I’ve long used a flashing vest to make myself visible while cycling in the long nights of Northwest winter. Now, an MIT designer has invented a jacket with integrated flashing turn signals. Ingenious! (More here.)
Here are instructions for making your own.
As noted here, the traffic risks of walking may actually be higher per mile than the risks of cycling. Many cyclists now festoon themselves with lights—some of them, in fact, are distractingly bright. But pedestrians remain largely dark and hard to see from a moving vehicle. As LED technology continues to advance, I wonder if outerwear designers will begin integrating safety lighting. I even dream of the day when we might dim or remove street lights and other outdoor lighting and actually see the Milky Way from Cascadia cities. Self-lighting jackets could be a tiny step toward that future.
eldan
I like the idea of self-lighting jackets, but I can’t imagine them catching on all that well for pedestrians because they look so dorky. What I wish would catch on is the use of reflective thread in clothing and backpacks – that could be a huge safety benefit when crossing streets, without being obvious except in the headlights of a car, but it only seems to be common in things that are intended as active wear.I hope the removal of street lights doesn’t happen in dense urban areas though, because I think the perceived reduction in safety (as much from malicious strangers as from accidents) would put a lot of people off walking around.
leapfrog
I’ve wondered why someone (like a major bike gear company) hasn’t offered a good bike glove that also has reflective material in the shape of, say, an arrow, so a rider could put on normal gloves and have highly visible turn signals where we already have them: on our hands. (Gloves with arrows do exist, but they’re crappy, clumsy, uncomfortable.) As bike commuters become a “viable political force and a viable economic market”, seems this would be a likely product. Doesn’t it?
VeloBusDriver
You wouldn’t want arrows on the gloves since you are almost always signaling with your left hand and arm. Still, reflective gloves and clothing would be a definite plus. Another item: Daytime Running Lights for bikes!I’d also make riding in the city with Urban camouflage illegal, but that’s just me. (And yes, I’ve seen this while driving downtown…)
matt picio
Leapfrog – you mean like Glo Gloves?http://www.gloglov.com/I have a pair and they work great – had them for a year so far with no fraying and no visible wear.
John_In_NH
@VeloBusDriver. only signaling with your left hand? really? I see that every once in awhile but nobody knows that that means really, and especially car drivers, who do not learn that in drivers ed, so I feel that the issue you brought up with it being and issue with arrows on the gloves is not a problem for most people…that said the DIY version of this is something I have wanted to do for some time now, except I always wear a backpack to something on the arms would be much easier for me.
Jen
I just ironed on lightbrights to my floves. They are really reflective, have taken me through a fall and winter with no signs of wear, and I get to wear my normal favorite gloves. they are not as fabulous as the lighted turn signal jacket