There are a number of bicycles in Rockland County and there is a good reason for the bicycle craze. Not only is it a lot less expensive to get from point A to point B by bike, but it also provides a degree of exercise that many people in New City may be too busy to get done. While there are a number of positives about riding a bicycle, there are also a number of risks. Not all of the drivers out there are paying attention to cyclists and it only takes a moment of distraction to cause a serious or fatal accident.
Fortunately, four mechanical engineering students have been working to create a bicycle that will help protect its rider, even from poor or distracted drivers. This high-tech bike is not yet on the market although the students will be supported by Northeastern University’s venture accelerator. Whether this will translate into purchasable technology remains to be seen.
The technology that helps protect its rider, however, is something out of science-fiction movies. First of all, there are a pair of green lasers that will create an emergency bike lane if a car is too close to the bicyclist. Not only will it create the bike lane, but it will also use smart technology to communicate with the car and tell it to back off.
Not all bicycle accidents are caused by drivers, however, and the students recognized this by adding a software that will communicate with bicyclists that their current habits are putting them at risk of serious injury.
Hopefully, this kind of technology can help keep bikers safe in the future.
Source: The Boston Globe, ‘Smart Bike’ focuses on safety
