The retroreflective powder coating PPG ENVIROCRON LUM will help Lyft to make its e-bikes safer.
The coating manufacturer PPG has recently announced that it will provide the retroreflective powder coating PPG ENVIROCRON LUM to the DIVVY bike-share programme of Lyft, in order to increase cyclist visibility and improve the safety of the company’s e-bikes.
Liquid-based retroreflective coatings are commonly used to increase the visibility of pavement markings and street signs, but the solution developed by PPG is the world’s first commercial retroreflective powder coating. The partnership between the two companies represents the debut of retroreflective e-bikes in the United States of America.
The ability of ENVIROCRON LUM to reflect maximum light back to its source has been inspired by the reflective properties of deer’s eyes. Using a formulation with embedded glass beads, the single-layer coating refracts light and retroreflects it directly back to a vehicle’s driver to enhance visibility. The coating has also a high transfer efficiency and provides scratch and mar resistance, so that the e-bikes can withstand a high volume of riders.
“PPG has been at the forefront of retroreflective powder coating technology for several years as part of our commitment to innovation and sustainability. We are proud to partner with Lyft in its efforts to produce high-visibility e-bikes as part of our shared commitment to enhance on-road safety,” has declared Paul Bradley, the technical manager for the industrial coatings at PPG.
The new fleet of e-bikes are coated with the Abel Gray finish, which is a tribute to Lyft engineer Abel Lopez who was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in October 2020.
“Until his untimely passing, Abel was a valued member of the Lyft family and was very passionate about our efforts to implement retroreflective technology into our e-bikes. Improving cyclist safety is paramount, and we are so proud to memorialize Abel through our partnership with PPG and its Abel Gray coating named in his honor,” stated Edgar Japitana, the senior group manager of Lyft.