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Be Safe, Be Seen

Here are ways to make yourself visible to others when skating.  The tips apply not only to night but day skating as well

If you skate on the street rather than just on paths, the best advice I can offer is, strangely enough, the first thing I learned in motorcycle training:

Pretend You're Invisible

By this I mean, assume nobody can see you.  Not only did this make me a better motorcyclist but a more alert car driver and subsequently, a better and more aware skater.

How many times have you been driving and all of a sudden a bicyclist or motorcyclist appears from nowhere?  As a skater, you're even less noticeable.  Once you're aware of your insignificant size on skates in comparison, you're half the way there.  The other half follows:

Wear a Helmet
Not only does a helmet prevent more serious injury in case of a fall, it increases the mass on top of your head.  You know how some animals "get big" by raising their fur when threatened?  You need to "get big", by making the highest point on your body more visible when you skate. (Unless, of course, you're Buggy Rollin.).  Both Variflex and Top Kylin offer helmets and protective gear specifically designed for inline skating.

Wear Brightly Colored/Reflective Clothing
Do this even during the day.  The next time you travel down the road, pay attention to what you notice:  white, yellow, neon green.  These colors reflect light better than others day or night.

Highlight Moving Parts
Your arms and legs move when you skate.  Take advantage of that movement by making it more visible:  wear reflective arm/ankle bands, apply reflective stickers to your skates, wrist guards and if available, approved helmet stickers.  (Beware- most manufacturers recommend against applying just any sticker to your helmet, as other stickers deem helmets ineffective against preventing injury and may also void the warranty.)

Here are some additional considerations, if you skate at night:

Blinking Lights
Head mounted blinkers are convenient, but clip-on blinkers are generally larger and more visible.  Blinkers range from one to three inches in diameter, are lightweight and easily packed.  Make sure you get the type that doesn't require a bike mount and keep a set of spare batteries on hand.  The Whaletail by Bell industries attaches to your helmet, and Cateye offers the TL-LD170, a larger clip-on blinker.

Glow Worm, Glow
Halo Reflective Systems has highly visible adhesive tape rolls and removable helmet bands.  This product is geared toward motorcyclists, but the rolls cut to size perfectly to attach to wrist guards, kneepads and/or skates.  (Before attaching to a helmet, check with the manufacturer to make sure you won't compromise the helmet's effectiveness and/or void their warranty.)

Wheels with Lights
Spitfire offers these unique wheels.  A fairly new product, they light up when the wheel rolls.  Although more expensive than traditional wheels, one wheel per skate is affordably effective.

Whether you skate on paths, trails, back roads or city streets, please remember to do so safely, always wear protective gear, be courteous and Be Seen.