Bicycling for commuting, leisure, and recreation is on the rise in the U.S., partially because of the rise of e-bikes. GM has noticed this trend and is implementing safety technology in its vehicles accordingly. As American roads increasingly become shared spaces for automobiles and bicycles, The General’s Side Bicyclist Alert (RPO UOW) feature is helping prevent accidents and keep the roads safe for everyone.
Side Bicyclist Alert is essentially cyclist detection implemented into blind-spot monitoring. It alerts the driver of cyclists detected in a blind spot or cyclists rapidly approaching the blind zone during a lane-change maneuver. Presumably, this technology also helps keep an eye on motorcycles around your vehicle.
Here are all General Motors vehicles that have Side Bicyclist Alert as standard equipment:
| Model | Side Bicyclist Alert |
|---|---|
| Buick Enclave | S |
| Buick Encore GX | - |
| Buick Envision | S |
| Buick Envista | - |
| Cadillac CT4 | - |
| Cadillac CT5 | S |
| Cadillac Escalade | S |
| Cadillac Escalade IQ | S |
| Cadillac Lyriq | S |
| Cadillac Optiq | S |
| Cadillac XT4 | S |
| Cadillac XT5 | - |
| Cadillac XT6 | - |
| Chevrolet Blazer | - |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | S |
| Chevrolet BrightDrop | - |
| Chevrolet Colorado | - |
| Chevrolet Corvette | - |
| Chevrolet Equinox | S |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | S |
| Chevrolet Express | - |
| Chevrolet Low Cab Forward | - |
| Chevrolet Malibu | - |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | - |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | S |
| Chevrolet Silverado HD | - |
| Chevrolet Silverado MD | - |
| Chevrolet Suburban | S |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | S |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | - |
| Chevrolet Traverse | S |
| Chevrolet Trax | - |
| GMC Acadia | S |
| GMC Canyon | - |
| GMC Hummer EV Pickup | - |
| GMC Hummer EV SUV | - |
| GMC Savana | - |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | - |
| GMC Sierra EV | S |
| GMC Sierra HD | - |
| GMC Terrain | S |
| GMC Yukon | S |
The alert system works just like blind-spot monitoring. A warning light in the mirror lights up when the system detects a cyclist, and there’s an audible alert if you turn on a turn signal while there’s a cyclist detected in your blind spot. It also helps prevent “dooring” an oncoming bicycle by staying active for a few minutes after the car is parked or off. It will alert you with visible and audible warnings if a cyclist is coming so you don’t open your door at an inopportune time.
However, some newer General Motors models do not offer Side Bicyclist Alert, but are equipped with Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking (UKT). These include the Chevy Corvette, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Chevy BrightDrop.
Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking works between speeds of 5 to 50 mph. When it detects a pedestrian or cyclist in front of the car, an amber pedestrian icon appears in the driver information center or head-up display. If the system thinks a collision is possible, there’s a flashing red alert and high-pitched beeps. If the driver still doesn’t react, it can apply emergency braking to mitigate a collision.
Of course, no safety technology is a replacement for alert driving. While features like Side Bicyclist Alert and Front Pedestrian and Cyclist Braking are nice helping hands that help keep the roads safer, the surest way to prevent accidents is to stay alert and attentive behind the wheel.
Comments
Good idea but not at the expense of other overlooked safety features (what about cars approaching?). Surround-view cameras accomplish the same thing and more.
If you live in a relatively larger city with bicycle lanes, this is invaluable. There are many times drivers will turn right or left and not see the cyclist come down the road at full speed. It’s something many drivers don’t even anticipate, so this feature is extremely useful for the cyclist and the driver.
Beachy they already have ‘object approaching’ in most of these vehicles (whether it be a person or vehicle). A lot also have intersection collision avoidance now. So what features exactl, do you feel are being overlooked?
Gary Peacock will be so excited.
Wondering if the Side Blind Zone Alert or Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert on older models could be updated via software to detect a bicyclist?
Does it work in the dark. My 2022 Acadia pedestrian doesn’t work when its dark.Luckly he was charges with jaywalking.
Some cyclists are unreal. They all seem to wear black with no hi-viz colors. Around here they ride two-wide at times. Almost hit a guy who went thru a red light between lanes as I was making a left with the green light. Guy yelled at me. Unreal.