Feel The Force Of This Hampshire Bike Safety Innovation

Your Green Breakfast

Monday, 24 November 2025 - 19 minutes

On Your Green breakfast with Xan Phillips we heard about a Hampshire-based innovative safety device for cyclists called Hi-tail.

Created by local engineers Paul Costigan and Brian McIntyre, the Hi-tail was inspired by McIntyre's safety experiences in an open coal mine in Alberta.

It is a 1.8-meter collapsible light stick resembling a lightsaber that attaches to the back of a bike to enhance visibility in traffic, especially from larger vehicles.

Despite numerous challenges, including funding and development hurdles, the duo bootstrapped their project, received grants from Innovate UK and local LEP, and secured both UK and EU patents.

They have showcased the product at major exhibitions and received positive feedback from professional cyclists and disability charities.

Hi-tail aims to improve cyclist safety and is expected to be available in shops by January 2026.