Updated on December 21, 2023
Here are some tips for staying visible and maintaining your own line of sight when you’re out on your bike after dark.
Heads and tails (lights, that is)
If you’ll be riding anywhere at night, you should have some lighting.
According to PennDot, “If you use your bike between sunset and sunrise, it must be equipped with a front lamp and rear and side reflectors that are visible from at least 500 ft. This is both to help other motorists see you and also to illuminate your path.”
I took front and rear lighting to the extreme, as you can see below. That’s a 305-lumen headlight in the front (USB-rechargeable, perfect for commuting), and 3 taillights: 2 wrap-around blinkers and a clip-on one.
Reflective accents (the more, the merrier)
As mentioned in the earlier PennDot quote, side and rear reflectors are a must. I recently discovered Fiks:Reflective and their amazing, reflective decals & wheel stripes that come in a variety of colors–including black, which is just what I needed for my bike. I bought a few packs and went to town.
Use the slider below to compare how the bike looks in regular light to how it pops when light’s shining on it. Quite the difference! The stickers blend in well with the black frame in regular light–you can barely see them–but they really stand out when illuminated.
Eye-catching duds (high fashion, high visibility)
Reflective detail on clothing boosts your visibility in low light conditions, making it easier for drivers to identify you (Lacherez, 2011). There are lots of options, like safety vests, ankle strips, and reflective detail on athletic clothing. However, many cyclists find these options to be a bit unfashionable when it comes to commuting to and from work.
Here are some unique items designed with fashion in mind–they’re mostly ladies’ products, but there are plenty of options for gents as well.
I like this and learned a lot, thanks!