DIY bike lane and Speed Vest

Published by Matt Polaine | Filed under Bicycle, Cycling, Cycling infrastructure

As we look for ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and find viable transportation alternatives to the internal combustion engine, many urbanites are trying to turn to that staple of bipedal locomotion: the humble bicycle. While ridership is increasing every year, bicycle safety remains a huge issue, and the quality of most UK cycle infrastructure is a best poor, at worst, lethal.

Enter LightLane, a safety concept from the clever designers at Altitude, Inc. The system projects a virtual bike lane (using lasers) on the ground around the cyclists, providing drivers with a recognisable boundary they can should be able to easily avoid. If their eyes are open. The idea is to allow riders to take safety into their own hands, rather than leaving it to the local authority. I can’t find the availability of this off the internet as of date of this post, but if anyone does, please leave URL in comment below.

My next favourite piece of kit in the same thread, is the Speed Vest. This displays your speed on your back. This presents an interesting dilemma; either the majority of stupid drivers will see this as a target to beat, be distracted by it and crash into you, or you’ll be arrested for some made-up-on-the-spot law by the UK police, who on the whole, don’t like or care about cyclists.

I would suggest that a helmetcam be a good investment for todays UK cycling culture mixing with motorists.