Originally Posted by
CliffordK
Tire reflectors could be mandated. A bit difficult for the international marketplace, but many companies have already adopted them.
Schwalbe uses tire reflectors. I don't believe Continental does. However, I couldn't imagine Continental would give up the entire US marketplace. Of course grey market parts may get around that. What percent of the US tires are grey market?
Many people swap front/rear tires, so I'm not sure I'd go for red reflector tires... what about the next time they get mounted forward? Still, anything is better than nothing.
I'm not sure blinking lights are mentioned in any laws. I think they were adopted by the bicycle community both to save energy and to provide better contrast... and that was about 25 years ago.
I had a NightSun years ago. But, bright lights are really just now hitting the mainstream. So, it is time to start evaluating dimmers and directed beam lights. It is now possible to get bicycle lights that are brighter than auto high-beam lights.
There is also a growing number of users of cleated cycling specific shoes/pedals. WITHOUT REFLECTORS. It would be natural to reflectorize the shoes. Again, something the government could easily mandate.
Umm, I'm having trouble figuring out what you do and don't know. Continental makes some tires with reflective sidewalls. You don't have to go to the "grey market" to get them. Bikes are sold with reflectorized pedals, easy to satisfy the law there.
If you want to cover yourself in reflectors, you have every right to. You can even spray yourself with that glitter paint. The beauty of a free-ish country is that we don't all have to, just because you want to.