Free bike lights trial run.

Last night was a stealth trial for a new program called "Bright Reno Lights", that gives out free bike lights to people who need them.  It's housed under the Nevada Bicycle Coalition and includes organizations like the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), and Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT).

We set up from 4 - 6:30 at the downtown bus station to try to catch people who use their bikes as their primary source of transportation along with the regional bus system.  Our target number was to distribute 25 light sets during that time.  I had to leave a bit early, but we were well on our way 12-15 sets installed when I left (UPDATE: We gave out all 33 and 8 helmets and there was a line at the end....even with it raining!).

There are only a few rules (mainly to make sure our lights don't just end up on craigslist within 24 hours).  You must have the bike with you when you request the lights.  We must install the light set on site.  You have to give us some basic information about yourself (which doesn't even include your name, email, or telephone number)...just statistical stuff!  Other than that, it's a no strings attached bike lights program.

Here's what you get!

And here's a few pictures of the crew hard at work and some of the happy recipients.

The first installation completed!

Yep, you can definitely see them....even in the daytime!

Another candidate.

Did I mention that we have free helmets too!

Long awaited....finally here....FREE BIKE LIGHTS!

If you look far enough back on this blog you'll find a lot of jabbering about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory board (of which I'm now a member).  At some point a little group got started within BPAC that wanted to get a free light program together.  I got a few grants ($1500) from local Neighborhood Advisory Boards and NDOT kicked in about $3000!  Well after much bureaucracy with NDOT we finally got the purchase to go through with Planet Bike.

So, on this, the shortest day of the year we officially have the lights in hand (and free helmets) to begin the program.  Not bad for something that started last summer!  Anyway, they are similar to what you see below.  I'm going to try to grab a few sets today from the office and dole them out over the holidays.  There will also be upcoming distribution days and locations listed here and hopefully advertised in the local media.  So keep an eye out if you need a set of lights!