Pedalite Pedals Coming to North American Market

If you're interested in ways to make yourself safer and more visible on the bike, you'll want to check out Pedalite pedals. Sold in Europe for almost a decade, Pedalites -- pedals equipped with continously blinking lights that require no batteries -- are being introduced this month to the North American market.

The idea for Pedalites was hatched in 1998 following a near-collision between an automobile and a bicyclist in Kingston-upon-Thames, England. It was a dark and rainy night and Pedalites exec Chris Stimpson was on his way to a pub when he had to swerve suddenly to avoid a bike without lights that seemingly came from nowhere. At the pub, Chris discussed the close call with friend Richard Hicks, an engineer and inventor. The pair agreed that a great addition to the cyclist's headlight and tail light would be a third set of lights that required no maintenance and no batteries. And voila! - the idea for Pedalites was born.

Pedalites look and perform just like regular platform pedals and can be outfitted with toeclips. But continously blinking lights -- front, back and side -- make a cyclist more visible in all directions. They are sold in 22 countries already, and are used by a number of European emergency services agencies that deploy members of their force on bike. We are the first to get to review the new models of the Pedalite pedals that are making their debut in North America, and you'll want to find out what I think of them.

• Read the full review of the Pedalite blinking pedals
• More tips on how to ride safely in traffic

  Image: Pedalite International, Ltd.