Reflective tape on your frame?

I was driving through a dark neighborhood last night and saw a weird light going up and down and up and down. It took me fully 5-6 seconds to realize that it was the reflector on the end of a bicycle pedal. I couldn't see anything else of the bike, just that reflector going up and down at the edge of my headlights.

The guy shoulda had lights and reflective clothing, but it got me to thinking - how much do headlights and tail lights help when traffic is coming at you 90 degrees? For example, crossing an intersection?

Anyway, I thought maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to wrap parts of the bike frame with reflective tape so that there's no doubt whatsoever that what they're seeing is a bicycle. Has anyone done this, or have good reasons why I shouldn't?

Just my random thought for the day :)

I don't know if you saw the thread I started last week about riding at night and visibility - Riding at (or past) the edges of daylight. There was some (but not a great deal of) discussion there about reflectors. If you already saw that, sorry about the duplication - but if you didn't read it there might be something helpful there, although I don't think anyone specifically addressed reflective tape on the bicycle frame.

There are some lights out there that are headlights or taillights but which have some light that can be seen from the side. And a light on an arm or leg band could be positioned so it could be seen from the side.

--- Denise

Thanks for the heads-up. I hadn'd seen that thread. :o

I have Vittoria Randonneur tires with reflective sidewalls. Believe me, you see those puppies from the side!

I wouldn't hesitate to wrap reflective tape on my commutermobile if I were riding her in the dark/dusk.

As it is, she has reflective stickers all over the place. And I kept her spoke reflectors on.

The big hint I've heard is to put a layer of black electrical tape over the frame where you want to wrap reflective tape. Protects your paint and lets you change things later.

I have reflective tape on my bike helmets and on my wheel rims. Headlight, backup headlight, blinkies on the back of my helmet and one on my handlebar, taillight and backup taillight. Depending on conditions, I'll turn on my backup lights for the last part of my ride, which is after I exit the trail and am on the road with drivers anxious to get the heck home after work.

I'm going to get something reflective to put around the wrist of my turn signal arm (leftie), too.

Thanks goodness, only about a month to go before the days start getting LONGER.

I put reflective stickers on the front and sides of my fork (chrome) and on the back and sides of my seatstays. Just got some reflective sidewall tires that I'll use for commuting after dark (but the sewups go back on in the spring). Assorted blinkies on the back and handlebar headlight, backup headlight, and helmet light. I'm thinking about glowing armbands on each upper arm to make it obvious that I have width.

Pedals are actually one of the better places for reflectors (if you have that kind of pedal) because the motion makes them more visible and makes it obvious that you are a bike. For the same reason, strapping a light to your leg used to be the thing to do for night riding.