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Some Citi Bikes Will Soon Project Laser Bikes Onto The Road
By
Scott Heins
Published Jan 11, 2017
Modified Jan 11, 2017
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By
Scott Heins
Published Jan 11, 2017
Modified Jan 11, 2017
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Seeking to protect cyclists while simultaneously making them look like vigilante bicycle bounty hunters from the Blade Runner extended universe, Citi Bike has announced that it will start installing safety lights on the front of 250 of its bikes. Each light projects the bright green outline of a bike onto the road 20 feet ahead of riders.
The lights are designed to alert motorists, pedestrians, and other cyclists of a Citi Biker's presence. In studies, the lights have been shown to alert bus and car drivers to cyclists' presence 30 percent more often, the company claims.
The Post reports that Citi Bike plans to have its pilot program of safety lights implemented by mid-March, and will eventually install the new feature on every one of its bikes citywide by the end of 2017. Londoners have been enjoying similar safety laser lights on their bike-share rides since early last year. The Citi Bike lights are made by a company called Blaze.
"By incorporating Blaze's lights into the bike, we aim to keep New Yorkers on foot, behind the wheel, and riding a Citi Bike safer and to improve the rider experience overall so that people of all backgrounds are inspired to try New York City's popular bike share program," Jay Walder, President and CEO of Motivate, Citi Bike's parent company, said in a statement.
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Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
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