USB port and last four hours.
Volvo Bike Helmet
The Volvo bike helmet works with popular smartphone fitness monitoring apps that track the location and speed of a cyclist. At this point, the information is shared with any Volvo vehicles nearby that are equipped with the company’s City Safety system, which alerts drivers to the presence of a cyclist even if the rider is in a blind spot or when visibility is poor. According to Klas Bendick, a spokesperson for Volvo, the system’s ability to warn about imminent collisions could have save lives.
Zackees Turn Signal Glove
Another product, Zackees Turn Signal Glove, offers the safest and most advanced pair of cycling gloves ever made. The gloves are designed with a signal in front so cyclists do not have to take their hands off of the handle bars. Signalling behind is also easy, as cyclists simply have to extend their hands and press the contact plates together to initiate the flashing light. Using these gloves should help make riding a safer voyage for cyclists, as they will be able to use their hands for braking. Zachees Turn Signal Gloves should revolutionize the way we ride.
ICEdot
Outside of the aforementioned inventions coming your way, innovative thinkers have also developed some wireless features to add to your rides. ICEdot is a sensor that pairs with your smartphone and can detect impact and motion. If it senses a crash, the device triggers the app over low-energy Bluetooth to sound an alarm and initiate an emergency countdown. Unless the countdown clock is stopped, the app will notify your emergency contacts and send GPS coordinates of the incident so the appropriate follow-up actions can be taken.
Denver Bike Accident Injury Lawyers
The world has seen some amazing technology roll out in the last few years. The Denver bike accident injury lawyers at Bowman & Chamberlain, LLC, are excited to see what the future brings. We are moving in a very positive direction where cars and bikes can coexist.
For more information about how technology has increased bike safety, or if you have been in a bike accident, call the Denver bike accident injury lawyers today at 720.863.6904 or email us for your free consultation. Our lawyers handle a wide range of personal injury cases, including Motor Vehicle Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents, Slip & Fall Accidents, and Dog Bites & Attacks. We service Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Commerce City, Lakewood, Littleton, Thornton, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, and other parts of metropolitan Denver, Colorado.
Jerry Bowman
Owner and Managing Attorney
Jerry Bowman, J.D., M.A., Owner and managing attorney of Bowman Law LLC, takes his responsibility to the legal profession seriously and dedicates his time and effort to providing quality and competent legal representation to clients in Denver and throughout all of Colorado. He holds an MA in Political Science from Wayne State University and earned his law degree in two and a half years from Michigan State University College of Law.