If you are a cyclist trying to increase your safety, then you may have come across mention of airbag vests. You probably know how airbags work when inside a vehicle, but you might not understand how that concept will transfer to your safety when you’re on a bicycle.
Airbags inside a vehicle are designed to prevent your head and vital organs from coming into contact with the inside of your own vehicle. Airbag vests are designed to stop vital body parts from coming into contact with the ground or another vehicle.
They use different triggers
When a car airbag deploys, it is because a sensor in the vehicle has felt an impact above a determined force. With airbag vests, the trigger is movement instead.
As a cyclist, you’ll have two sensors acting in tandem to protect you. If the sensor in your jacket notices it is suddenly going quickly away from the sensor under the saddle, the airbag should activate. So, if you just get off your bike as usual, it won’t happen, but if you are thrown off or lose control and go down, it should.
Are they effective?
Airbag vests aim to protect your neck and back, and your chest and abdomen. There’s not much real-life data out there as to their effectiveness, yet, but other activities also use airbags worn on the body, so there is reason to be optimistic. Ski racers competing in World Cup speed disciplines have been wearing them after the governing body made them mandatory in winter 2024. Some motorcyclists have also been using airbags for some time.
While bicycle airbags are not exactly the same as those you may recognize, it’s an indicator that airbag vests for cyclists could potentially play an important role in reducing serious injuries and deaths to cyclists.
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