National Light Up!

The Light Up! campaign has run since 2005. We aim to increase the proportion of riders riding at night with compliant lights, prompt two battery changes each year by regular riders and identify the best value lights on the market

Every year, Ride On magazine tests bike lights to find out the best on the market and the best value. Check out our findings

National Light Up! Campaign Record

This page summarises the initiatives in the campaign so far.

2008 - Results of Survey on penalties

17 June 08. Lack of education and enforcement hindering lights on bikes push, say Bicycle Victoria members

2008 End of Daylight Saving Roadside Survey

In the week following daylight saving we conducted roadside surveys in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. We found 35% of riders without proper lights.

Lights - education and enforcement

In Victoria the education and enforcement plans are encapsulated in Arrive Alive.

Lights - the penalties

The rules are the same across Australia but the penalties vary. Bicycle Victoria supports the higher penalties.

Victoria - Cyclists urged to light up for winter riding

Victoria Police media release 3 April 2008

Receive a free monthly newsletter as a friend of Bicycle Victoria

National Light Up!

Light Up! is supported by bike groups around Australia including:

Bicycle Victoria,
Bicycle NSW
Bicycle South Australia
Cycling South (Tasmania)
Cycling WA
Pedal Power ACT
Bicycle Queensland

 

Local government support

We encourage Local Government to get behind the campaign.

 

You can:

- send a message in the Council newsletter

- ask the police locally to run an education campaign

- provide rewards for riders 'caught' doing the right thing

- run a media campaign in the local papers

 Bayside Leader 2007 

Useful facts

As many as 25% of bicycle trips occur after 6pm.

During winter most of the commuter trips and half of all trips will require working bike lights.

Fatalities in night time or semi darkness often involve riders without lights or with inadequate lighting.

A 2006 study suggests that fewer than a quarter of bicycle collisions occur during dusk, dawn and darkness, however the injuries sustained in these collisions are more severe than those in daylight. [see reference below]

Traffic regulations require a flashing or steady white light (front) red light (rear) that is clearly visible for at least 200m from the bicycle.