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 cyclists and pedestrians that are harder to see in low light.
Metro is excited to join TriMet again this year in their Be Seen, Be Safe campaign, helping people make being seen – and seeing – a priority.
Here are some tips:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Share your best way to be seen and you could win up to $400 in prizes in TriMet’s Bright Idea contest. Walkers and cyclists are invited to show their favorite ways to be visible after dark when daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 4. The contest period is Nov. 1 until 5 p.m. Nov. 12, 2012.
Photos that best convey a safety message will be judged by a panel comprised of safety professionals. Selected entries will be posted for fan favorite voting from Nov. 16-26; the winners will be posted on Thursday, Nov. 29. Contest prizes include transit passes and safety items.