As more Americans opt for bicycles for daily commutes, school runs, and weekend excursions, the need for enhanced road safety measures has become increasingly apparent. In response, General Motors has introduced a suite of safety technologies designed to protect cyclists and pedestrians, including the new Side Bicyclist Alert system.
With cycling on the rise in both urban and suburban areas, GM’s Side Bicyclist Alert aims to make drivers aware of cyclists in a vehicle’s side blind zone or those rapidly approaching during a lane-change maneuver. When a cyclist is detected on either side, the system lights up an amber icon in the vehicle’s corresponding side mirror. If the driver activates their turn signal while a cyclist is present in the blind zone, the icon flashes, and a warning chime is triggered, or if equipped, the vehicle’s Safety Alert Seat will pulse.
The Side Bicyclist Alert system also addresses the risk of “dooring,” a common hazard where drivers inadvertently open their car doors in front of passing cyclists. The system remains active for a few minutes after the vehicle is shifted into Park or turned off, using side-mirror alerts and chimes to warn drivers if a cyclist is approaching the blind zone.
Additionally, GM offers Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking on select vehicles, designed to prevent or lessen the severity of collisions with pedestrians or cyclists detected directly in front of the vehicle at speeds between 5 and 50 mph. When the system senses a potential collision, it provides visual and auditory warnings, including an amber pedestrian icon in the Driver Information Center or Head-Up Display, along with high-pitched beeps or Safety Alert Seat pulses. If the driver fails to apply the brakes, the system may automatically engage emergency braking to help avoid a crash.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1,000 cyclists die and over 130,000 are injured each year in crashes on U.S. roads. While technology like GM’s Side Bicyclist Alert and Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking can enhance safety, experts suggest that a combination of measures, including separated bike lanes, is necessary to protect vulnerable road users.
These safety features come standard on a variety of GM’s 2025 model year and newer vehicles, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Equinox EV, Blazer EV, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, and Silverado EV. By introducing these technologies, GM aims to make roads safer for all users, ensuring that drivers and cyclists can share the road with greater confidence and awareness.
