Bicycling has evolved beyond transportation. It's now a fun hobby, a sport, and a way to stay fit. For these reasons, biking has become one of the most popular hobbies among humans in their spare time. Moreover, possessing special advantages such as no fuel consumption, environmental friendliness, health training, bicycles are gradually becoming one of the vehicles chosen and used by many people in the world.
However, in order to meet both aesthetic and safety requirements, modern bicycles require not only high-quality frames, structures, and tires, but also accessories such as helmets and bicycle lights, which play a very important role.
Not only are bicycle lights used to illuminate and decorate the vehicle, but they also play a critical role in determining your safety while riding on the road. Bicycle lights are becoming smaller, lighter, more feature-rich, and have improved lighting capabilities as a result of advancements in modern technology.
In this article, we'll go over some of the benefits of bicycle lights. Let's take a look at it!
1. Benefits of Bicycle Lights
Cycling lights, also known as lighting devices, are used to increase the safety of riders while riding on dark roads. Moreover, car lights contribute to the aesthetics of the bike, making it more pleasurable and enjoyable to ride.
Bicycle lights, in addition to serving a functional purpose, also contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal of your bike. Bicycle lights are extremely attractive when moving at night, and they help you to appear more fashionable while riding a bicycle.
Safety
Being visible while riding a bicycle is made easier when cyclists have lights. When it comes to a bike versus car situation, you want to be seen as much as possible! When it comes to bicycles, lighting can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death while riding a bicycle at night.
According to studies, researchers determine how many accidents occur per ride at different times of day by collecting information. The result is that the number of accidents occurring on each trip or per mile biked is significantly higher at night.
Approximately one-third of both bicycle-motor vehicle crashes and cyclist deaths occur at night or under artificial lighting. This is taking place despite the fact that far fewer people ride at night than during the day. But some researchers argue that these were caused by a bicycle's lack of adequate lighting compared to other factors or additional nighttime visibility issues.
Reflection
Using lights improves visibility of reflective items on the road. This includes traffic signs, road lines, and even animal eyes. Seeing your reflection may help you avoid an accident. First, it is necessary for your own safety. To avoid joining the long list of cyclists killed or injured while riding without a light at night, cyclists must require their own bicycle light.
Another advantage is that you'll avoid being the cause of the accident. Remember that if you don't have bike safety lights, you may not hit anything, but you may be hit by a car. This has been proven in various parts of the world, especially when a driver is intoxicated or has consumed alcohol.
Besides, you should also avoid being hit by a truck that is much larger than your bike, as this could result in death. How will you achieve this? If you are visible, trucks will notice you. When riding at night, turn on your bike lights. Even if it means extra costs for you, the return on investment will be well worth the effort. It can save your life and the lives of others by preventing them from getting into an accident with you. This also leads us to the next benefit of bicycle lights.
Visibility
Bicycle lights help cyclists see further ahead. Having more visibility gives you more time to react to roadblocks. A rider traveling at 25 mph needs 79 feet to stop. So, make sure you can see as far as you can!
If you ride a bike and want to install bike safety lights, you must consider one thing. Do you want to see or be seen? These two are distinct. If you want to be seen at night or early in the morning, you must install a powerful white light in front of your bike. So you'll have enough light to see what's ahead of your bike. This usually necessitates a larger light and power source, so you should consult an expert to have it installed safely.
A red tail-light is a must-have if you want to be seen while riding your back. A reflective material on the back of your bike and some of its parts will also help you be seen when the light hits it. So, you don't get hit from behind by a car or a bicycle.
Requirements
In some states and countries, bicycle lights are required. A bike must have two lights when used at night, preferably a white front light and a red rear light. Reality in Colorado requires a bike to have a white front-facing headlight and a red rear reflector or light, visible from at least 500 feet away.
Like with any other activity, there are risks and hazards that could put riders, pedestrians, and motorists in jeopardy. So, authorities and even bike manufacturers and retailers always advise people to ride safely. In some countries, cyclists and their riders are concerned because motorists and even pedestrians cannot see them at night. Cyclists must ensure their bikes have proper warning systems such as lights, especially at night.
Bike safety lights are materials attached to bicycles that improve the visibility of the bike and its rider when there is insufficient light to see them. It's for your safety. This also helps the rider see reflective materials like traffic signs and the eyes of animals like cats, which can cause accidents if not seen. A good bike safety lighting system can also help the rider see ahead.
2. Different Types of the Bicycle Lights
There are many factors to consider when choosing a bike lighting system, such as the type of bike lights,... A bicycle must have front, rear, and side lights to meet the highest safety standards. Moreover, bicycle lights can come with many benefits, such as:
- It is rechargeable and has a long projection time.
- Have a strong light output: 400 lumens or more are high-demand.
- Solid material: The light body must be machined from aviation aluminum alloy, which is hard, sturdy, and impact resistant. Moreover, the lights must be fixed and firmly attached to the car, and the angle can be adjusted to illuminate the terrain and road.
- Water resistance: The lamp must be waterproof to work in all weather conditions, including rain.
Below are the common types of bicycle lights that you may see on the market.
The front light
A bicycle’s front light is usually equipped on the handlebars or helmet. To ride at night, cyclists should install lights on both the handlebars and the helmet. If only one light is attached, attach it to the hat to customize the lighting area and help you judge the direction.
The rear light
You can attach a line of rear lights to your saddle, backpack, or behind your helmet. For the rear lights, some models have an integrated rack (accessories are usually on the handlebars, saddles for sports bikes, made of aluminum alloy carbon fiber).
The side light
For sidelights, cyclists can either attach them directly to the sides of the chassis or attach them to the spokes of the bicycle. When attached to the spokes, it will be extremely useful because it will create moving, noticeable light sources, which will be particularly useful when traveling alone.
These lights will make you visible to motorists in low-light conditions. The brightest ones will also help you to be more visible during the daytime. However, they are not bright enough to assist you in seeing where you're going for the majority of night riding situations.
When comparing safety light models, the most significant differences are the mounting options available, the number of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) used, and whether the lights are powered by rechargeable or disposable batteries.
Conclusion
Having bike lights can greatly increase your riding safety. They will illuminate your every step in the dark, ensuring your safety and guiding your movement. Above are the benefits of bicycle lights for riders. Enjoy and have a safe cycling trip!
