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LOOK • SEE • SAVE

Invest in lights. It could save your life (and others).


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Click above to watch our in-depth explanation of the importance of lights

18th and Mosley


This is the intersection of 18th and Mosley. Shortly before 11:00 p.m, a cyclist was riding north on this stretch of Mosley. They were then struck from behind by a driver, also heading north, who did not see them. The attending officer noted that the cyclist was not wearing reflective material nor had any lights on his bike.


It is important to note that city ordinance § 11.48.090(a) prohibits nighttime riding without the use of lights, mandating that front-facing lights be visible at least five hundred feet away and red reflectors on the rear which shall be visible between one to six hundred feet.


Intersection of Dora and Meridian looking west - Wichita, KS
Intersection of Mosley and 18th looking south - Wichita, KS

Not only that, but it's safer. As a 2012 study in Denmark concluded, the incidence rate for crashes is 19% lower for cyclists with permanent running lights mounted, indicating that the permanent bicycle running light significantly improves traffic safety for cyclists. 


Image of the statement "Invest in lighting: municipal street lights, reflective clothing, and bike lights." for the Look See Save Campaign

At the same time, there’s a design decision that could have helped prevent this crash. This strip of Mosley did not have working street lights, and ensuring they worked would be a massive improvement. A 2023 meta analysis of peer-reviewed literature concluded that “road lighting is shown to be a cost-effective intervention to increase cycling and make it more inclusive.” Another meta study published by Environmental Health concluded that “streets used by cyclists at night should have good street-lighting.” This study cited, among others, one research project from Netherlands that showed how the presence of street lighting on rural roads reduced the rate of cyclists’ injuries by half. A 2015 study of Seattle, Washington, came to similar conclusions: encouraging both the usage of reflective clothing and equipment by cyclists as well as concluding that “improving street lighting can decrease the likelihood of cyclist injuries.” 


The attending officer to this crash noted that "there is no lights" or "light poles" at the particular crash site. Ensuring that there are always lights would be a welcome addition to this stretch of Mosley.


Check back in to hear more about the importance of lighting and as always, Look, See, and Save.




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