Benefits Of Bike Reflectors

Cycling doesn't make up the lion's share in the figures of traffic accidents, but it does contribute remarkably to the total number listed by the General Statistic Office. According to reports, the accident number has decreased by 13.2 percent. However, the specific figure illustrating bicycle crashes still increases by 5 percent, which is 846 in detail.

Reasons for bicycle accidents are distributed into various groups such as unsafe lane changing, speeding, and distracted driving. The accidents happen day and night. For night cyclists, we may assume the most significant cause is the impossibility to see other drivers on the road or vice versa. Night cycling has also created a huge part in the total number of 846 cases mentioned above.

In this article, we will discuss bike reflectors. This is a simple but effective tool supporting cyclists to reduce the risk of engaging in any accidents while in dark cycling conditions.

1. More About Bike Reflectors

What Is A Bike Reflector?

A bike reflector is simply a safety device that is legally required for cyclists. It was developed in Finland, as early as the 20th century. This device will add more visibility to bicycles, which helps to reduce the risk of injury in night riding conditions. Bike reflectors can be purchased easily, and they are affordable for anyone. In the next parts, we will explain types of reflectors, and what the benefits when using one are. Down below is a bike reflector if you need:

Types of Available Reflectors

There are three major types of reflectors. You can pick among the three or insert all of them to your bike to increase the visibility and safety levels. Reflectors can be attached to almost any part of your bicycles. In this section, we have the front and back, the pedal, and the tire reflectors.

The Front and Back

Front and back reflectors are installed in most bicycles. They often include a bracket, which fits either the stem or handlebar. Also, they may have a snap shut or small screws for stabilization. In the situation you do not want to attach the reflectors to your bike, reflective tapes can be a choice.

Pedal Straps

Reports by researchers have shown that drivers do not pay much attention to front and back reflectors as we may assume. Hence, cyclists need to insert additional reflectors to their feet or pedals. Several bicycle manufacturers install pedal built-in reflectors, while others do not. In case you have purchased a bike that does not have pedal built-in reflectors, inserting additional ones is not difficult.

Tire Spoke Reflectors

Tire reflectors are great ideas created with creativity and innovation. Though this one is not as popular as front and back or pedal reflectors, it is proven to be more efficient in decreasing the risk of bicycle accidents. They are more visible at night as well as easy to install or take off, and as a saying goes: Be safe, be seen.

Notes On Bike Reflectors

So where can we attach reflectors to our bicycles? The answer would be almost any position since these can be on your helmet, wheels, or in the back and front of your bike. The operating regulation of bike reflectors is straightforward. When there is light directed to the reflector, it bounces the light back and becomes highly visible to others.

Perhaps the biggest drawback of traditional bike reflectors is their light insufficiency. Many cyclists have replaced bike reflectors with LED light for more powerful lighting. Also when using LED lights, they are 100 percent visible, which gives them a greater feeling of safety. However, the bike reflectors have been innovated and improved significantly in recent years. Besides, they do not run automatically but need input to function. They can be found on numerous e-commerce websites such as Amazon or Ebay. Additionally, you can find these devices at the supermarkets.

Last but not least, cleaning is vital if you wish to maintain the effective levels of reflectors. They are like any other devices: they need maintenance, though it can be not much work to do.

2. Benefits Of Bike Reflectors

They Increase The Visibility At Night

As mentioned, the operating regulation of bike reflectors is taking the input as light directed into them, then bouncing back to create additional visibility to other drivers when you are cycling in the dark condition.

Many types have been brought in the previous sections, and each of them is installed in a different part of your bike. Their common usage is to add visibility, and this would prevent bike riders from engaging in accidents, which may result in serious injuries or health conditions.

The motto "Be safe, be seen" is applied to numerous means of transport, including bicycles. Being more visible equals a lower risk of accidents.

They Are Easy To Use And Alter

There is no doubt that reflectors are available on the market with various manufacturers. They also get to a higher innovation level. The makers are focusing on the factor of user-friendliness, which is becoming essential to all appliances, not just reflectors.

Bike reflectors are not only easy to use but also alter. In case you haven't purchased reflectors, you can replace them with reflective tapes, which have the same effect. Moreover, reflectors or tapes enable you to attach them in any spot possible. Removing and displacing are of no hardships as well.

Reflectors Are Affordable

As you search the term bike reflector, e-commerce websites such as Amazon will give back a ton of results. Bike reflector price ranges fluctuate from 5 to 10 USD on average. With a few USD, you can purchase high-quality and specially featured reflectors.

In any perspective, bike reflectors are a practical and necessary investment if you travel by bike or take up cycling as either a hobby or daily exercise. It adds more safety to your traveling, and most reflectors cost you less than 10 USD online or offline.

No Other Fees Are Included When You Use Reflectors

It's hard for a bike reflector to malfunction or break unless you have a crash. All of your bicycle parts, which have been installed with a reflector, are falling apart. That's when your reflectors can go broken. Otherwise, even the makers could not think of any excuse or reasons to pay for other fees, provided that a consumer has bought his or her items.

In case your reflectors are no longer available for usage, purchasing one is not a bad idea. Because of the affordability aforementioned and its safety support, you should get new ones whenever the reflectors are broken.

They Never Run Out Of Battery

Bike reflectors may not be as effective as flashlights, but they are more supreme at one point, which is they never run out of battery. This also contributes to the last benefits of no needed maintenance fees.

Since they do not need recharging or battery refilling, their usage time is prolonged, and in a way, it saves you money. You don't have to pay for constant batteries or chargers. Furthermore, when you don't want to use the reflectors, or your bike does not have built-in reflectors, it's possible to insert a similar safety supporter, such as reflective tapes.

3. What To Remember When Using Reflectors?

Because bike reflectors are not the most light-efficient items for bicycles. You can replace or add powered LED lights for visibility in dark riding conditions. You should also avoid riding bikes under weather conditions that impede visibility, including rain or fog.

Conclusion

This is the end of our article on bike reflectors. We hope that we have brought you useful information about bike supporters. We will come up with more articles on transport safety tools. Thanks for accompanying us to these last lines.