Friday Night Lights in Carrboro
My latest article that appeared in the "Carrboro Commons":
Bicyclists and pedestrians gathered for a “Friday Night Lights” event on Oct. 7 that wasn’t about football.
The Carrboro Bicycle Coalition, theCarrboro Recreation and Parks Department andGo Chapel Hillhosted “Friday Night Lights” at the Carrboro Town Commons to encourage bicycle and pedestrian safety after dark. The event provided free lights, reflective armbands and safety information for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Jaehee Yoo biked from dental hygiene school, where evening classes often mean late commutes. Since daylight savings time ended, Yoo said she feels much safer with the front and rear lights now installed on her bike.
“It’s really hard to see bikers without lights, and when there are bikers with lights, it’s like ‘Oh, there’s a biker, got to be careful,’” Yoo said.
North Carolina law says that all vehicles on the road must be equipped with headlamps and rear lamps between sunset and sunrise.
“When you are a cyclists in North Carolina you are a vehicle on the road,” explained Heidi Perry, treasurer of the Carrboro Bicycle Coalition and an event organizer.
Perry reminded bicyclists that front headlamps must be visible from 300 feet in North Carolina and red rear reflectors or lights must visible from 200 feet.
Following the light distribution, there was a competition for best-lit bicyclists. John Rees, the winner of “Most Visible Cyclist,” wrapped himself in Christmas tree lights. Other creative contestants lit their bikes with assemblages of flashing, multi-colored rope lights, road reflectors and beaming spotlights.
After having some laughs from the good-spirited competition, the event concluded with a nighttime bike ride with the mayor and police escorts.
Mayor Lydia Lavelle said was excited about participating in the event.
“The great thing about this event is it reminds you that you can still ride at night; you just have got to be really, really safe,” Lavelle said. “I pulled out my bike and checked the headlight, and I couldn’t see anything. I got a really nice headlight. It’s going to be fun riding around tonight; I’m looking forward to it.”
She and about 50 other brightly lit cyclists then rode 3 miles through Carrboro and Chapel Hill, shining their lights on safety.
(Writer’s Note: Walking home from this event, ironically a car almost hit me at the intersection of Weaver Street and S. Greensboro Street. Fortunately, I was wearing my new reflective armband! Drivers and pedestrians–Be safe and look both ways.)
Bicyclists and pedestrians gathered for a “Friday Night Lights” event on Oct. 7 that wasn’t about football.
The Carrboro Bicycle Coalition, theCarrboro Recreation and Parks Department andGo Chapel Hillhosted “Friday Night Lights” at the Carrboro Town Commons to encourage bicycle and pedestrian safety after dark. The event provided free lights, reflective armbands and safety information for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Jaehee Yoo biked from dental hygiene school, where evening classes often mean late commutes. Since daylight savings time ended, Yoo said she feels much safer with the front and rear lights now installed on her bike.
“It’s really hard to see bikers without lights, and when there are bikers with lights, it’s like ‘Oh, there’s a biker, got to be careful,’” Yoo said.
North Carolina law says that all vehicles on the road must be equipped with headlamps and rear lamps between sunset and sunrise.
“When you are a cyclists in North Carolina you are a vehicle on the road,” explained Heidi Perry, treasurer of the Carrboro Bicycle Coalition and an event organizer.
Perry reminded bicyclists that front headlamps must be visible from 300 feet in North Carolina and red rear reflectors or lights must visible from 200 feet.
Following the light distribution, there was a competition for best-lit bicyclists. John Rees, the winner of “Most Visible Cyclist,” wrapped himself in Christmas tree lights. Other creative contestants lit their bikes with assemblages of flashing, multi-colored rope lights, road reflectors and beaming spotlights.
After having some laughs from the good-spirited competition, the event concluded with a nighttime bike ride with the mayor and police escorts.
Mayor Lydia Lavelle said was excited about participating in the event.
“The great thing about this event is it reminds you that you can still ride at night; you just have got to be really, really safe,” Lavelle said. “I pulled out my bike and checked the headlight, and I couldn’t see anything. I got a really nice headlight. It’s going to be fun riding around tonight; I’m looking forward to it.”
She and about 50 other brightly lit cyclists then rode 3 miles through Carrboro and Chapel Hill, shining their lights on safety.
(Writer’s Note: Walking home from this event, ironically a car almost hit me at the intersection of Weaver Street and S. Greensboro Street. Fortunately, I was wearing my new reflective armband! Drivers and pedestrians–Be safe and look both ways.)
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