Local biking organization B!KE: the Peterborough Community Bike Shop is bringing back its “B!KE Bright” outreach events in October, offering free bicycle lights to cyclists who don’t have them.
Cyclists in Ontario are legally required to have front and rear lights on from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunrise.
It’s also a good idea for obvious safety reasons, especially as the days get shorter during the fall. Cyclists should have a working set of lights with them at all times, especially since they may find themselves riding home from work or school in the dark.
“It’s easy to get caught out on your bike past dark, especially right now as it starts to get dark earlier,” says Ness Pringle, one of B!KE’s outreach staff, in a media release. “We want to make sure that everyone riding has the gear they need to stay safe.”
The “B!KE Bright” events take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday (October 4) at the Peterborough Public Library and next Thursday (October 12) on the Rotary Trail near
the London Street footbridge.
In addition to giving away lights and providing tips for staying visible, B!KE staff and volunteers will also offer basic bike maintenance checks, help with route planning, and information about cycling programs and resources in the city.
The bike light giveaways are sponsored by the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee as part of the volunteer committee’s education efforts around safe cycling in the city.
