PROVIDENCE – On Tuesday evening, volunteers with the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition handed out more than 50 bike lights as part of the Coalition’s Light Up the Night program.
At two locations around Providence, volunteers watched for bicyclists passing by without lights. When an unlit bicyclist responded to the offer of free lights and stopped, a set of front and rear lights were attached to their bike. The program is designed to get lights to people who need them and will start using them immediately.
The biggest increase in bike safety comes from more people riding bikes, and from providing protected bike lanes on major thoroughfares so that bikes are physically separated from car traffic. After dark, however, it is hard for drivers to see people on bikes no matter the conditions, so bike lights are critical for night-riding safety. Not everyone can afford bike lights or knows how important they are, and Light Up the Night addresses that need.
The lights were purchased through a grant from AAA Northeast.