Press Releases
New eco-friendly lighting gadgets to keep you exercising this winter and eliminate accidents
6 April 2009 – Don’t let the clocks going back and the onset of darker evenings stop your exercise regime this winter. Pedalite, the market leader in eco-friendly cycling and equestrian safety products, has launched a new range of award-winning, green, safety lighting products which protect cyclists, runners, walkers and horse riders by ensuring they can be seen clearly by motorists from up to 1km away, with no need for batteries.
Gadget King is now wholesaling and retailing Pedalite’s full range of products which provide hassle-free, ‘fit and forget’ lighting that is always on. The gadgets will appeal to horse riders, cyclists and fitness fans who care about the environment and want to stay safe when exercising this winter.
The popularity of cycling has increased rapidly in Australia in recent years, however, concerns over safety are the biggest barrier to cycling according to the 2008 report, ‘Cycling: Getting Australia Moving’.
665 fatal cycling injuries were recorded by ATSB between the years 1991-2005; 86% of which involved a collision between a motor vehicle and a car on rural and urban roads, where cyclists need to be seen from all angles including the side. A 2006 report from Monash University analysing 13,901 bicycle accidents in Australia also revealed that most accidents occur between 2pm to 6pm and 6am to 10am when there is less light.
Lighting is also an issue for horse riders, as under Australian Road Rules, horse riders must display a white light on each side of the horse at the front and a red light on each side at the rear. Pedalite’s solar powered products Anklelite and Baglite provide super bright lighting that illuminates horses and riders so they are clearly visible to traffic, but which does not distract or startle horses in any way.
New solar powered Anklelite will protect cyclists, runners and horse riders. It is a weather-resistant, ultra light-weight, ankle strap which fits comfortably around the ankle or arm and comfortably over riding boots. It has highly visible reflective strips on both sides and provides super-bright lighting, which shines at 360 degrees, without any need for batteries. Horse riders, runners, hikers and cyclists wearing Anklelite will be seen clearly by motorists and others from all angles, including the side and from up to 1km away.
Baglite is an innovative solar-powered lighting system which slots easily over any size bag or rucksack or can be worn without a bag as a light harness for horse riders. It will clearly illuminate cyclists, horse riders, walkers or children walking to and from school wearing backpacks and it also requires no batteries.
Anklelite and Baglite charge both in natural daylight and in artificial (ordinary household) lighting and a full charge provides up to 6 hours of lighting when the products are set to flashing mode.
These new products complement Pedalite’s award-winning 360 degree Pedal lights which were launched last year. The pedal lights are fitted in place of normal bicycle pedals and are powered using a cyclist’s kinetic energy. The pedals light up as soon as the cyclist starts pedalling and ensure they can be seen clearly by motorists from 1km away and from every angle, including the side.
The lights uniquely harvest and store a small amount of energy, enabling the lights to continue to flash for up to five minutes after the cyclist has stopped pedalling. This means they can still be seen when freewheeling or at an intersection where cycles need to be seen from the side and, where three out of four accidents cycle happen, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in the UK.
Cycle shops around Australia are now able to stock the full range of Pedalite products, which also includes eco-friendly 100% natural lube/oils, grease and bike cleaners from national Bicycle distributor/wholesaler, Classic Bicycles.
Simon Theobald, Managing Director of Pedalite said, “In this current economic climate, people are giving up expensive gym memberships and getting on their bikes, riding horses or running in the outdoors. But, safety is an issue, for cyclists, horse riders and joggers. In the case of horse riding, lighting is also a legal requirement. Our products provide vital always on lighting for sportspeople so they can continue exercising outside all year round and be confident they will be seen and safe at all times but with our the cost to the purse and the environment of continually replacing batteries.”
Editors Notes
Further research and Information from Pedalite International
A survey of over 350 cyclists by Pedalite International Ltd at a recent Cycle Show revealed that the number one fear of cyclists is that motorists drive too close to them.
61% of respondents complained that cars and lorries came too near, causing them to wobble or throwing them off balance completely. Over half of respondents were worried that they would not be seen in the winter evenings by motorists (51%) and 21% felt that there was a lack of cycle lanes to ensure their safety, despite the fact that many more cycle lanes are being created. 48% of cyclists questioned stated they felt unsafe on the roads, with a third stating they felt quite safe and just 19% feeling very safe and confident.
The number of cyclists is rising in every city, as an example London has seen a 91% rise in the number of cyclists on the roads in the past year according to the local authorities there, therefore it is little wonder that 9% of respondents also admitted that they felt nervous cycling with so many others on the road at the same time.
On a positive note, Cyclists are taking major precautions to ensure they are as safe as possible on the roads. 94% of all respondents wear cycling helmets whatever distance they are cycling; 42% wear fluorescent clothing to increase their visibility and 24% even carry additional batteries for their lights in case their batteries run out. This is just as well as 30% of respondents admitted that their lights had run out in the past leaving them stranded without lighting.
A few simple facts about cycling:-
• Over 16,000 cyclists are injured every year and around 60% of accidents go unreported
• 75% of all cycling accidents on roads happen at road junctions where cyclists need to be seen from the side.
• Lorries turning left and not seeing cyclists from the side is the greatest cause of fatalities
• Most cyclists do not have side lighting on their bikes
• When a battery in a cycle light runs out a cyclists lights go out and they become virtually invisible
• Lights are needed in the Winter AND the Summer. A single cloud passing in front of the sun can obscure the light on a bright sunny day and from the side and a cyclist approaching a road junction becomes much harder to see in this half light. Think about when you cycle from bright sunshine into a shadow or under a bridge, your eyes take a moment to adjust and you do not see as well, this is the same for all road users and you need to make sure you are lit up to be seen.)
• Batteries are harmful to the environment (Batteries are a unique product comprised of toxic heavy metals include nickel cadmium, alkaline, mercury, nickel metal hydride and lead acid; elements that can threaten our environment. Batteries that end up in landfills and incinerators eventually leak into the environment and end up in the food chain, causing serious health risks to humans and animals.)
About Pedalite International Ltd
• Multiple free to use high resolution images of Pedalite products, logos and other useful information is available to journalists at www.pedalite.com/press_downloads.aspx
Pedalite International Ltd design and make cycling, running and equestrian accessory products for Safety, Health and the Environment with Quality built in. The products are available worldwide from all good retailers and the range of unique products continues to expand.
Pedalite products are now used by tens of thousands of cyclists and sports people in over 40 countries, Pedalite products help protect the environment by eliminating highly caustic battery waste, plastic packaging and encouraging safer outdoor sporting pursuits.
Tony Doyle MBE, twice World Pursuit Champion and four times European Track Champion is an ambassador and spokesperson for Pedalite International Ltd. Tony will be promoting the Pedalite products at exhibitions, cycling shows and through cycling clubs, retail outlets and in schools throughout the UK, highlighting the part they play in cycling safety. As spokesperson, Tony also plays a key role in helping explain, through the media, the importance to cyclists of using Pedalite products.