The importance of being visible

Unfortunately the reality is when riding a bike you are vulnerable, you are exposed, you have little protection. We frequently share our riding environment with motorists. They are bigger and faster than us and we all know any collision can cause us plenty of harm.  Therefore our best solution is to do what ever we can to avoid this hazard and that starts with being VISIBLE. We say take every opportunity to be visible. How can you make yourself (the cyclist) as visible as possible? How can you make the bike visible? How can you make sure you are visible from all directions?

Understand your be visible requirements?

What will you need for being Visible? Where do you ride? Understand the environments & conditions you ride in and the risks associated with those environments & conditions.

High risk environments include in traffic, windy roads where there is little time to see you, narrow roads where sharing is more challenging. High risk conditions include biking at night, in low light, in poor weather conditions. Compare that to a low risk environment a purpose built bike path or trail. What are your risks? What are your needs for being visible?

Visible from all directions

You need to make sure you are visible from all directions. Visible from the front. Visible from the side. Visible from the rear.  Lights help a lot with this, wide beams and side lights will give you 360 degrees of lighting.  Clothing also plays a major role so be wise with your choices and these choices don’t have to all be fluorescent – view our Bike Clothing Page for some bright but stylish bike wardrobe inspiration. 

Making you, the cyclist, visible

What you wear on the bike has a large influence on your visibility to others. Make bold colour & pattern choices and you are more likely to be seen.  Jackets are great for fluro colours – yellow, green, orange, pink, blue.  Choose to wear bright bold clothing and/or add accessories that have reflective strips.

Some suggestions of clothing and accessories that can help you be visible: Choose a helmet that is a bold colour. Insert a light into your helmet. Choose your outer layer to be a visible colour – your jacket, a vest, or a top. Alternatively use a visibility over vest as your outer layer.  Choose cycling pants that have bright colour towards the side & rear and/or reflective strips. Cover a backpack with a bold colour and reflective elements.

Making your bike more visible

What can you do to make your bike visible?  The most important is attaching lights to your bike – a front and rear light as well as considering stacking options depending on visibility needs. There are other ways to make your bike visible. A bold colour bike, bright coloured handlebar grips, add reflective stickers.

For more information see:  Bike Lights Buying Guide

What do the kids need?

This depends on where they ride and what the associated risks are. The risks are the same as for an adult but remember their decision making maybe not as good as yours.  Also if they are smaller they may be harder to see. Take every opportunity to make them visible and help keep them safe.

Visibility options: A bold colour helmet – One that has the option for a rear vent light insert. A bold colour for their outer layer. A cover for their bag. Lights for their bike… See our Kids/Youth Be Visible Guide which has specific advice and solutions for this age group.  It has great advice & stories for helping a 10-11 year old become an independent traffic rider.

goRide’s Be Visible when you Ride Solutions – Outer Layer & Clothing 

goRide’s Be Visible when you Ride Solutions – Accessories

goRide’s Lights for Visibility… so you can be seen

MAKE YOUR PURCHASE A SUCCESS…

Make good choices.

If you have lights – be organised take them / use them. Make sure you charge them after use so you know they will last the ride. Clothing – choose well depending on the risks or have the option of the over vest.

Riding stories, support & solutions that will make you & your family SMILE.