Ottawa inventor creates dual mirror system to make cycling safer

An Ottawa man has come up with a new rear-view mirror system for cyclists aimed at making riding a bike safer. CTV’s Dave Charbonneau reports.

Mike Kelly has been a cyclist and inventor for decades and is hoping to make the pastime safer with a new rearview mirror system that’s designed to work in any riding position.

A close call on his bike years ago pushed Kelly to invent the new type of bike accessory called the “Mantis Mirror.”

“A pick-up truck went by and brushed me with his mirror. Almost set me in the ditch and I thought, this is craziness,” Kelly said.

The dual mirror system attaches to a rider’s helmet. The lower mirror is used for when the rider in an upright or standing position and the upper mirror helps when using low aerobars.

Cyclists say current mirrors on bikes and helmets don’t always adapt to the way they ride, a problem the Mantis Mirror aims to fix.

“This allows you to keep your hands on the handlebars and your eyes in front of you when you’re looking forward down the road,” Kelly said.

Bike safety advocates say tools like this help, but more needs to be done, including improving cycling infrastructure.

“Personal protection equipment is actually a small sliver of what we can do to protect ourselves,” said Guillaume Gaillard with the local advocacy group Bike Ottawa.

“For us, the biggest risk is definitely cars and drivers and not even two weeks ago, someone biking going to work was hit by a driver on Beechwood.”

Cyclists seeing the Mantis Mirror for the first time say it could fill a big safety gap.

“Super neat system. The fact that you can be in a more progressive sit position and see behind you and when you’re sitting up as well,” said cyclist Nicholas McDermid.

“Anything that can help cyclists remain or be even safer on the road. Great invention,” said cyclist Marley Samson.

Rider Tim West added, “Your body position changes a lot and if your head position changes, then your mirror is going to be out of whack. Sounds like a smart idea.”

The product has already caught the attention of some big names in Canadian sports.

“Simon Whitfield, our first Olympian and triathlete. He loves the idea of the product and what it can do for safety and so on,” Kelly said.

The Mantis Mirror will be launching on Kickstarter at the end of May.