Young National Night Out visitors excitedly show off their new bike lights, courtesy of LMB’s Light Love Program.

This summer, the League of Michigan Bicyclist (LMB)’s Light Love Program (funded through the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and support from the DALMAC Fund) lit up the streets of Kalamazoo in more ways than one. This initiative, dedicated to providing bike lights to underserved communities across Michigan, recently made a significant impact in the City of Kalamazoo during National Night Out.

Nolan Bergstrom, Community Planner & NFP Board Liaison for the City of Kalamazoo, shared an incredible story of how the timing of receiving bike lights from the League of Michigan Bicyclists couldn’t have been better.

“Serendipitously, we received the lights from LMB about one week prior to National Night Out. We were able to get bike lights into the hands of Youth citywide at various National Night Out sites,” Nolan shared. “This type of safety tool was extremely well received by the Community, especially when many students get to school via alternative methods than a school bus.”

LMB’s Light Love Program continues to make cycling safer by donating bike lights to communities that need them most, helping cyclists stay visible and safe on the roads. In Kalamazoo, the program’s reach went beyond just providing lights—it also raised awareness of the importance of cyclist safety for younger riders.

With many students relying on alternative transportation to get to school, the lights were more than just a convenience; they became a necessary tool for ensuring safer commutes for Kalamazoo’s youth.

Nolan emphasized how well the lights were received and looks forward to continuing the partnership in 2025: “I wanted to thank the LMB team for supplying them and for you to keep us in mind again for 2025. We are planning to do lots of activities again for National Bike Month and Pedestrian Safety Month.”

LMB remains committed to working with cities like Kalamazoo to provide much-needed resources and support. As the Light Love Program grows, we look forward to partnering with even more communities to keep cyclists safe and visible across Michigan.

Want to get involved? Learn more and apply for lights to distribute in your community.

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