Biking is an awesome way to stay healthy, commute to work, and minimize your impact on the planet. But staying safe on a bike is sometimes easier said than done...especially at night. What's the biggest single danger to a cyclilst at night?
The lack of visibility. With LED lights embedded into the tires themselves, Cyglo Tyres will definitely make it impossible to not be seen by motorists.
The Cyglo Tyre was invented by James Tristram (note the British spelling of 'tire') as a safety feature, with a ring of LEDs embedded in the tread or side wall lighting up the tire as it spins. A motion powered generator built inside the tire delivers the juice needed to keep the LEDs lit, so they actually work any time the bike is moving. Other options include constant or flashing LED modes, and several different color choices.
Kinetic powered LED lit bike tires? Uhhhhh, yes please!
But wait, TreeHugger thinks they've found one fatal flaw in this otherwise amazing concept:
Tires wear out. And they're already problematic enough to recycle. What happens when they also have e-waste mixed in with them? And, as Wired points out, this causes a problem for the perfect market -- fixie riders who have to skid to a stop and wear out about a tire a month. While they like to fix up their rides, these expensive tires will probably not be popular if simply due to the issue of cost.
Good point. Even with the recycling, potential cost, and durability issues, would you support Cyglo Tyres for no other reason but the increased safety at night?
Comments
Leave a comment