Brake lights - why not?

[Joshua Plumtree]

Someone on a club run had an off this morning.

I'd already turned for home by this time, but apparently someone braked in front of him, he didn't notice and they touched wheels. No real injuries and, more importantly, the bike's ok!

But got me thinking. Does anyone make a rear light which turns on and off when the break lever is applied and released?

Does such a system exist? Is it practicable, or are there too many obstacles to overcome to make it feasible/ cost effective?

And, if such a system doesn't yet exist, should I rush down the patent office in anticipation of my first million?

Apologies if this has been discussed before!

 

[Mrs M]

Someone on a club run had an off this morning.

I'd already turned for home by this time, but apparently someone braked in front of him, he didn't notice and they touched wheels. No real injuries and, more importantly, the bike's ok!

But got me thinking. Does anyone make a rear light which turns on and off when the break lever is applied and released?

Does such a system exist? Is it practicable, or are there too many obstacles to overcome to make it feasible/ cost effective?

And, if such a system doesn't yet exist, should I rush down the patent office in anticipation of my first million?

Apologies if this has been discussed before!

" More importantly the bikes ok"
Think brake lights a great idea, not sure if they exist though??

 

[winjim]

I'm pretty sure they already exist. Trouble is, for them to be effective, they'd need to be mandatory, and nobody wants that.

 

[Mark Grant]

B & M do a type of brake light.
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/b--m-toplight-line-brake-plus-rear-brake-light/aid:553806

 

[downfader]

You want to add lights, wiring, and a sender to your best bike?

Thats exactly the problem. It takes a great deal of wiring. Several companies have created deceleration based lights that come on when it feels the tiny G force. However these have always been quite unreliable

Its better for a rider upfront to shout out an agreed warning call (like "car up/back") or use a quick hand signal well in advance.

 

[young Ed]

not certain, but did @stuee147 build such a thing for his trike? micro switch on possibly the caliper?
Cheers Ed

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Oh yep they existed... My brother and I did try them back in the late 80's... thankfully it is not an idea that has taken off. People do not expect to see brake lights on a bike, so are unlikely to respond to them.
It's the same argument as flashing orange indicators: just think of the issues you may have encountered with cars still overtaking you despite the fact you are indicating right (or some of the idiots on the road who want to know which way you are going when you are in a straight on filter lane! )... and yes I am sure there is a thread about them somewhere and someone (other than me) will post it up shortly.

I just yell something like stopping to my OH if I need to stop and know he is too close. If he is close enough to hear me, he is close enough to hit me and words work faster than anything else.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Would it not be possible to have a rear light connected directly to the rear calliper? Admit disc brakes might present a few more obstacles.

 

[classic33]

The lights exist, however they'd be to easy confuse with a flashing rear light now. You'd also be concentrating your attention on the lights of those in front of you rather than those in front of you and the road.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Thats exactly the problem. It takes a great deal of wiring. Several companies have created deceleration based lights that come on when it feels the tiny G force. However these have always been quite unreliable

Its better for a rider upfront to shout out an agreed warning call (like "car up/back") or use a quick hand signal well in advance.

Agree. But this can sometimes be a little ad hoc and not 100% reliable. At least with a light you know for certain what's happening in front of you.

 

[classic33]

Bike Indicators
@SatNavSaysStraightOn

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Bike Indicators
@SatNavSaysStraightOn

nahh.... you were meant to be finding a link for brake lights not bike indicators...

 

[DRHysted]

B & M do a type of brake light.
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/b--m-toplight-line-brake-plus-rear-brake-light/aid:553806

Ohh I've got that. Don't really know how well it works as I don't see it!

 

[up hill struggle]

I had a similar post not long after joining here.

Personally I thought it would have been a good idea, if for no other reason than car may have seen the light and realized that you were slowing down and applied there brakes instead of rear ending us.

But it was pointed out that car drivers don't expect bikes to be fitted with brake lights so some may think when the light comes on that its just a rear light & if distracted by the rear light suddenly switching on my fail to see that your slowing down until its to late & knock you off anyway because there distracted by the light switching on.

But the idea to me is a good one that rides in close proximity to others even if you on a cycle path there's nothing worse than somebody coming to a stop suddenly & you nearly hitting them or them hitting you, but again other cyclist may not expect that the light is for braking.

You can get kits in loads of shops & ebay from £5 that come with light, switch to fit to the brake mechanism for turning the brake light on & off & even kits with rear facing indicators that operate from handlebar switches, but again car drivers wont expect them, may get distracted, not see your hand signal & hit you make your turn.

 

[KneesUp]

I seem to recall my brother making one when we were kids - it involved some wiring and a bit of tinfoil so that as the arm moved it brought the tin foil into contact with the calliper, or something like that - I thought it was a silly idea and didn't pay too much attention.