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Michelin Just Made A Bike Lighting System That Protects Cyclists From Traffic Inside Its Ring Of Red Light
Night time bike rides can be a thrilling experience instead of a terrifying one if you take appropriate safety measures. French tire manufacturer Michelin has created a lighting device for bicycles that could become a vital piece of gear for any two-wheeled nightcrawler.
Bikesphere constantly analyzes the area around the cyclist and warns him if traffic intensity changes. Its proximity sensor detects an approaching vehicle, and if the car gets too close, the system will automatically activate two rapidly revolving lasers to shield the bike with a red halo. This alerts the cyclist about an approaching vehicle and drastically increases his visibility.
During the day, Bikesphere preserves energy and works as a regular headlamp. Michelin developed this genius device as part of its #TrendyDrivers initiative that seeks to reduce accidents on the road. The company also plans to make the system open source so every user can custom-build their own version of Bikesphere and provide tips for others on how to improve the initial design to best fit their cycling habits and needs.
More info: michelin.es (h/t: designboom)
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Watch the device in action below:
What do you think ?
Kate Brannan 7 years ago
After reading critical comments. Aiming for perfection, or cos it doesnt completely solve the problem dont mean its a waste of time. It IMPROVES safety. And u dont Have to buy it, do u? If u dont want a forcefield, get a tank, or a star ship. Actually, bikes are c**p cos they don't have warp drive or a coffee machine on them. Meh!
Cassie 7 years ago
What I need is some kind of hologram that makes bikes look like something bigger and/or more recognizable. It's too easy to see lights and they look like they are in the distance or something else and I don't realize it's a bike until I'm within the "oh c**p, that's a person, too close" zone. I've never seen this lighting system in person, so not sure it will help, but something seriously needs to improve about the visibility of bicyclists and pedestrians in the dark.
Lars Mårten Rikard Nilsson 7 years ago
how about you just get adequate lighting on your bike and you probably won't get run over by people with half a brain or more...
Nagy Attila 7 years ago
(yawns) Waiting the news about the possibility to generate an EMP shield around my bike.
Captain Planet 7 years ago
Because lights aiming straight at upcomming and traffic from behind isn't more visible? This seems like a typical product made to be sold. Not made to solve an exisiting problem.
Sacha Shein 7 years ago
You're right. But I like the idea of the proximity sensor. Maybe instead of making the lights on the ground spin faster, they could make the light that's actually facing the driver start to blink. Notice how they never actually show the view from inside the car? They just kind of show light reflecting off the driver's face. I doubt that the lights projected off pavement would be able to produce enough light to reflect off his face like that.
Load More Replies...
Adam Havlík 7 years ago
It sounds bizarre, but the best way of increasing your safety is to not wear a helmet, statistically speaking. No gymics needed. On average, drivers give cyclists wearing casual clothing and no helmets more side room when they pass, and cyclists avoid unnecessary risks and won't overestimate their skill. If you wear a helmet, you will actually take more risks, even if it's has nothing to do with physical protection, like at the poker table! These brains of ours are very weird XD
Marion Friedl 7 years ago
WOW I don´t ride my bike in the dark very often, never in the evening ot at night, but in winter it´s often dark until 9 am or longer when I gotta go shopping with my bike, when will these lights be available in Germany, and how much will they cost??? I understood how it works, the closer a car gets to you, the faster the ring of light moves around your bike, so the driver MUST notice you, I should sure get these somehow!!!
Kate Brannan 7 years ago
This is thr best invention iv seen for a long time. The guy/gal who made this will go down in history. Love the energy-safety saving of the beam itself. Increasing the circle when car in proximity x obv to be used with normal lights not instead of. Hats off x
Hmnazim Nazim 7 years ago
excellent post and then if you need any category website just click this link http://designbootstrap.net/downloads/
Lars Mårten Rikard Nilsson 7 years ago
unless it also projects an inpenetrable forcefield I'm gonna say: No it doesn't...
Kate Brannan 7 years ago
After reading critical comments. Aiming for perfection, or cos it doesnt completely solve the problem dont mean its a waste of time. It IMPROVES safety. And u dont Have to buy it, do u? If u dont want a forcefield, get a tank, or a star ship. Actually, bikes are c**p cos they don't have warp drive or a coffee machine on them. Meh!
Cassie 7 years ago
What I need is some kind of hologram that makes bikes look like something bigger and/or more recognizable. It's too easy to see lights and they look like they are in the distance or something else and I don't realize it's a bike until I'm within the "oh c**p, that's a person, too close" zone. I've never seen this lighting system in person, so not sure it will help, but something seriously needs to improve about the visibility of bicyclists and pedestrians in the dark.
Lars Mårten Rikard Nilsson 7 years ago
how about you just get adequate lighting on your bike and you probably won't get run over by people with half a brain or more...
Nagy Attila 7 years ago
(yawns) Waiting the news about the possibility to generate an EMP shield around my bike.
Captain Planet 7 years ago
Because lights aiming straight at upcomming and traffic from behind isn't more visible? This seems like a typical product made to be sold. Not made to solve an exisiting problem.
Sacha Shein 7 years ago
You're right. But I like the idea of the proximity sensor. Maybe instead of making the lights on the ground spin faster, they could make the light that's actually facing the driver start to blink. Notice how they never actually show the view from inside the car? They just kind of show light reflecting off the driver's face. I doubt that the lights projected off pavement would be able to produce enough light to reflect off his face like that.
Load More Replies... Adam Havlík 7 years ago
It sounds bizarre, but the best way of increasing your safety is to not wear a helmet, statistically speaking. No gymics needed. On average, drivers give cyclists wearing casual clothing and no helmets more side room when they pass, and cyclists avoid unnecessary risks and won't overestimate their skill. If you wear a helmet, you will actually take more risks, even if it's has nothing to do with physical protection, like at the poker table! These brains of ours are very weird XD
Marion Friedl 7 years ago
WOW I don´t ride my bike in the dark very often, never in the evening ot at night, but in winter it´s often dark until 9 am or longer when I gotta go shopping with my bike, when will these lights be available in Germany, and how much will they cost??? I understood how it works, the closer a car gets to you, the faster the ring of light moves around your bike, so the driver MUST notice you, I should sure get these somehow!!!
Kate Brannan 7 years ago
This is thr best invention iv seen for a long time. The guy/gal who made this will go down in history. Love the energy-safety saving of the beam itself. Increasing the circle when car in proximity x obv to be used with normal lights not instead of. Hats off x
Hmnazim Nazim 7 years ago
excellent post and then if you need any category website just click this link http://designbootstrap.net/downloads/
Lars Mårten Rikard Nilsson 7 years ago
unless it also projects an inpenetrable forcefield I'm gonna say: No it doesn't...
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