Cheshire firm says it has come up with a solution that makes ‘life saving manoeuvre’ second nature to any cyclist

A Cheshire based company is convinced it has made a major breakthrough in road safety for cyclists which addresses a “major safety vulnerability” faced by all road cyclists.

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre is one of the compulsory skills both car drivers and motorcyclists must master to gain their license.

Mirror Indicate (Mi) is the first cycling accessory to make the ‘life saving manoeuvre’ second nature to any cyclist.

Mi wearable technology incorporates a combined mirror and indicator designed to address the dangers of road junctions where 75%* of pedal cyclists are injured and the given cause of these accidents is where over half the cyclists and two thirds of motorists ‘failed to look properly’.

Fitting on the right hand Mi features a shatterproof mirror that gives cyclists a clear view of traffic behind and a single action feature to activate the indicator, which have the brightest commercially available LED lights to ensure high visibility when it’s most needed.

It’s taken the company’s founder Paul Tolley about ten years to develop the commercial product and began with weekend bike rides around the lanes of Cheshire.

Those bike rides also helped Paul visualise what would help with making turning right safer and after fruitlessly searching for anything that would help him, the idea of a mirror and indicator on the right hand took form in the shape of early prototypes. He said:

“I’ve been cycling for ten years and always struggled turning right on busy roads. Turning round to check traffic, then worrying if you can be seen was a problem and the only way to solve it was to develop Mi.’

“With handlebar mounted mirrors mean you get blind spots and usually have to set them before each journey.

Using a mirror on the hand you indicate with just feels right and coupled with the brightest flashing indicator we could find, this makes a huge difference to the way you ride and your confidence on the road. Cycling helmets make accidents safer – Mi makes traffic accidents less likely.”

How does it work?

As cyclists approach a right turn or roundabout raising the Mi on the right hand over the activation magnet on the handlebar automatically activates the indicator and holding the mirror at eye level provides a full view of any traffic approaching from the rear before extending the arm fully to begin moving to the right hand side of the lane.

Naturally most cyclists will also glance over their shoulder to confirm the road conditions are safe.

When the arm returns to the handlebar passing the magnet the device is automatically switched off again.

Mi retails at £44.95 – Paul says it is waterproof, lightweight, durable and robust and UK manufactured.

The unit is fitted with two CR2023 batteries which power the LEDs emitting over 100 lumens through a high visibility lens directing light to the front, side and rear of the cyclist, which the inventor claims gives daytime visibility and “exceptional visibility at dusk and night.”

As cyclists approach a right turn or roundabout raising the Mi on the right hand over the activation magnet on the handlebar automatically activates the indicator.

Holding the mirror at eye level provides a full view of any traffic approaching from the rear before extending the arm fully to begin moving to the right hand side of the lane.

Naturally most cyclists will also glance over their shoulder to confirm the road conditions are safe. When the arm returns to the handlebar passing the magnet the device is automatically switched off again.

“The mirror worn on the right hand made such a difference to me on the road. The field of vision with a handlebar mounted mirror is just too small for real confidence, using the wearable mirror you see so much more because it is so much closer to your eyes.

You also lose the wobble less mobile cyclists get when they turn round to check traffic behind them,” adds Paul Tolley.

*Department for Transport’s Pedal Cycling road Safety Factsheet from March 2018

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