Ready to Fall Back? Bike Newport Offers Tips to Light Up the Bicycles at Free Class Sunday

NEWPORT, RI – Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday. Among other consequences, losing the extra daylight can make riding a bike a little more dangerous.

So a local bicycle advocacy group has stepped up with a free class to show bikers a few tips about riding at night.

According to Brian Sweeney, of Bike Newport, the Night Bright class is at 29 Spring St. on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

"Participants will learn the ins and outs of night riding, and get some hands-on experience biking after dark," he said. "The class is free, but donations are always welcome."

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Some of the pointers involve using the right gear. Basically, the strategy is "see and be seen," by using white lights on front, red lights on back, and plenty of reflectors and reflective clothing, he said.

For this weekend, several local bike shops are participating in the “Fall Back and Light Up” sale this weekend. Newport Bicycle on Broadway, Pedal Power on West Main Road, and Ten Speed Spokes on Elm Street will offer discounts and deals on bike lights and reflective clothing, he said.

And if you're flat out broke, low income cyclists may qualify for free equipment.

"Night Bright is a grant program that provides bike lights and reflective vests to bicycle dependent workers, thanks to a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation-Newport County Fund," he said. Call 401-619-4900 for more information.

Statistically, he said, more crashes happen at night than during the day, due mostly to visibility.

According to Sweeney, here are the steps bikers should take to stay safe.

"Headlights: Handlebar mounted headlights can be USB rechargeable or run on batteries. There’s a range of brightness, and settings that are steady and flashing. Newport law requires a white lamp on the front of your bike that can be seen from 500 feet. Bike shops can help riders choose the best light based on how and where they ride.

"Front light on your helmet: Helmet headlamps send light whichever way the cyclist looks. Smart!

"Rear light: Law also requires a red light on the rear of a bicycle. Many cyclists use red blinking lights throughout the day to be more visible as cars approach from the rear. Rear lights can be mounted on fenders, seat posts, seat stays, racks, or saddlebags.

"Reflective Vest or Jacket: Reflective material increases visibility exponentially and can make cyclists much more obvious on the road at night. In fact, highly reflective material can be far brighter even than the bike lights. Be careful – brightly colored clothing is not the same as reflective. Bright clothing may be highly visible in the daylight, but no different from any other color at night. Be sure that nightwear is reflective."

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