Press Releases
London Rickshaw Company Increases Passenger and Rider Safety with Battery-Free Pedalite Pedals
13 December 2007 – As Christmas lights shine across London, In Wheels We Trust, an environmentally-conscious Rickshaw company is lighting up its Pedicabs using battery-free pedal-powered, 360 degree visibility pedal lights from Pedalite International Ltd to improve the safety of customers and drivers.
Adding Pedalites to its Rickshaws will ensure the cabs are clearly visible to motorists, bus and taxi drivers, from up to 1km away, at any time night and day, and from any angle.
As the Pedalite pedals are powered by the cyclist’s kinetic energy, they light up as soon as the cyclist starts pedalling. The pedals harvest and store this energy so the lights stay on when the Rickshaw has stopped at lights or at a road junction. This is critical as 75% of cycling accidents in the UK happen at, or near, a road junction [Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), where cycles need to be seen from the side.
Kieran Keegan, Advertising and Events Manager at In Wheels We Trust said, “We are thrilled to add this brilliant, innovative and completely ‘green’ lighting product to our Rickshaws. We want our fleet of 40 rickshaws to stand out from the crowd and also to ensure the safety of our passengers at all times – Pedalites will ensure we achieve those aims.”
“More Londoners and tourists than ever before are finding our Rickshaws a very convenient and fun way of being transported quickly around London - from the theatre, to restaurants and they are a god send to tired Christmas shoppers. As we approach our busiest time of year, In Wheels We Trust is confident that having Pedalites on its Rickshaws will improve the visibility and safety of our Riders,” Keegan added.
Dubbed ‘a fantastic product’ by Road Cycling UK; ‘a bright idea‘ by BBC Countryfile magazine, whilst Treehugger, the environmental organisation asks people to ‘appreciate the genius of this tiny gem’. The pedals are currently used by selected UK emergency services and endorsed by former World Champion cyclist and safety campaigner, Tony Doyle, MBE.
Pedalites can be easily fitted to any bike and they require no maintenance. They provide additional bike lighting to improve visibility and are an essential back up if other battery powered lights fail, or are not turned on.
Simon Theobald, Managing Director of Pedalite International commented, ”Pedalite pedals have become a phenomenon in bicycle accessories this year because they are so unique and environmentally-friendly. Bikes fitted with Pedalite pedals seem wider to motorists. They create a virtual cycle lane which means that motorists give these bikes more space and distance and this helps reduce accidents. We are delighted the pedals now being used by In Wheels We Trust, in addition to thousands of traditional cyclists around the world.”
About In Wheels We Trust
In Wheels We Trust www.inwheelswetrust.com operates a fleet of over 50 ECO-Friendly, three-wheeled Rickshaws in Central London. The Rickshaws are designed to carry up to three passengers on fun, safe and pollution free journeys and are built to the highest specifications in the UK and maintained daily by experienced mechanics.
The company offers tailored advertising packages in locations at unmatched levels of exposure. In Wheels We Trust helps its clients overtake their competitors and get noticed on the competitive streets of London by operating in prime tourist locations including Oxford Street, Regent Street, Park Lane, Soho, Tottenham Court Road and Piccadilly Circus.
For more information and bookings call: 07975693357 or email: Kieran@inwheelswetrust.comwww.inwheelswetrust.com
email; Kieran@inwheelswetrust.com / info@inwheelswetrust.com
About Pedalite International
Pedalite International Ltd offers unique battery-free pedal lights that harvest and store the energy that a cyclist uses enabling the lights to stay on for up to five minutes after the pedalling stops such as when freewheeling or waiting at a junction.
Now used by thousands of cyclists in over 22 countries, Pedalite 360 degree pedal lights help to protect the cyclist with always on essential side lighting, protect the environment by eliminating highly caustic battery waste and save money by using the kinetic energy generated by turning the pedals rather than requiring batteries to be purchased over and over again.
In July 2007 Pedalite was acquired by the Mpower1 Group of companies (www.mpower1.com); a major business development organisation, which has increased investment, accelerated product development, attracted celebrity endorsement for Pedalite products, initiated a major marketing campaign and underwritten the future of Pedalite.
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 pedal lights 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 Pedals.