New safety jigger
06-13-11 | 03:33 AM
#1
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New safety jigger
Student-designed bicycle device designed to save lives
By Ben Coxworth
14:22 June 10, 2011
BLAZE is a protype device that alerts drivers to the presence of a cyclist, by a projecting a laser image onto the road in front of the bicycle
(Photo: University of Brighton)
Many people are afraid of riding their bicycles on busy roads full of motorized vehicles, and it's easy to understand why. Not only are bikes slower and offer less protection than cars, but they can also be more difficult for drivers to notice. A device invented by a British design student, however, could help level the playing field a little. It's called BLAZE, and it alerts drivers to the presence of a cyclist by projecting a laser image onto the road in front of the bicycle.
"Eighty per cent of cycle accidents occur when bicycles travel straight ahead and a vehicle maneuvers into them," said Emily Brooke, a final-year Product Design student at the University of Brighton. "The most common contributory factor is 'failed to look properly' on the part of a vehicle driver. The evidence shows the bike simply is not seen on city streets."
She designed BLAZE in order to get those cyclists seen. The device mounts on the handlebars of a bicycle (or a motorcycle or scooter), from where it shoots a bright green sharrow (shared lane) symbol onto the road, several feet ahead of the cyclist. That symbol is visible even in daylight, and can be made to flash on and off.
The idea is that motorists, even if they don't see the actual cyclist riding in their blind spot, will notice the image on the road and realize that a cyclist is behind/beside them.
Brooke consulted with road safety experts, Brighton & Hove City Council, the Brighton & Hove Bus Company and driving psychologists when designing BLAZE. The resulting invention has won her a paid-for course at Babson College in Massachusetts, where she will continue to develop the product. She has also been shortlisted for an Enterprise Award, for innovation.
"With BLAZE, you see the bike before the cyclist and I believe this could really make a difference in the key scenarios threatening cyclists' lives on the roads," she stated.
Emily's idea is reminiscent of LightLane, a bicycle-mounted prototype device that uses lasers to project a virtual bicycle lane beside and behind the user's bike. Instead of warning drivers that a cyclist is beside them, however, it's intended more to get drivers to give cyclists enough room on the road.
Source: Bicycle Design
By Ben Coxworth
14:22 June 10, 2011
BLAZE is a protype device that alerts drivers to the presence of a cyclist, by a projecting a laser image onto the road in front of the bicycle
(Photo: University of Brighton)
Many people are afraid of riding their bicycles on busy roads full of motorized vehicles, and it's easy to understand why. Not only are bikes slower and offer less protection than cars, but they can also be more difficult for drivers to notice. A device invented by a British design student, however, could help level the playing field a little. It's called BLAZE, and it alerts drivers to the presence of a cyclist by projecting a laser image onto the road in front of the bicycle.
"Eighty per cent of cycle accidents occur when bicycles travel straight ahead and a vehicle maneuvers into them," said Emily Brooke, a final-year Product Design student at the University of Brighton. "The most common contributory factor is 'failed to look properly' on the part of a vehicle driver. The evidence shows the bike simply is not seen on city streets."
She designed BLAZE in order to get those cyclists seen. The device mounts on the handlebars of a bicycle (or a motorcycle or scooter), from where it shoots a bright green sharrow (shared lane) symbol onto the road, several feet ahead of the cyclist. That symbol is visible even in daylight, and can be made to flash on and off.
The idea is that motorists, even if they don't see the actual cyclist riding in their blind spot, will notice the image on the road and realize that a cyclist is behind/beside them.
Brooke consulted with road safety experts, Brighton & Hove City Council, the Brighton & Hove Bus Company and driving psychologists when designing BLAZE. The resulting invention has won her a paid-for course at Babson College in Massachusetts, where she will continue to develop the product. She has also been shortlisted for an Enterprise Award, for innovation.
"With BLAZE, you see the bike before the cyclist and I believe this could really make a difference in the key scenarios threatening cyclists' lives on the roads," she stated.
Emily's idea is reminiscent of LightLane, a bicycle-mounted prototype device that uses lasers to project a virtual bicycle lane beside and behind the user's bike. Instead of warning drivers that a cyclist is beside them, however, it's intended more to get drivers to give cyclists enough room on the road.
Source: Bicycle Design
06-13-11 | 03:48 AM
#2
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Looks interesting, but I'll want to see the price first. It seems like some of the accessory manufacturers forget that a lot of cycle commuters are doing it to save money, and having $300-1500 worth of stuff bolted onto a commuter bike isn't a good way to save money. Casual recreational riders are even less likely to spend more than $50-75 on something like that.
Realistically, a $10 green laser pointer from Dealextreme mounted to the headtube to put a dot 20-50 feet ahead of the bike should give a similar "WTF?" factor that would get drivers to look around and see why there's a glowing green spot cruising down the road.
Realistically, a $10 green laser pointer from Dealextreme mounted to the headtube to put a dot 20-50 feet ahead of the bike should give a similar "WTF?" factor that would get drivers to look around and see why there's a glowing green spot cruising down the road.
Last edited by KD5NRH; 06-13-11 at 03:52 AM.
06-13-11 | 04:11 AM
#3
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A friend who also happens to be a physicist offered to build me a laser to assist with my commuting. Of course, his plan was to build a unit powerful enough that, at the least, it could burn the paint from cars. I was tempted but ultimately declined his generous offer.
06-13-11 | 06:50 AM
#5
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I think this is a pretty good idea, and look forward to seeing its price, and how effective it is.
I use unsteady riding to get people to notice me, I wobble about, dart side to side, angle steeply into traffic I want to merge with, and generally make the drivers think I dont know what I am doing. I think they give me more room when I do this, and sharp movement seems to get their attention.
z
I use unsteady riding to get people to notice me, I wobble about, dart side to side, angle steeply into traffic I want to merge with, and generally make the drivers think I dont know what I am doing. I think they give me more room when I do this, and sharp movement seems to get their attention.
z
06-13-11 | 07:37 AM
#7
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I have a love and hate for device like these. I like it because it raises awareness for those driver who truely honestly did not see us nor meant to hook us. I hate it because it gives anti-cyclist cager a target for them to run over so that they can make their point and hooking us in the process.
I would just rather use the money to help lawmaker realise how important it is to just simply ban cell phone useage while driving.
I would just rather use the money to help lawmaker realise how important it is to just simply ban cell phone useage while driving.
06-13-11 | 07:49 AM
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Obviously cost will be a factor, but it could be handy if it's reasonably prices. My number one hazard on my daily commute is cars forgetting I'm there and turning right while I'm overlapped.
It's frustrating because usually they'll have just passed me seconds ago, and either misjudged my speed, or simply didn't care. I usually end up shouting "don't turn right" as we come to the corner, but that gets tiring.
A few weeks ago the pass-and-turn right stunt was pulled by a police car, and as I turned with him, we had a minor collision. No damage except for a scratch on his passenger side door. I was pleasantly surprised when he stopped, asked if I was OK and apologized (first time anyone ever did).
It's frustrating because usually they'll have just passed me seconds ago, and either misjudged my speed, or simply didn't care. I usually end up shouting "don't turn right" as we come to the corner, but that gets tiring.
A few weeks ago the pass-and-turn right stunt was pulled by a police car, and as I turned with him, we had a minor collision. No damage except for a scratch on his passenger side door. I was pleasantly surprised when he stopped, asked if I was OK and apologized (first time anyone ever did).
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
06-13-11 | 08:57 AM
#9
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I don't know about this. I think aiming could be an issue and people complaining that you shined them in the eyes with your laser. Whether or not this is possible, people will be complaining about it.
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06-13-11 | 09:12 AM
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Handsfree use is still legal, and I'm OK with that as long as the user doesn't fart around with the phone to dial. Full voice operation or nothing, IMO.
The big issue around here is the "speakerphone is OK" loophole, so instead of holding it to their ear, every shipdit on the road now holds their phone in their palm, right up in front of their face. I'm sure the law was written that way because some jackass whined that people who can't afford a BT-headset are being "discriminated against" and the state lawyers crapped themselves when they heard the D-word; but regardless of why it was put in there, it's pointless. Someone is still holding a phone instead of the steering wheel.
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06-13-11 | 11:31 AM
#12
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In my corner of the 'verse such a unit would serve no practical purpose. YMMV.
06-14-11 | 06:38 AM
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06-20-11 | 04:33 PM
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I'm sure the law was written that way because some jackass whined that people who can't afford a BT-headset are being "discriminated against" and the state lawyers crapped themselves when they heard the D-word; but regardless of why it was put in there, it's pointless.
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