As any cyclist may say, riding their favorite form of eco-friendly transportation on the same roads as cars can be quite dangerous. There are several theories about why this is, but according to one N.C. State graduate student, it is because of a breakdown in communication between cyclists and motorists. 

Brian Franson aims to remedy this situation with his bicycle lighting system, dubbed ALIGHT, which placed third in the 2013 International Bicycle Design Competition. 

“Motorists often cite not seeing the biker or wrongly predicting their next move,” Franson said. “This communication gap that exists was the main problem I wanted to solve with ALIGHT. It was also the intent to eliminate hand signals currently used by cyclists in order to reduce the risk associated with taking the hands off the bicycle while attempting to make a maneuver.” 

To do this, he needed to design a system that would be visible at all times and from all angles, and communicate as much, or more than, the brake and turn signals that we are used to on cars. To this end, the design started with a stretchable, flexible sheet made of electrodes sandwiched between layers of carbon nanotubes. This forms a pliable, light emitting sheet. 

To make the cyclist not only visible, but visible from all angles, Franson designed ALIGHT to take up as much visual space as possible. 

“ALIGHT can be extended with the two ends attached to the rear axles which creates a natural curve making it more visible in traffic,” Franson said. “In the extended position the motorist can see ALIGHT from the rear and also from the side.” 

As with anything, though, versatility was a main concern according to Franson. Under circumstances where the large surface area isn’t needed or may be distracting, the sheet can be retracted into the cylindrical casing.

“When coiled up, it still lights up through the case and acts as a smaller taillight under the seat,” Franson said. “When detached, ALIGHT has the added benefit of becoming a small flashlight to help you find your things or lock up your bike in the dark.” 

The light-emitting material is what allows ALIGHT to integrate the cyclist into the flow of traffic, effectively acting as a set of tail lights for the bicycle. Franson took advantage of colors and patterns that drivers are already used to seeing on the road. According to Franson, understanding the next action of the cyclist should be intuitive, even if a driver has never seen ALIGHT before. 

“ALIGHT features a bright glowing green light that is visible day or night,” Franson said. “Once turned on, it stays lit green until the cyclist puts the brakes on, which changes the light to red. When turning left or right, a yellow light will blink in the direction the biker intends to go. Controls are located at the handlebars and connected electronically.”

So not only should ALIGHT be easy for motorists to understand, but should be easy for cyclists to operate from their first time using it, thanks to common sense controls. 

It may be some time before bicycles are as common a sight on the road as cars, but Franson and all the other competitors in the International Bicycle Design Competition are aiming to make that a possibility with innovative safety devices.