Cars overtaking too close? Look on the Brightside

The tendency of motorists to overtake bicycles too close, a dangerous habit more often the result of inattention than malice, is addressed by the Brightside – a sideways-facing cycle light.

When cycle insurer the ETA asked 800 cyclists to name their least favourite aspect of life on two wheels, 52% named ‘cars and lorries passing too close’ as their number one complaint.

The USB-chargeable amber Brightside lights clip to the frame or handlebar stem. The idea is to illuminate the ‘blind spot’ where a bike's front or rear light is not visible to motorists, which is particularly useful if you are waiting to make a turn.

The lights sell for £29.99

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Need a set of lights? Look on the bright side

There's never been a better time to buy a good set of bicycle lights. The advent of LED technology has resulted has revolutionised cycle lighting. Cheap, robust and bright, the lights are being used in ever-more creative ways. LEDs can now be found incorporated into gloves, jackets and now embedded into bicycle wheel rims.

Bicycle lights are brighter than ever before. The most powerful LED, Xenon strobe and high-intensity discharge (HID) bicycle lights are more powerful than a standard car headlamp, but for less than £10 you can buy a light that's more than powerful enough for urban commuting. The best rear light we’ve come across this year is the Cree LED, which retails for a very reasonable £7.99 from the Wilkinson website. If you team two of these rear lights, you get an effect comparable with set-ups costing ten times as much.

Protection for you and your bike

ETA Cycle Insurance never devalues your bike, doesn’t charge extra for things like third party liability, personal accident or friends and family cover, and has a sympathetic policy on storage in sheds and garages.

For 25 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance and in 2015 we were rated ethical in Britain.

Find out more about why we are different. Get an instant quote or call our friendly team on 0333 000 1234.

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