I haven’t sat on a bicycle in at least 15 years. While I’ve never experienced the dangers cyclists face while traveling on public roads, I can certainly understand the need to be ever vigilant for inattentive motorists. There were a total of 1,166 cyclists killed in traffic-related crashes last year, according to The League of American Bicyclists.
Cyclists are increasingly turning to modern tech solutions to keep themselves safe. One such solution is a mountable radar system that doubles as a taillight. The device, usually the size of a dashcam, is able to detect oncoming cars from behind in real time, alerting the user to a potential threat. Such systems have been around since 2015, when Garmin launched its version, the Varia.
Bike accessory manufacturer Lezyne on Tuesday launched the latest version of its radar system, simply called the Radar React System. Like most systems, there’s a rear device that mounts to the back of the bike and acts as a rear-facing light, alerting oncoming traffic to your presence. This radar can connect to compatible GPS units or your phone, which is how you get the alert a car is approaching.
The biggest innovation here is the addition of a second Lezyne device that mounts to the handle. In addition to acting like a handle, this dongle can connect to the rear-mounted radar and send the biker alerts via a flashing light and beeping noises. That means you don’t need a phone or GPS for the radar to work, unlike most other radars on the market.
Pretty cool stuff, but that’s not why I’m talking about the React System. I’m talking about it because I couldn’t help but notice the car they chose to depict an impending danger to cyclists: None other than the Ford Mustang. Here’s the full video:
The Mustang, as you probably already know, has a less-than-stellar reputation for crashing into things thanks to its owners, who can’t help but lose control while showing off for onlookers on public roads, usually while exiting Cars & Coffee events.
It’s almost as if Lezyne is leaning into Mustang’s reputation as a car famous for hitting things. “If there’s any car you’ll need that radar system for, it’s a Mustang,” the ad says (not really, but it’s kinda implying that). I almost expected the Mustang in the video to suddenly veer towards the biker before she got an alert and swerved out of the way at the last second. It would’ve made the entire scenario a whole lot more realistic (who’s out driving a Shelby GT350 on gravel, anyway?)
There is one area of concern I have with Lezyne’s alert system, at least in how it relates to Mustang-specific dangers. The screenshot above shows how the radar alerts cyclists to the location of the car behind. There are clear markings for either edge of the roadway, so you know exactly which part of the road the car is coming from.
Will the alert still work if the Mustang, mid-crash, happens to briefly swerve onto the sidewalk or the grass next to the road? How widely does the radar cast its detection net? Can the radar see when a car rapidly changes lanes, perhaps when the rear end steps out uncontrollably? What about when the Mustang is traveling towards the biker while totally sideways? Will the radar still register such a wide object as a car? These are the questions that need answering.
I see only one logical pathway to solving such queries. Someone (not me) has to buy Lezyne’s new radar system, strap it to their bike, and do circles around their local Cars & Coffee event. It might take a few weekends, but I think it can be done. Whether the test subject survives is another story.
Top photo: Lezyne, Hat Tip to Derek!
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