If you ever ride at night, you should use a bike light. It's smart because without it cars can't see you and, also, it freaks out pedestrians when a bike they don't see comes whizzing by.

Bike lights are plentiful, but most are simple and boring. If you want to shake it up a bit, check out MonkeyLectric's Monkey Light, a plastic board with 32 LEDs that you snap onto your spokes to pump out colorful disco light strobe sequences. It'll set you back $60 but the attention you'll get will def be worth it (no I don't get a commission).

Here's a pic of my friend Andy cruising with a MonkeyLectric (taken from the iPhone).

You can never be too safe on the bike. Last Sunday I (Vaidila) was stopped at a red light in Manhattan (at Broadway/Spring) waiting for the green (like a good cyclist). All of a sudden, a yellow cab fails to stop in time and tags me from behind, smashing my wheel.

The moral of the story: You might be doing everything right on your bike, but drivers aren't always paying attention. Ride with caution.