According to the Federal Highway Administration, an estimated 47,000 bicyclists are injured — and 850 are killed — in traffic crashes every year in the United States.
While infrastructure that prioritizes the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is of utmost importance, individuals themselves can also maximize their safety when cycling.
To make this even easier, a cycling company Lumos has invented a new bike helmet with safety features that could transform the way cyclists ride.
The new helmet, named the Lumos Nyxel, is currently the subject of a popular Kickstarter campaign, which has already surpassed its fundraising goal.
Equipped with a “smart” tail light, turn indicators, and a 360-illuminating and crash-detecting design, the helmet makes for dramatically increased visibility.
“Clearly indicate your intentions to everyone around you,” the Kickstarter reads. “Reduce the risk of accidents by making your movements predictable.”
The helmet features a strip of white LED lights in the front, as well as a strip of red lights in the back, ensuring that cyclists are visible from the front and back, while also allowing them the opportunity to indicate turns using lights on the side of the helmet.
Inside the helmet is an accelerometer that triggers the back LED lights to flash quickly when the bike suddenly slows — serving as a human-worn brake light for the cyclist.
Riders can also use an accompanying app to set the lights’ brightness and flash settings, and the helmet runs on a USB-charge that can last up to 14 hours of runtime, according to Lumos.
But that’s just one option.
With technology from Quin, another helmet design includes a crash detection module, which measures movement and force in three directions at once, 1,000 times a second.
If those factors indicate an oncoming crash, the system will automatically alert an emergency contact in the cyclist’s phone. It will also save data of any crashes for doctors and medical professionals to review.
And in the U.S. and Europe, Quin also has a feature to call the nearest ambulance immediately after a crash is registered.
“Quin’s technology uses high-quality sensors and real-life data to accurately detect crashes,” the Kickstarter page adds. “It monitors impact location, peak gForce, rotational acceleration, and more, all specifically calibrated for the Nyxel helmet.”
The creators of the helmet say that this provides “an accuracy no other phone-based or wearable device can.”
“Our goal is simple: To keep you safe,” CEO of Quin, Ani Surabhi, said in a video.
“It’s like having a fully functioning crash test lab in your helmet,” he continued. “The average crash happens in just 10 milliseconds, which is too fast for most sensors, watches, or wearables. But Quin takes 1,000 measurements a second so we never miss a thing.”
While the helmet claims to meet all industry safety standards, folks can also consider adding a mips liner that helps reduce the chances of brain injustice caused by rotational impacts.
“With Nyxel, you’re not just wearing a helmet. You’re wearing a complete safety system,” a promotional video states.
The Nyxel comes in two different options: one for cyclists and one for e-bike riders. Lumos also offers three sizes for the best possible fit for every rider, as well as customizable colors and designs for those who are both safety- and style-conscious.
Kickstarter pledge prices are cheaper than MSRPs for the helmet and range from $99 for a basic model to $174 for all the bells and whistles. Following the campaign, the planned retail prices will range from $129 to $209.
Folks who support the campaign can expect to start receiving their helmets in the mail in the spring and summer of 2025, as the company finalizes the details, beta testing, and manufacturing.
Lumos has already released other models of its helmets and “smart” bike lights in years’ past, but the Nyxel promises to be its most advanced product yet.
“We’ve always believed in inspiring people to move freely with confidence,” Lumos CEO and co-founder Eu-Wen Ding said. “Let’s make the smartest, safest, most stylish helmet a reality.”
Header images courtesy of Lumos
