University of Brighton graduate Emily Brooke is set to light up New York with her Blaze Laserlight cycle safety light.
18 January 2017
The city’s Citi Bike rental programme – similar to London’s ‘Boris Bikes’ which carry the lights – is installing the safety feature on 250 of its bikes this winter.
The light is designed to make riders more visible to drivers and pedestrians by projecting a bike symbol six metres in front of the cyclist. It has been hailed as a major breakthrough in safety and is now selling in dozens of countries round the world.
Ms Brooke, a multi-award winner, graduated from the University of Brighton in 2011 in Product Design with Professional Experience and the Laserlight was her final year project.
The New York initiative also aims to grow ridership among women – studies have shown they are more likely to ride in safer traffic environments with features like protected bike lanes and one-way streets.
Blaze being used in Brighton
Emily Brooke with the Blaze bike image
Citi Bike said results in London indicated that this outcome is likely.
Jay Walder, President & CEO of Motivate, operators of the Citi Bike programme, said: “By incorporating Blaze’s lights into the bike we aim to keep New Yorkers on foot, behind the wheel and riding a Citi Bike safer and to improve the rider experience overall so that people of all backgrounds are inspired to try New York City’s popular bike share programme.
“Bike share is an extremely safe way to get around, and we are proud to work with Blaze to welcome every rider to Citi Bike while helping our city get ever closer to our Vision Zero goals.”
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