Where can I get one? How much are they?
Sorry, but the Speed Vest is not yet available commercially. If you’d like to be updated, or if you’re a bicycle advocacy organization and would like to use it for outreach and education, send us an e-mail. If you’d like to help us design the next version, please take a quick survey and tell us how you’d use the Speed Vest.

How does the vest work?
In a nutshell, it uses a sensor on your wheel to send a signal to a microcontroller that then turns the numbers on and off on the vest. For a lot more detail, check out Mykle’s site.

Who made this?
Brady Clark and Mykle Hansen. Brady conceived of it, Mykle engineered it and they built it together during a few all-nighters in Minneapolis, MN.

Why did you invent this?
Have you ever outpaced cars and been honked at? Had a car almost wipe you out while making a turn? The Speed Vest was invented because we were curious to know if putting more information in front of drivers might change their awareness of bicyclists. That, and we suspect a lot of people don’t realize that an average person can bike 10-15 mph (15-25 km/h).

Can you prove it makes you safer?
No, but it does make you more visible. We’d be really interested in lending it to a research project if you are the measuring type.

What’s the highest number it displays?
Up to 70 miles or kilometers per hour.

Where can I see it in action?
We’re going to be at the Maker Faire in San Mateo, California on May 30th and 31st. We’ll also be doing a ride the night of the 30th with Walk Oakland Bike Oakland to highlight Oakland’s bikability. It’s going to be a ton of fun- join us if you can! We’d love an excuse to bring it to your town! E-mail us!

What’s that funky music in the video?
It’s called “Do the Spoke” [iTunes] and is from a band Mykle is in called The Golden Greats.

Want to know more?
Check out this interview.