About CyclistAhead™

CyclistAhead™ is an early-stage roadway safety concept focused on a simple question: can drivers be given useful awareness of a cyclist before they encounter one at a blind curve or limited sight-distance location?

The idea originated from repeated real-world observations on rural mountain roads in western North Carolina, where drivers often come upon cyclists with only a few seconds of reaction time. Traditional static warning signs are frequently ignored because they are always present, while cyclist visibility measures only help after a driver already sees the rider.

CyclistAhead™ explores whether a temporary roadside warning, activated only when a cyclist is actually present, could influence driver speed and lane positioning prior to visual contact. The goal is not to alert drivers during the encounter, but to change behavior before the encounter occurs.

At this stage, CyclistAhead™ is in the research and feasibility phase. The project is seeking input from transportation safety researchers, engineers, and roadway practitioners to better understand placement, timing, reliability, and real-world practicality before any prototype development.

No commercial system is currently being offered or deployed. The focus is careful evaluation of whether an advance-warning roadway countermeasure could meaningfully improve safety on rural roads.

If you have expertise in transportation safety, human factors, or roadway operations and are willing to share perspective, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.