Sideline bike lane emitting light system
Posted: July 10th, 2007 by Shannon MomineeWouldn’t it be awesome if vehicle drivers were alert to the amount of space you and your bicycle need to safely pass you and to make commuting in densely populated, urban areas more comfortable? What if every road you pedaled on had a clearly marked, visible bike lane to get you to your destination? Aside from pre-riding your commuting route with a can of white spray paint or waiting for the government to paint bike lanes, it’s pretty much up to the rider to make yourself visible. What if you could create a bike lane that moved with you and solved the problems above, while turning more people on to using bikes as transportation?
I recently met Byron Loibl, an industrial design graduate form the Cleveland Institute of Art, and he is creating just such a devise. The Sideline is a wrap-around bicycle bumper that mounts to the rear axle and emits a condensed, focused beam of light about two feet off of the left side and parallel with the chain stay. The beam moves with the bike to alert drivers to the minimum amount of space the rider needs.
The Sideline prototype operates on a 3.0 volt pile lithium battery, commonly used in cameras, and an LED bulb. The body is fabricated from a single piece of .125 aluminum and contains both the lane pod and LED taillight, which are injection-molded out of high impact polystyrene. The small parts are all replaceable in the event of damage and the entire product looks very sleek.
Byron’s inspiration for the Sideline comes from his love for two wheeled machines (pedaled and motorized) and his use of the bicycle as transportation. His design concept is modeled off the rear stone guard on a BMW multisport motorcycle and could change people’s perception of a bicycle’s place in society. It would also help drivers and riders communicate a rider’s presence and make everyone’s riding experience more enjoyable. Plus, it looks really freakin’ cool.
Check out the photo gallery for more photos and leave Byron some feedback in the comments field below or address them to me, operations@dirtragmag.com and I’ll pass them along.
July 11th, 2007 at 5:09 am
[...] Read More Explore posts in the same categories: Commute [...]
July 11th, 2007 at 6:03 am
This definitely looks like a great idea…
Is there any kind of visibility in the day?
July 11th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Could you always ride in a bike lane?…
What if everywhere you rode there was a bike lane?
Taken from the Dirt Rag blog, the above picture is what Byron Loibl, an industrial design graduate form the Cleveland Institute of Art, is hoping will be the next step in urban riding safety.
The Side…
July 11th, 2007 at 7:52 am
[...] Dirt Rag Magazine Blog » Sideline bike lane emiting light system [...]
July 17th, 2007 at 10:58 am
[...] emitting system for creating your own bikelane in the dark. Take a look here and read all about the idea to create your own kind of “bicycle lane” by using a LED [...]
January 21st, 2009 at 7:46 pm
[...] didn’t exactly fit the brief. Also, I had seen a very similar concept, though not as complete, on Dirt Rag and Cyclelicious not all that long ago. Anyway, despite the fact that this entry didn’t make it [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
[...] didn’t exactly fit the brief. Also, I had seen a very similar concept, though not as complete, on Dirt Rag and Cyclelicious not all that long ago. Anyway, despite the fact that this entry didn’t make it [...]
March 4th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
[...] didn’t exactly fit the brief. Also, I had seen a very similar concept, though not as complete, on Dirt Rag and Cyclelicious not all that long ago. Anyway, despite the fact that this entry didn’t make it [...]