Bike Lights for Dark Nights initiative returns to support city's cyclists to ‘stay safe and stay seen’

A successful safety scheme will return to Hull’s roads this winter, aimed at helping cyclists to stay safe and stay seen when riding around the city during the darker nights.

After supporting and educating hundreds of cyclists over the past two years, Hull City Council will again be running its popular Bike Lights for Dark Nights initiative.

Supported by a wider publicity campaign, the initiative will see a series of ‘pop-up’ events take place where staff from the council, Safer Roads Humber and Humberside Police will inform poorly illuminated cyclists of the risks of riding without lights.

Where needed, riders will be provided with a set of free bike lights and reflective gear, with the aim of reducing collisions on the city’s roads.

This year’s activity is funded by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside and is again supported by Safer Roads Humber.

Five events will take place across December and January, with a particular focus on key travel routes as well as busy junctions in and around Hull city centre, including Spring Bank, Preston Road, Beverley Road/Clough Road, Witham/Lime Street and Princes Avenue. Dates and times will be communicated in advance of each event.

Over the previous two winters, 17 such events have been held and have resulted in hundreds of cyclists being engaged with and reminded of the legal requirement to ride with lights between sunset and sunrise.

More than 540 sets of lights and nearly 370 hi-vis rucksack covers were also issued during the previous campaigns.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways at Hull City Council, said: “The number of people in our city who are choosing to cycle is continuing to increase and with that comes the challenge of ensuring they and everyone else – no matter what mode of transport they use – follow the law when out on the city’s network.

“As a council, we are committed to building safe and welcoming neighbourhoods and in making sure that our roads are safe for everyone to use, which is even more necessary during darker nights.

“Safety is everybody’s responsibility. Cyclists should aim to be as visible as possible when riding around the city, but it is also important that motorists and all members of the travelling public look out for each other too.

“Bike Lights for Dark Nights has been well-received by those we have helped during previous events and our teams are looking forward to again being out and about across Hull to engage with cyclists over the coming months.”

Jonathan Evison, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am really pleased to be supporting this year’s Bike Lights for Dark Nights initiative, through Hull City Council. It is important that cyclists can be seen when using the roads. As the nights draw darker, it is important for motorists to remember to look out for cyclists so everyone can be safe on our roads.”

Ian Robertson, partnership manager at Safer Roads Humber, said: “We are pleased to continue to support Hull City Council with its cycling initiative and we remind those on two wheels to ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’.

“In addition, it is important that motorists ‘look, look and look again’ for cyclists and other vulnerable road users as we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe on the roads.”

For the latest on cycle lighting regulations, read the guide from Cycling UK