ANT wireless has announced that their subdivision ANT+ will be supporting Garmin’s Varia line of smart cycling devices. These bicycle devices will provide the rider with an augmented biking experience with rearview bike radar, radar display unit, smart bike headlight, and taillights.
“ANT+ is proud to be contributing to an industry movement to enable safer cycling and to be part of an innovative set of products that takes riding to the next level. ANT+ enables devices within the Varia line to seamlessly connect with each other and compatible Edge ® cycling computers. ANT+ interoperability permits key information to pass between the displays and lights/sensors to simultaneously warn approaching vehicles of a cyclist ahead and warn the cyclist of vehicles that are approaching them from behind; features that can enhance the rider’s safety,” stated James Fujimoto, Director of ANT Wireless.
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Each year over 700 cyclists are killed and an additional 49,000 are injured in accidents with vehicles. Almost forty percent of theses accidents happen when the cyclist is hit from behind. This is where Varia believes it can help improve cycling safety with its first-of-its-kind radar system for bikes.
The Varia rearview bike radar helps cyclists and the approaching drivers to be safer on the road by using a radar tail light transmitter and a radar display unit. The radar tail light transmitter detects approaching vehicles from up to 140 meters (153 yards) behind and increases brightness as cars approach. “When in flashing mode, it increases flashing intensity as well. The radar display unit and compatible Edge cycling computers show up to eight vehicles as they approach, indicating increasing risk with a change in color on a LED interface or using an overlay of the current data screen on an Edge device,” according to Garmin.
Additionally, the Varia headlight beam automatically projects further ahead at faster speeds and closer as a rider’s speed decreases, thus providing light on the road where cyclists are looking.
Together, Garmin and Varia are creating some innovative technological solutions to helping make the road safer for cyclists.