LightLane draws virtual safety path around bikers

Keep outta my virtual lane, buddy.

(Credit: LightLane)

The LightLane mounts just under the bike's seat and projects laser lights onto the ground.

(Credit: LightLane)

Yay for this. I can't count the number of times I've had to swerve wide of cyclists to avoid one of those tense situations between wary bikers and impatient drivers vying for road dominance. It can be particularly challenging for people in countries where there's no bike lane set aside for bipedal locomotion. So having something like the LightLane go from concept to commercial production would be good news, indeed.

This patent-pending little gizmo was originally created for a design competition. Although the concept did not win, the inventors received an encouraging response and are continuing development.

The product clips onto the back of the seat bar, uses super-bright red LEDs and two high-visibility diode-pumped solid state green lasers to project a virtual light path on the ground around the cyclist. The result is a recognizable boundary that's clearly visible to drivers.

Hopefully, when this device finally goes to market, the transport authorities will make it compulsory as a safety add-on for all cyclists. Watch a video after the jump.

(Source: Crave Asia via Slippery Brick)

[Miko34]

I think this is a great invention. One step further into the future.

My only worry is that idiot drivers would actually get distracted by the laser lights and cause an accident that wouldn't have happened if the lasers weren't there.

[c|net Reader]

Since cycling involves constant steering corrections to maintain balance, the dancing green lines on the road will be great distractions to nearby motorists. Furthermore, cyclists do not have the right of way anywhere on the roadway, while the green lines suggest a right of way to the left and right of the bicycle no matter where it may be on the road. This may lead to worse recklessness on the part of cyclists of already questionable judgment.

[meanjoea]

only a 3 hr runtime???

[foehn]

T^his looks very nice. A longer run-time would be better. Too bad there isn't one bright enough to show in daylight!

BUT, why is the rider in the demo shown making a left turn AGAINST A RED LIGHT? Jeeze, I ride and I cringe with I see a****le riders driving irresponsibly, no matter what the time of day or night. What idiots.

[c|net Reader]

"Too bad there isn't one bright enough to show in daylight!"

Bright colors on the cyclist and bicycle should be sufficient in the daytime. Such a device is only needed for low visibility conditions: bad weather and darkness.

[foehn]

I want to amend my previous comment:

BUT, why is the rider in the demo shown making a left turn AGAINST A RED LIGHT, a left turn AGAINST A RED LIGHT from the right -hand lane/side of the street? . . . What idiots.

[chrisrust]

You may be right but the video might be misleading and one comment on their youtube site suggests this is a legal move because of the arrangement of one-way streets. And a cyclist who makes an illegal move when they can see there is nobody coming in any direction is not in the same league as a car driver in control of a lethal weapon, sitting lower down, further back and insulated from the world outside. So many people are down on cyclists because they sometimes break traffic laws so I have started paying more attention to what car drivers do - guess what? they all jump red lights, hardly any of them use indicators (I gave a police driver a telling off today for not using his indicators) and they treat cyclists as if they were stationary.

But this is a great product, as a city cyclist I'll buy one as soon as they are available.

[jazzflea]

brilliant!!!!! now maybe the lane hogging autos will get the F out of the way!!!!

[CaenRide]

Pathetic riding habits.... lose the video... left turns from the right lane (nice try to justify this chrisrust, but think it through), running a red light (try again chrisrust, unless the light is malfunctioning, and there is no indication of that), making a pedestrian left turn (!), and riding continuously in the lane set aside for parking (ever heard of a "door zone").

[c|net Reader]

"Hopefully, when this device finally goes to market, the transport authorities will make it compulsory as a safety add-on for all cyclists."

That's right, we need the Government telling us yet another thing we must do. Should the Government deny access to the public roads just because a cyclist doesn't or cannot purchase such a device? Shouldn't individuals make their own decision? If a cyclist thinks the device will make them safer, let the cyclist purchase one. If not, let the cyclist choose to do otherwise. If the latter decision is the wrong one, that cyclist will deal with the consequences of his own choice, just as it should be.