Study: High-Visibility Clothing No Solution for Bike Safety

A recent study from researchers at the University of Bologna adds to a growing body of evidence regarding their effects of laws that require bicyclists to wear high-visibility clothing.

1 minute read

April 18, 2018, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Portland Cycling

Sam Beebe / flickr

A study by Gabriele Prati of the University of Bologna examined legislation mandating high-visibility clothing for bicyclists and found that such laws did not influence the number of cyclists in crashes, nor do such laws influence the total number of vehicles involved in road crashes.

Henry Robertshaw shares the new of the new study, published in the March 2018 issue of the Journal of Transport & Health. "This is the latest in a number of studies to cast doubt on the idea that making cyclists wear hi-vis clothing has an impact on making cyclists safer, even if there is more evidence that wearing hi-vis or reflective clothing makes cyclists more visible to drivers," writes Robertshaw.

Thursday, March 29, 2018 in Cycling Weekly

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Close-up of traffic congestion from behind cars on a freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop

When it comes to solving traffic problems, the current federal administration is on track for failure, waste, and hypocrisy.

March 17, 2025 - Todd Litman

Close-up on charging port for electric cars.

Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California

California now has 48% more electric vehicle chargers than gasoline nozzles, reflecting its rapid shift toward clean transportation and aggressive zero-emission goals despite federal pushback.

30 minutes ago - Inside EVs

Oil pumpjack in a field at sunset.

How Orphan Oil Wells Threaten West Texas Communities

Abandoned and orphaned oil wells in West Texas are causing costly environmental hazards like sinkholes and leaks, prompting urgent calls for increased funding and regulation to address a growing statewide and national crisis.

1 hour ago - Oil Price

Glass high-rise reflecting clouds.

Protecting Birds From Window Glass

Glass windows kill billions of birds each year. Simple fixes can help.

3 hours ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful