Lateral or Sideways Nightime Visibility to Others

[jrenaut]

I have Nite Ize Spokelit lights on my wheels. They have a terrible name, but they seem to work well.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@JeffC 28930 wrote:

So with shorter days ahead, I reminded myself to post this thread for feeback. What triggered it was something I noted while driving my car last winter at night near the intersection of the W&OD and Great Falls Street. I also cross this street when I bike so I am very familiar with it. Anyway, headed east on Great Falls, there was a car stopped in front of me at the W&OD crossing. At first I could not figure out why and then as a I waited a few seconds, I saw a biker appear headed west.

What surprised about the biker is that as he crossed Great Falls Street I could see that there were bright head and tail lights but those gave surprisingly little lateral or sideways visibility to others, in particular cars approaching a crossing at a right angle. I’m not even suer if lateral or sideways visibility is even the appropriate term to describe this but it seems fitting. The biker could have been me.

So what products are out there to increase lateral or sideways visiibility? I have seen a few bikes with wheel reflectors fitted in the spokes that have some battery operated light. I have also seem some type of glow in the dark tubing wrapped around the top tube, seat tube, or downtube. Is there anything else out there you have considered? Any links would be greatly appreciated.

Lots of tires nowadays, particularly the sturdier tires geared toward commuters, are being built with reflective sidewalls. In daylight, they look just like normal tires, but shine a light at them and they light up pretty well. My stock tires don’t have them, but when I replace them, better believe I’ll be going with tires with reflective sidewalls…

[Certifried]

I have the vis 360 helmet light system. It seems to do a decent job all around, and it’s up high so not blocked by backpacks or panniers, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x2_vUWr-Ns

I don’t, however, think it’s sufficient. My Vittoria and Schwalbe tires both have reflective strips that are super bright. You could also talk to acc, Ann is engineering a 300 battery powered light system for commuters, I hear.

Here are the Vittoria tires, stock on my Jamis, taken with a flash. My Schwalbe marathons on my Miyata are just as bright. (can be seen just behind the Jamis in this pic)

Untitled by certifried, on Flickr

[creadinger]

Which kind of Vittorias are those? I just put on the Randonneurs and I’m hoping they have the reflective sidewalls as well.

[txgoonie]

It’s only a small improvement, but a few Light & Motion models have amber side lights for visibility.

I have an Urban that I like a lot:
http://www.lightandmotion.com/bike/urban550.html

I’m gonna get the taillight too:
http://www.lightandmotion.com/bike/vis180.html

[chris_s]

Those spoke lights are great, the tires with reflective sidewalls option is excellent as well.

There’s a lot to be said for just festooning your frame with reflective tape as well. I’m partial to this stuff designed for the Coast Guard.

[Tim Kelley]

Inexpensive blinkies, like the one we give out at Lights for Bikes after the time change, angled sideways?

[Dirt]

Lots of great ideas here! Thanks!

I really like the 3m Scotchlite tape. It comes in many different forms. I bought a 1/2″ role that was 50′ long and it has lasted me for years. I put it on every bike. It is great on wheels, frames, shoes, frames, etc. It comes in red, white, yellow and black. I wish they made pink.

http://3mcollision.com/products/decorative-reflective-film-tape/conspicuity-reflectors

[dasgeh]

I have these for all the bikes we ride at night and definitely recommend them. http://www.bikeglow.com/

I think there was a groupon for $15/set, and normal price seems to be $25. Batteries have lasted a long time.

[txgoonie]

@chris_s 28943 wrote:

Those spoke lights are great, the tires with reflective sidewalls option is excellent as well.

There’s a lot to be said for just festooning your frame with reflective tape as well. I’m partial to this stuff designed for the Coast Guard.

Seriously, if you go someplace like U-Line, you can get all kinds of conspicuity tape and whatnot. I actually got some for my dog’s leash and collar (It won’t stick to fabric forever; you have to sew it on.), but there are endless applications.

[Certifried]

@creadinger 28939 wrote:

Which kind of Vittorias are those? I just put on the Randonneurs and I’m hoping they have the reflective sidewalls as well.

“Vittoria Randonneur Cross with Double-Shield puncture protection, 700 x 28c”

[GuyContinental]

@Dirt 28948 wrote:

Lots of great ideas here! Thanks!

I really like the 3m Scotchlite tape. It comes in many different forms. I bought a 1/2″ role that was 50′ long and it has lasted me for years. I put it on every bike. It is great on wheels, frames, shoes, frames, etc. It comes in red, white, yellow and black. I wish they made pink.

http://3mcollision.com/products/decorative-reflective-film-tape/conspicuity-reflectors

+1 This stuff is great and inexpensive- the dark colors don’t look obvious during the daylight either. I’m about to buy a roll to get my bike winter-ready. However, I also have a taillight with side orange lenses, a front supplemental blinkie (Frog) and will be buying a set of reflective-sidewall tires (brand TBD).

I’d like to try a set of bar-end lights (ideally COLREGS compliant red/green) but I’m allergic to non-rechargeable batteries. Has anyone seen a set with a decent recharging mechanism?

This year I’m going to be all sorts of visible.

[JorgeGortex]

https://shop.ridewithfiks.com/
http://www.bikeglow.com/
http://www.monkeylectric.com/wheel_light_comparison/

I funded the fiks through Kickstarter. They are bright! And you can put them on any rims so you are not dependent on certain tires only.
JG

[Tim Kelley]

@txgoonie 28942 wrote:

It’s only a small improvement, but a few Light & Motion models have amber side lights for visibility.

I have an Urban that I like a lot:
http://www.lightandmotion.com/bike/urban550.html

I’m gonna get the taillight too:
http://www.lightandmotion.com/bike/vis180.html

+1 for the Urban.

Although I went with Planet Bike SuperFlashes for the rear. I think they are just as bright and you can but more than one for the same price as some of the high end rear lights.

[Certifried]

This should be reflective, anyone interested in a group order or something? If we order enough, maybe they’ll make it reflective. Or we can get Ann to glue a bunch of lights on it!

http://amzn.com/B005J6BIM4

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