Be seen. Be safe.
As daylight-saving time goes away, now is the time to stop a minute and consider how visible you and your family are when biking and walking. This is the time of year when people need to “dress” to be seen and drivers should be especially alert to seeing everyone.
Here are some tips:
1. Be reflective. Drivers can see bicyclists and pedestrians from farther away when they shine. For example, you are first visible to a driver from 500 feet away when you are wearing reflective clothing. Compare this to just 55 feet away when wearing dark colors.
2. Add more shine. Wear shoes, backpacks, jackets and other clothing with reflective materials. Add reflective tape and strips to your shoes, backpack, purse, bike wheel spokes, jacket sleeves, pant legs—really, anywhere and everywhere! Reflective vests and hats are great as well.
3. Use lights freely. Headlights, armbands with lights, leg bands with blinking lights, small blinking lights on your coat, purse or backpack… All of these items can help you be seen whether you’re biking or walking.
4. Be alert. Pedestrians should always use crosswalks when available and make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you. When you’re behind the wheel, be alert and practice extra caution during winter’s rain and low light. For more information, go to trimet.org/beseen