Ferguson & Patton Township Partner with CentreBike To Promote Safe Cycling Visibility
With increased cyclists on the road due to pleasant weather and riding conditions, cyclists are going on longer bike rides that extend into the evening. Although riding at night can be enjoyable, it can also cause difficulty for others on the road to see cyclists if precautions are not taken by night riders.
However, local municpalities and police departments are doing their part to encourage cyclists to remain visible to motorists and pedestrians while riding at night.
As part of this effort to encourage safer riding, Ferguson and Patton Township Police Departments have partnered with CentreBike to provide free bike lights — headlights and tail lamps — to cyclists to ensure higher visibility to those who share the road with them.
If an officer from either department stops a cyclist at night who does not happen to have a headlight or tail lamp, the officer will provide a free light to improve their safety and also the safety of others.
By Pennsylvania law, all cyclists riding between sunset and sunrise must have a front lamp emitting white light “…visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front…” and must have a red reflector light in the rear of the bike which is “…visible at least 500 feet to the rear," per Title 75.
Headlights and tail lamps are great ways to stay visible to traffic and pedestrians, but cyclists should also consider following further safety tips if riding at night:
- Wear bright, reflective clothing and riding equipment if cycling at night
- Stay on well-lit roads with proper bike lanes
- Add additional reflectors to your bike
- Be extra cautious to vehicles riding behind you and especially at traffic signals
- Ride in groups exercising the aforementioned safety tips to increase visibility to motorists
If you're riding at night, be sure to take these extra precautions and feel free to stop by either police department for your own set of headlights and tail lights!