We’ve tackled safer early-morning/late-night treks for the runners among us—but what about those who prefer two wheels? Don’t worry—a bike that lights up sans on/off switch or batteries is set to keep them safe, too.

Mission Bicycle Company’s Lumen bike, which is sprayed with a retro-reflective coating that can be applied to 3D surfaces, is, according to Grist, “an elegant solution to the cyclist night visibility problem.”

0401ctt-Lumen3-lores

Credit: Mission Bicycle, YouTube.

Halo Coatings developed the coating technology, previously only available in 2D formats, that is applied to Lumen’s frame and rims.

As Wired reports, the coating’s “hundreds of thousands of microscopic spheres” make the Lumen look like “a city bike with a snappy, slightly sparkling gray paint job” during the daytime.

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Credit: Mission Bicycle, YouTube.

At night, however, “it comes alive. The reflective action relies on the ‘cat’s eye’ effect. When illuminated by a car’s headlights (or any light source), each microscopic sphere reflects light back at the source. The closer the car gets, the greater the intensity of the reflection. It’s a trick that’ll surely get you noticed–as long as the driver’s view isn’t completely obscured by the screen of his Galaxy Note.”

If you’re willing to pay the price for peace of mind, the single-speed Lumen will be available by July as either a frameset for $499, or complete bike for $1,245. Pre-orders are available through the company’s Kickstarter campaign, which hopes to raise enough funds to bring the bike to market.

To see the Lumen in action, check out the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rh0rKsnZNI

Mission Bicycle Company’s Lumen bike has a retro-reflective coating that is illuminated by headlights (or other light sources) and keeps cyclists safe at night. Credit: Mission Bicycle, YouTube.

For some additional viewing, head over to Scientific American to learn more about a portable “engine-in-a-box” that’s giving city bike rentals an electrical boost, or Gizmodo, who’s got a “symbolic” bike light meant to make you more visible in traffic.

Feature image credit: Mission Bicycle, YouTube.

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Jessica McMathis

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