Bike Lights for Michigan Nights

I wanted to extend our appreciation for the Bike Lights that were provided to our community. They have been very appreciated by our summer workers.

The St. Ignace Kiwanis Club in conjunction with the City of St. Ignace Police Department are grateful to be recipients of the Bike Lights for Michigan Nights (Light Love) program. We have distributed 80 lights to our summer workforce who rely on bicycles for their mode of transportation. Our community has numerous summer workers from several different countries that work in our area throughout tourist season. These workers travel frequently in the dark, due to their work shifts. The lights have improved visibility for them.

Distribution has been made by the St. Ignace Kiwanis Club to some of the employers. Additionally, our members have been stopping the workers in route to distribute the lights and teach them proper utilization and installation.

This has been long overdue for our community and we would love to be able to partner with LMB in the future. The recipients have been very positive and have spread the word to other workers in need.

I think this is a great program and it offers a chance for Officers to interact with the public on a non-enforcement level. This is the first year we have been involved in the program and I would say it was beneficial to my officers and the citizens of Cheboygan. Most of the lights are handed out to those riding in dim light conditions, which as you know, is a dangerous situation. Once word got out that they were available, we had two individuals come to the department and ask for the lights. The lights are extremely bright and easy to install. It is a great safety program and I am glad it is continuing.

Thank you for spearheading the Bike Lights for Michigan Nights program. This simple initiative significantly increases visibility and safety for riders in our region. Many individuals here rely on bicycles as their primary mode of transportation—what we call essential transportation. Safely accessing everyday services like medical care, work, the library, and grocery stores is something many take for granted.

At Norte Youth Cycling, we provide community bike tune-ups for underserved members of our community. We travel to key locations with our Chief Mechanic and a dedicated crew of volunteers to offer free bicycle repairs. It’s during these tune-ups that we’re able to distribute bike lights through the Bike Lights for Michigan Nights program. We know that a properly functioning bicycle and a bike light enhance safety, foster community connections, and contribute to happier, healthier, and stronger communities.

Thank you, LMB, for your generosity and commitment to access and safety!

The bike safety light program at Island Lake Recreation Area has been a success. We distributed light kits directly to cyclists in the park who did not have adequate lighting on their bikes. Surprisingly, we did find that many out here have lights and are using them! This safety initiative not only provided essential safety equipment but also served as an excellent opportunity to engage with the cycling community, fostering conversations about park safety and resources. Throughout the summer season, we have successfully given away 52 bike light kits. Notably, only two individuals declined the free kits, indicating a strong interest and appreciation for the program among the cyclists we encountered. This positive response highlights the importance of such initiatives in promoting safety and enhancing the overall biking experience in the park.

I would like to say it is a worthy program and our citizens appreciate it.  We were able to hand out the 15 bike lights again this year.  Most of the lights are handed out to those riding in dim light conditions which as you know is a dangerous situation.  All the lights are handed out by my road patrol while on duty as they come across those without lights. It is a great safety program and I am glad it is continuing.

“Open Roads Bike Program received approximately 60 light sets as a result of this program. We distributed these lights to commuter cyclists, refugees, and to youth cyclists in our community. Approximately 50% of these lights were placed with commuters, at free give-aways and fix-events that we host around our community. The remainder of lights were distributed at our shop, primarily to youth who were building or fixing their bikes, and to refugees – a population we work with intimately, and have provided over 350 bikes to since 2022.

The overall sentiment regarding the lights was extremely positive – folks were happy to have high quality, rechargeable lights, and even happier when they learned that LMB had sponsored the project and the lights were free. We asked everyone who received lights to allow us to perform a free safety check on their bicycle, so these lights were also a tool to verify the safety of dozens of bikes that are in use throughout Kalamazoo. This program was extremely popular, and our team ran out of lights to distribute within 6 weeks of receiving them.

Overall, this program has helped dozens of everyday cyclists be more visible, and has improved the overall quality of life and safety of riders in Kalamazoo. We hope that this project continues to distribute lights to programs like ours for free distribution – it is incredibly effective.”

“Just wanted to drop a note to thank the League of Michigan Bicyclist for the lights and literature supplied to us back in June. We provided the lights and literature to our clients who received free bikes this summer. For many of our clients, their bicycle is their main means of transportation and they really appreciated receiving the lights. Enclosed are 3 pages of notes from our clients expressing their gratitude to LMB.

There is no question that RaB would be very interested in participating in future programs to keep bicyclists visible on the road.

Recycle-A-Bicycle works with local agencies to give bikes to economically disadvantaged individuals who need transportation. Last year, we gave away 188 bikes and to date we are up 30% this year. With each bike, we provide a bike lock and lights to keep the bikes secure and our clients visible. RaB also provides free repairs to keep the bikes on the road for as long as the clients need them.

We have repeatedly heard how appreciated the lights were to keep them safe.  As an example, C, one of our clients, rides her bike every day to get to work.  She brings her bike in regularly for maintenance and said that she really appreciated the rechargeable lights to keep her visible – especially on the way home after her afternoon/evening shift.

For most of our clients, their bike is their main means of transportation. With the days getting shorter, lights to keep them visible is even more important. With a week left to our fiscal year, we have given away over 220 bikes with locks, lights, and free repairs.

As a side note, our supplier for the other lights that we give out was out of stock for much of the spring and summer. The LMB lights came in just in time. We really appreciate all the support.”

The United Block Club Council participated at the Midwest Joe Louis Greenway opening on Halloween in Detroit and gave out bike lights and other treats. “Your bike lights went fast. The United Block Club Council table had books, candy, and the bike lights. Let’s do it again! Thank you so much.”

Our friends at Norte Youth Cycling were a huge help in getting some of these lights distributed. Jill Sill, Executive Director at Norte, shared “as we head into October and daylight decreases, the need for these lights increases day by day. It was a joy to share these with members of our community. We share your focus on safety and these little lights make a BIG difference.” Norte was able to pass these lights out on several different occasions, including while providing their free community bike valet services and recent free bike TuneUp at Carson Square. Thanks to Norte for sharing what an impact these lights are having!

Cheboygan County-Sheriff Timothy Cook and Rotary Club of Cheboygan member and avid bicyclist, Jim Conboy, teamed up this summer to provide 25 free sets of lights to cyclists riding in dark conditions.

Sheriff Cook shared that when distributing the lights, “deputies would make contact with a cyclist without lights and assist by putting the lights on the bikes.” Most of these contacts were in the morning or evening hours. Bicycling during these times is often the only way to and from work or appointments for these cyclists, who were grateful to receive lights from the deputies.

One of the recipients, Craig Tarvis, thanked Deputy Hutchison for his bike lights. “I appreciate that I was able to receive the lights, I use my bike a lot to get around town.”

“It is an important safety program and my hope is Rotary can continue to partner with LMB and work with other departments to pass out more lights,” said Conboy.