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news
Latest version of Dragons' Den backed bicycle indicators pitched as way to prevent close passes
The makers of WingLights indicators are currently looking for funding via Kickstarter. The latest version of their handlebar lights, which won financial backing on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den last year, are being pitched as a way for cyclists to “stop dangerous overtaking with a single tap.”
When CYCL won £45,000 of funding for their handlebar-mounted indicators in 2017, my colleague John Stephenson suggested that maybe – just maybe – there wasn’t an enormous market for such a thing.
The latest version, WingLights360, add an extra feature. They are now permanently activated white/red lights that turn into flashing orange when you indicate to turn.
According to CYCL: “Whilst traditional front and back lights do the job of highlighting cyclists’ presence, they do not give an idea of the bike’s width, leaving drivers to estimate the rider's exact position and potentially leading to dangerous overtaking situations.”
If our extensive coverage of close passes has taught us anything, it’s that the majority are less to do with the visibility of the cyclist and more to do with the driver’s complete lack of comprehension of what it’s like to have a tonne of metal unexpectedly skim your elbow at considerable speed.
That isn’t to say that visibility isn’t a concern however and WingLights360 have certainly attracted plenty of backers. The £8,500 funding goal was reached inside a day and they have so far raised £44,000 with six days still to go.
WingLights360 will go into production later this month. Future retail price is stated as £65 for a set.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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41 comments
If you put lights on the outside of your bike the idiot drivers will see that as the boundary of your space and anything beyond is there to be filled regardless of safety margins. I'm sure these fellas will sell a few but it's no solution at all to the safe pass issue and certainly no better than segregated cycle lanes, driver awareness training and tougher sentencing.
Like two feet wide painted cycle lanes that motorists think means so long as they don't cross the line everything is groovy - yes, your handlebars might still be outside the painted lines, but that painted line is the boundary of your space so tough luck.
Dragons' Den backed bicycle indicators!
Not very bright!
The dragons (whoever they are these days) clearly aren't cyclists then. Here's some free market research:
Them: "Cupov, do you think these bike indicators are a good idea?"
Me: "Nah, save your money mate. Won't make the slightest difference. Driver education and infrastructure, plough your millions into them"
Can't see these working if you come across a taxi driver from Dublin
Far more effective would be a loud speaker both in and out of the car. After a close pass all the driver can here are words to the effect of;
"*****ing that was close, what the ******* were you thinking about? Trying to kill someone are we. Better park up and hand your license in."
Meanwhile outside, "Warning, this driver has no consideration for others!......"
In all seriousness, a rod/tube sticking out by at least 0.5m with a reflective tag, light or a DUMMY CAMERA is IMO the only way to prevent most of close overtakes. CCTV, "close pass operation", Police / emergency services style signage on the backpack would reinforce the message.
Want to prevent close passes?
Instant six points for anything obviously closer than 1.5m and start accepting camera evidence.
A few years back there was a handlebar mounted laser thingy that could project a little green bike on the road ahead of you. Modifying that technology to project a bright line on the road, parallel and to the rear of a bike, indicating a notionally ‘safe’ distance wouldn't be that difficult. Easy enough to make it compensate for bike leaning over etc too id imagine.
There guys, you can have that idea for free
I think you might be too trusting of motorists and under estimating the amount of aggression.
Oh look, a target.
FTFY
a side firing paintball gun linked to a proximity radar would be more affordable. and probably less trouble if you forget to turn it off for the tuesday night chaingang.
Still about, though they've changed their name from Blaze to Beryl. https://beryl.cc/
Still falls in the "it can't hurt, but I doubt it'll do much good" category in my opinion.
Plenty of those about on Alibaba/DealExtreme. I was about to say I haven't seen one from a reputable name brand, but searching for examples shows Lezyne do one.
https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/accessories/lights/back/pro...
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/lights-reflectives/lezyne-laser-dr...
https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/reviews/components/cycle-lights/lezyne-la...
I can't say I find it very convincing either - here's a review of a different brand with CTC's Chris Juden being dubious: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/oct/22/red-laser-...
I've seen multiple products that do this exact thing
Whilst I applaud anything that *may* reduce close passes, I am with everyone else on here, they won't make any difference. Close passing is done by two kinds of driver - 1) they aren't really paying attention and can't be bothered to overtake you properly 2) they hate cyclists and want to teach them a lesson. Any lesson. Roads are for motorised vehicles, right?
I suspect the makers/backers of these lights don't do much actual cycling...
Could I not attach a sharp piece of ceramic (a bit like breaking a window with spark plug type ceramic) on a stick coming from the side of my bike so that any cars that pass too closely would get a suitable reminder to leave more room (I'd make it high vis so they couldn't complain they can't see it, honest)
Yep agreed - I've always thought a paint brush with a permenant supply of paint\brake fluid\whatever on the end of some flappy style arms would do the job equally well.
Have you considered applying to dragons den?
I wouldn't dismiss them out of hand - I think having more lights on the bike at night is no bad thing, and whilst the claim that they lead to wider passing is a bit optomistic, I like the idea of the indicators. I've never felt the need to have indicators, but it might be useful in heavily populated areas where constant indication is necessary.
They do seem like they are flat bar specific, and given both my bikes are drops, then for now...I'm out.
Because I never get close-passed during daylight hours, when drivers can see perfectly well how wide a person on a bike is.
Evolution has already given us a pair of devices that could be pitched as a way for cyclists to “stop dangerous overtaking with a single glance". They're conveniently wired directly to the driver's brain and merely need to be pointed in the direction of travel and a modicum of action taken based on what they report to the brain. Training may be required on their use and appropriate actions, however.
Sorry, but no.
The way to prevent close passes is with driver education and enforcement/punishments for those that still don't get it. How does sticking lights on a bike do anything to educate drivers? The drivers that are observant and considerate will see these and possibly get the message, but they're the ones that perform safe passes anyway. The idiot drivers just won't care about what fancy lights are stuck on a bike that's HOLDING THEM UP™.
I agree.
Education can two forms:
1. the truly brilliant work by West Midlands Police Road Harm Reduction Team;
and
2. one of these:
Living outside the WMP area, I quite fancy trying option 2.
(don't get too excited, it's a .177 air pistol)
Nice.
So, does anyone know of any decent handlebar mounted holsters for quick draws?
A Sig 226 chambered to .40 calibre would be more useful
Okay, which one of you did this? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/liverpool-shooting-cyclist-m...
Least he was wearing hiviz
I'm not sure I'd recommend wearing hiviz whilst committing a crime.
Although, maybe he got far enough way to ditch the hiviz jacket and then he'd be effectively invisible - could be a good strategy.
Not a very clever criminal; everyone knows that hi-viz makes you invisible, so he'd have been better off putting it on after the crime.
Yet another brilliant invention seeking a problem. With no justification or evidence, they assert that this device will make close passes a thing of the past. While I'm sure this team of passionate cyclists are really keen to solve the problem, they appear unaware of the cause, which this invention does nothing to address. Also, it implies that the fault is the cyclist's for not being seen, when as we all know, the fault is the driver's for either not observing and/or not caring.
I'm sure it's brilliantly designed and well made, but the first time you come off, or the bike falls over, you'll find out why nobody puts anything delicate on the ends of the handlebars.
Might have helped if they'd got a professional voice over artist, that guy spoke so quickly it was hard to follow.
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