We talk a lot about the importance of bike accessories on the daily commute. Yes, you need things like a bell or a horn and definitely a helmet, but what we haven’t mentioned before is an often overlooked cycling accessory, the mirror. Cars have rear view mirrors, motorcycles have rear view mirrors, even little scooters have them! Why? It’s so they can see the traffic behind them. Well, why don’t bikes have them? We need to see traffic around us as well!

Bikes are everywhere, especially in big cities. We drive around in heavy duty traffic and in areas that aren’t exactly conducive for riding. We do it out of necessity to get to work and back or to run errands but it’s not really an ideal situation. This is why mirrors are important. You might be able to hear the car behind you, but what about the car that’s speeding past him? You could be momentarily deafened by any number of city noises like garbage trucks or ambulances. It’s important to be able to see behind you so you can be more aware of the space around you. This is for your own safety!

Handlebar mirrors might be just as integral as saving you from a bike accident as a helmet.