Originally Posted by
big chainring
I think after the Consumer Safety regulations came into effect 1974? I think, most entry level bikes had the "safety levers' along with a whole slew of reflectors. Thats generally my cutoff date for bikes that I ride. Chaingaurds on the chainwheels, pie plates, turkey levers, reflectors, etc. YUCK!
Not if a 1969 Schwinn catalog has them - which, currently, is the earliest example provided yet.
If anything, they pre-date any FDA or CPSC decision. The CPSC reflector safety theater in 1977 was partially influenced by the BMA/6. Pedal reflectors pre-dated that, but I can't pinpoint a date; seems to have happened around 1969/70.
-Kurt