eva666•5mo ago

Just realized my bike lights were barely visible from the side

Saw a safety study on the Bike League site last night. 90% of bike accidents happen at intersections where side visibility matters. My little blinkies only throw light forward and back. Picked up some spoke lights for $12 on Amazon. Anyone else worried about being seen from the side?

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barbaraschmidt5mo ago

90% of bike accidents happen at intersections where side visibility matters? That's honestly terrifying, I had no idea the number was that high. I mean, I always figured intersections were risky but ninety percent basically means almost every crash is because someone didn't see you from the side. I barely even thought about my bike's side profile until I saw someone get clipped a few weeks ago and their taillight was totally useless because the car came from an angle. Idk, maybe it's just me but I feel like the bike companies don't really push side visibility enough, it's always about blinding headlights instead. Those spoke lights sound like a smart cheap fix though, I might have to grab a set myself because my current setup is clearly not cutting it.

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gonzalez.wesley5mo ago

barbaraschmidt I think that 90% number might be a bit off, honestly. I remember seeing a similar stat from the same site and it's more like "most accidents happen at or near intersections" not specifically from the side. Still, you make a solid point about side visibility. I run reflective tape on my spokes and frame, plus a bright jersey. It's not perfect but it helps catch headlights from angles. Those spoke lights are a good start too.

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