BrightRide
Making cyclists visible
Bike light distribution and education in the San Francisco South Bay Area
BrightRide's mission
BrightRide's mission is to increase cyclist safety in the California South Bay Area by distributing lights to primarily low-income commuter cyclists and educating the greater population about the importance of visibility while riding a bicycle.
Visibility matters
A 2013 study conducted in Denmark concluded that cyclists who use permanent running lights are 19% less likely to have an accident resulting in personal injury.
During the day, flashing lights help to capture attention from drivers who are not focused on the road or expecting to encounter a cyclist, potentially mitigating accidents. At night, lights help drivers easily identify cyclists who may otherwise not be visible until a collision is unavoidable.
Why distribute lights
Those with low income are more likely to commute by bike
Based on the 2008-2012 American Community Survey, those in households who earn less than $50k cycle to work at a rate greater than 2x households making between $100-150k.
Lights are an afterthought
When paying for food, clothing, housing, and utilities is a struggle, considering spending money on objects as frivolous as flashing lights for a bicycle is likely a nonstarter.
Everyone should be able to feel safe on their way to and from work.