The sun is setting much earlier this week. To help you get ready for the new bike season, the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee wants to share a few tips on how to be more visible on your way home from work or play this evening.

There are many ways to be more visible when riding a bike:

• Some are prescribed under Ontario’s traffic laws. For example, all bikes must be outfitted with a white or amber light at the front and a red light at the back from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise. That means bike riders will need to turn their lights on by 4:30pm this week. Local cyclists should note that fines for failing to have proper lighting increased recently, from $20 to $110, with the passing of the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act.

• Bright or light-coloured clothing, and reflective tape help other road users see you better. White, yellow and pink stand out against the evening sky much better than navy or black. Reflective clothing is available around town, or you can choose to make your own by adding reflective tape, found at local fabric and hardware stores, to your backpack and bike.

• Where you ride your bike can increase your visibility, too. Motorists expect bike riders to be on the right side of the road, and therefore may not notice you if you are riding on the left side or on a sidewalk.

To share the Be Bright, Be Visible message, P-BAC organized a surprise bike light distribution Monday evening. P-BAC would like to thank Wild Rock Outfitters for supporting this event.

Check out photos from the Examiner here.