The tragic death of a 22-year-old Christchurch nurse hit from the side by a truck last week strongly supports the urgent need for side on visibility when riding in the dark.
Sharla Phyllis Haerewa was cyling to work at Christchurch Hospital around 6.40am on April 2nd when she was struck by a truck that turned left from Lincoln Road into an unnamed road opposite Domain Terrace. The truck dragged her bike nearly 40 metres before coming to a halt. Haerewa died at the scene.
Police at the scene of the cyclist fatality involving Sharla Haerewa on April 2, 2014
There has been talk of the road being widened and requests for road users to be vigilant, however of everything that was reported from the fatality, there was not one mention of how side lighting may have helped prevent Haerewa from being hit.
Bells and Whistles is committed to improving cyclist visibility during hours of darkness and has introduced several products that are aimed at achieving our objective.
We have equipped more than 300 cyclists in New Zealand with MonkeyLectric wheel lights on their bicycle and these have provided greater safety for riding in darkness as other road users immediately identify and associate them as cyclists. These side on bike lights also provide more enjoyment for those cycling early in the morning and after work.
The Fibre Flare tail light is designed in the form of a tube and therefore also provides side on visibility. These are among the most visible bicycle lights on the international market.
The other light which will add more safety to night time riding is the brand new Halo Belt 2.0. This USB rechargeable light comes with 3M reflective straps and can be worn over the shoulder, around the waist or around your back pack.
With daylight savings now over, there is no better time to properly equip your bike with the most effective bicycle lights that provide maximum front, rear and side visibility.