Safety Check: Morning cyclists riding in the dark

With shorter daylight hours and the return to school, area drivers and cyclists are sharing the road in the dark morning hours.

In the dark, drivers often can’t see cyclists without reflectors. The Consumer Product Safety Commission lists these requirements:

• a colorless front reflector
• recessed colorless or amber reflectors on the back and front sides of the pedals
• red reflector on the rear
• a reflector mounted on the spokes of each wheel, or reflective front and rear wheel rims or tire sidewalls

The National Safety Council recommends that cyclists wear neon, fluorescent, bright and reflective clothing and use flashing lights.