The Importance of Being Visible when Bike Commuting

For most of you reading this, daylight savings time just ended and you're still getting used to the fact that now it gets dark at 5:00. With the darker evenings comes added danger for cyclists because, let's face it, we're not as noticeable as cars. This means that cyclists need to be extra cognizant of how visible they are when biking, especially in the early morning, evening, or on poorly-lit streets.

First off, I want to draw attention to just how invisible bikes are compared to cars, when viewed from behind. It may seem unnecessary, but I think it's easy as a cyclist to over-estimate how visible you are. You're exposed on a bicycle and highly aware of your surroundings and this makes it easy to assume that you're as visible as you feel. The fact is, you're not. Cars have an average width of 5-6 feet, have three large, bright tail lights, brake lights, lights on the license plate, and reflective surfaces (including the license plate). Bikes have an average width of maybe a foot and a half IF you include the handlebars and pedals, but those aren't terribly visible from the rear, leaving a visible width of maybe 3-4 inches. The rear reflector on a bike is about 1.5" square, and most traditional (platform) bike pedals have thin reflective strips on them. Even if you have a super-bright blinky light, it's still only about 2" wide, max. There's just no getting around it: if you're on a bike, you're not that visible. Especially to someone in a car, who's comfortably sitting inside their vehicle, and looking ahead (not to the side of the road) for other cars. This is true even in the daytime, but it's doubly-true at night. Have you ever driven behind a cyclist who only had a single blinking red taillight? We're hard to see!

Nathan Cycling Vest on Amazon

It doesn't matter that we have the same rights on the road as cars. We are not equally visible and we must remember this if we are to avoid accidents, near-misses, and the damaged reputation all cyclists get when some idiot bikes down a dark road in black clothing and expects drivers to just avoid him or her (and yes, I have seen someone doing that, on multiple occasions). Biking can be safe, but only if we acknowledge, paradoxically, that it is more dangerous than driving and take appropriate measures to compensate for this. Lighting is one of the most important, and easiest, to address.

So what do I do to stay visible? I have a bright white headlight (I keep it a steady beam, to see potholes as well as to be seen), a very bright red taillight (I prefer blinking, as it is more noticeable from a car) and, for when it's particularly dark out, a highly reflective cycling vest. The lights are, in my mind, the absolute bare minimum any cyclist should have, especially if they commute regularly. The addition of a reflective vest is a very inexpensive investment in your safety (I got my reflective vest on Amazon for about $30), that is essential if you want to even begin competing with cars for visibility. The vest in particular is great because it widens your perceived width to that of your vest (i.e. about 1 foot, if not more) rather than that of your rear light (1-2 inches). Drivers will notice something ahead that's brightly lit, 1 foot wide, and glowing. They might notice something ahead that's a single, blinking, 2-inch-wide light, but I'm not betting my life on it, and neither should you.

And yes, I'll be the first to admit that wearing a reflective vest looks dorky. But I'd rather be dorky than dead.

*Note: If you want to read the excellent discussion thread that inspired this post, read it here on the "Bike to Work!" group on LinkedIn.