How to Reduce Risk of Injury When Biking at Night

How often has it happened that you are driving at night and you come upon a bicyclist that you can barely see in the dark. You look closer and see the person is riding a black bike and is dressed from head to toe in black and the bike has no lights. You think to yourself does this person have any idea how hard he is to see.? One would think that an investment in a set of $10 bike lights is certainly worth while to prevent serious injury or even death. Even in well-lit areas, bicycles can be difficult for drivers to see, especially when visibility drops during evening hours or in bad weather and especially given the fact that drivers come up upon bikers at speeds, giving little time to react. The bike injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have handled numerous cases involving cyclists injured because a motorist simply didn’t see them until it was too late.

Why Visibility Matters

Unlike cars, bicycles have a small profile and no built-in lighting system. When riding at night, a cyclist can easily blend into the shadows along the road, particularly if wearing dark clothing. Drivers often have limited reaction time, and the difference between being seen or not can mean avoiding a serious crash.

Simple, Affordable Ways to Stay Visible

Fortunately, increasing your visibility doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Bike lights and reflective gear can make all the difference:

Front and rear bike lights are required by Chicago law when riding at night. A good set can cost as little as $10 and can make you visible from hundreds of feet away.
Reflective vests, ankle straps, and jackets catch and reflect headlights, alerting drivers to your presence even from the side.
Bright-colored clothing and reflective tape on your helmet or bike frame add another layer of visibility.

These small investments can dramatically improve your visibility reduce your risk of being hit by a car.

Legal and Safety Responsibility

Drivers in Chicago have a legal duty to share the road and remain alert for cyclists, especially in areas with dedicated bike lanes or popular routes like Milwaukee Avenue or the Lakefront Trail access points. However, most bike lanes in Chicago run along parked cars, such as on Lincoln Ave., Damen Ave., Lawrence Ave. and many others. When motorists are making a left or right turn at night they typically glace to see if there any bikes coming. A biker dressed in black riding a bike with no light may simply not be visible enough to register as a danger. Additionally, more and more bikers are riding down streets like Western Ave. and Ashland Ave. with no bike lane. A driver will come upon a biker riding much slower making it especially important that the the biker have rear lights.

The bike injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., encourage every rider to make visibility a top priority. A $10 light and a reflective vest are far less painful and costly than the consequences of a serious collision.

If you or someone you love has been injured while biking in Chicago, the attorneys at Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. can help. We have extensive experience representing cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis — you pay no fee unless we win.