Bike Pedal Light Warns Motorists (Jan, 1935)
It’ll never catch on.
Bike Pedal Light Warns Motorists
COLORED reflectors designed for mounting on bicycle pedals were recently introduced in England as part of a “safety first for cyclists” movement.
The colored glass crystals, being continually in motion as the cyclist pedals along, glow brilliantly when in headlight beams of approaching cars.
Related posts:
- FREAK BIKE RUNS BY MOTION OF BODY (Nov, 1934)
- Two Pedal but Only One Steers on Bike with Rumble Seat (Aug, 1938)
- Electric Light Warns Deaf Typist (Apr, 1933)
- Speed Indicator Warns Driver by Flashing Red Light (Oct, 1938)
- Supergeared French Bike Gives Cyclist Choice of Several Speeds (Jul, 1954)
It only took another forty years for the bicycle industry to start making these pedal reflectors standard equipment, and then only because the CPSC mandated it.
Awesome.
@Eli – It’s still not common on high-end road bikes. Mine didn’t even come with a bell (Mandatory on bikes in Ontario)…
Well, if you’re buying a high-end road bike, obviously you’ll have a very specific need for a weight/size/polycarbonate casing/etc. for a bell and will be happily spending $150 or more for one just to make sure you’ve shaved off every gram possible. Right?
That particular design looks like a twisted-ankle hazard; I wonder how much longer it took to develop the flush-fitting kind?
Emad: Technically, they don’t have to supply reflectors and bells in bike shops – you *could* be buying a specialized off-road or track bike, after all. Or a recumbent, where nobody can see your pedals. But the rear rack had reflective tape.
And the last bike I bought didn’t come with pedals (I brought my own when it was ready to be picked up.)
Fluffy: They did supply a bell – a nice light weight one in fact.
Way to rain on my snark parade.
And for visibility from the sides….
http://www.youtube.com/…
It always seemed to me that if people really wanted to ride for health, they’d want heavier bicycles, not lighter.
“Gee, Bill. How did you get in such great shape?”
“I ride around the block every day on my bicycle which is equipped with Lance Armstrong Tour de Weights.”
George, it’s just the opposite. I have a heavy hybrid bike for going to work, and lightweight road bike for excercising. It’s just much more pleasant to be able to go faster and much further away with light bike. With heavy bike, even that using the same time, it would be more like rowing in a galley; not fun at all. I’d rather try to enjoy, when I’m excersising.
@8: George, it’s a lot more efficient to just let half the air out of the tires and wear a poncho while you’re riding. That works all the time, not just when accelerating or riding up hills.