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Turn-signal jacket gives cyclists direction
While we're usually the first to point out how dorky it is the wear clothes that light up, this LED jacket, designed by Leah Buechley, qualifies as the exception. The lights on the back of it are arranged in arrow patterns — a great way for cyclists to let cars and bikes behind them know if they're turning. As long as the controls are easy to use, it should be great, though it might be bad if they're easy to accidentally trigger… no one wants to see the bicycle equivalent of the forever-blinking turn signal.
Once you're indoors, the jacket has multiple uses — from directing people to the men's room to letting them know how you plan to vote in November. And, of course, making you look dorky.
Leah Buechley, via Notcot
By Bhoux at 12:25 PM ON 03/14/08
I went to college with her! Kudos for actually making light-up clothes that don't look like a way to get hipsters to part with their money. It seems like a very good idea to me!
By murray at 3:20 PM ON 03/14/08
Call me old-fashioned, but I don't know how this is better than sticking your arm out. Unless you have no arms, which would raise other important questions.
Also, when you're riding a bike, you're usually hunched forward, which would point these arrows up in the air. Oh, and then there's backpacks...
By ralba1998 at 10:26 AM ON 03/20/08
Well I like the idea but I have to agree with Murray. I ride and race bikes - have for over 30 years. this would make more sense if the actuall directionals were at the lower part of the back or at the buttocks. Otherwiswe - cars, other cyclist or pedestrians probably wont see you turning left of right. Another good area for this would be on the helmet - since most cyclist put the lights on their helmets or below their seats like I do. Good idea - but a gadget that I think is more fun that functional for cyclist.
By DarthRock at 2:39 PM ON 03/20/08
Murry has a point... besides, this isn't all that new of an idea. I've seen items like this before several years back.
By Scott at 12:51 AM ON 03/21/08
I like the idea, although it has some problems, as folks have noted, and one that others haven't: a turn signal like this would be most visible after dark, yet you'd have to be suicidal to wear something that dark after sunset. The signal would have to blink constantly so you wouldn't get run over. Now that I think of it, that might not be a bad idea, either. In addition to settings for left turns and for right turns, perhaps the jacket could have a setting akin to car hazard lights, with both of them blinking constantly. I still wouldn't wear a jacket that color after dark, though.
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Scott:
I like the idea, although it has some problems, as folks have noted, and one that others haven't: a turn signal lik...More »