By Bronwyn Scott
Published: June 14, 2013
Shedding a little light can go a long way, and Bob Brant and other supporters of Be Bright @ Night are doing just that as their message to promote night time visibility gains momentum and supporters.
An inaugural meeting on May 23rd brought together members of various community groups and companies like Helping Hands, Republic Bikes and Crime Stoppers to discuss how to launch the initiative this fall.
The Squamish Trails Society, with Brant as its chairman, spearheaded the campaign in 2010, but had limited resources to realize its goal of creating a cultural awareness around nighttime visibility.
Although well intentioned, in its early days, Be Bright @ Night was little more than a tagline, according to Christina Moore, communications manager for the District of Squamish.
It was, however, a tagline that finally gained the support of the district, which became a supporter in December last year.
As a result of that partnership, reflective wristbands were given out to help promote the message. But even with the support of the district, engraining Be Bright @ Night into a cultural mindset was too great a feat.
“We don’t necessarily either have the resources to roll it out fully ourselves or necessarily the mandate, so we were looking for broader community communication or participation as we look towards expanding the program,” said Moore.
And so it came to be that on May 23rd over ten organizations would meet to discuss how to best spread the word.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm and energy as to [its] importance,” she said.
A focus of the meeting was to figure out how to spread the campaign community-wide and to find ways of engaging different groups.
“One big concern is, how do you get young people to put on a high-visibility vest? And is that really realistic?” asked Moore.
Reflective gear or reflective stickers on their bikes were suggested as alternatives.
Other points of discussion included how to measure the success of Be Bright @ Night after the fall launch, including what kinds of records might be gathered to help gauge its impact, and when exactly the fall launch will take place.
No date has been decided upon, but some suggestions were included early September, when kids are going back to school, Halloween, or timing it with daylight savings.
Better lighting on Squamish streets to aid visibility was also discussed, but it’s not likely that light installations will be on the agenda in the near future.
“[It] would certainly help, but that’s a really big budget item,” said Brant. “That’s probably a much longer term wish.”
For the time being, it is incumbent upon the public to wear bright clothing or have reflective attire or accessories, Brant said.
As for the best options for staying visible in low-light situation, he suggests a reflective vest is “by far and away” the best thing to wear.
“The next best is some sort of reflective armband or chest band, and certainly if you’re riding, a combination of lights, a taillight and headlight,” he said.
“I think the awareness is starting to creep in, we just need to keep up the awareness and spread that awareness around.”
Dave says
Great article and a good promotion of safety practices on our streets.
I have to add this related comment regarding cycling on streets where there are not, as yet, designated bike lanes….Those who do this should not ride two abreast while talking to each other. This is very selfish and dangerous….single file should be the rule. This is particularly obvious, I note, on Mamquam road. Motorists become annoyed and may take chances in passing. Also talking while riding is as distracting as using a cell phone in a vehicle. All bikes should have mirrors and bells.
adam says
I totally agree. Take the Squamish Valley Rd for example. Mostly double yellows and very few places to safely overtake, yet there are many cyclists two abreast with little concern for other traffic…waving drivers past on the wrong side of the road with a blind corner ahead. I understand the potholes don’t make it easy but if your bike can’t take a few pothole encounters, maybe another road would be better. It is just a matter of time before someone is killed on that road and it’s been close a few times.
Dottie says
And the obvious… motorists slow down when passing cyclists/walkers the like. Commuting daily, I see more and more walking their bikes along highway 99 sometimes all the way to Lions Bay (some appearing to be collecting bottles/cans) and are virtually dressed head to toe in black. Great article and good for the Squamish Trial Society in getting the word out and trying to “lighten” everyone up.
Brian says
excellent topic, what ever happened to the helmet law and its enforcement , I know that the RCMP has alot better things to attend to but why not have a day or two a month that they apply the law on helmets ? I get it, its not cool for some kids to wear helmets, and chances are if your hit by a vehicle moving at 30 km or greater you may or may not survive and at best you may be in a wheel chair for the rest of your life. I like the idea of reflective decals for kids bike, and why not have a contest and get some high school kids that are into graffiti or lets say art, to come up with a design that’s cool to put on your ride ,and maybe some local businesses can supply some prizes ! Its got to be cool to put it on your wheels. Talking from experience its hard to see things at night, and where we live and our weather doesnt help. But lets try to make kids seen at night !
Martin says
We’ve all seen them: Those cyclist and pedestrians lurking around in the dark without lights or bright coloured clothing. My point is exactly that: we see them! They may not jump out like circus clowns, but we see them. Otherwise we would not be righteously complaining about how hard they were to see.
Get off the blame-the-victim band wagon. Every motor vehicle sold in Canada comes equipped with, as a minimum, two 65 watt halogen head lights. If you cannot see what is coming up on the road ahead that is your problem. My guess is, that like most people, you are driving too fast for conditions. 50 km per hour is the speed limit in town under IDEAL CONDITIONS. Dark rainy, nights are not ideal conditions. My advice to you is slow down. There is lot of time to react when you’re doing the speed limit.
Contrary to what Brandt says, it is NOT incumbent upon the public to wear bright clothing or have reflective attire or accessories. However, it is incumbent upon drivers not to hit pedestrians or cyclists. Unless of course the law has changed!
My point is this: Yes, by law cyclist must have lights on their bikes, and yes pedestrians should be visible. However, the real problem is drivers driving too fast for conditions. If you drive for conditions you will have an easier time seeing in low-light and if there is a collision you will cause much less damage and injury. As the larger, more protected and more deadly vehicle, the car driver has the moral and legal obligation not to do harm.
Brian says
Martin are you for real ? I don’t know how much driving you do at night, but being a professional driver, I know. Form personal experience , that first I drive the speed limit and with our weather and road conditions , I reduce my speed , and drive with due care and attention. There are too many areas in the Squamish valley that are with out proper lighting, it won’t make any difference unless both driver and pedestrians and or bike riders are illuminated . Think about it vehicles have lights , there made that way, with air bags and all kind of safety options. Pedestrians and bike riders , well that’s buy choice isn’t it. I think the point is be seen where reflective clothing, have a light on you bike and or reflectors, don’t be in the dark, don’t be a casualty ! It’s common sense, or may be its ignorance ?