Caught off guard by the early sunset? For many, the annual end of daylight savings means commuting by bicycle in the dark.

Over the past eight years, the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition’s Iluminando la Noche (Light Up the Night) campaign has given lights to those riding in the dark. This year, Iluminando is transforming — a targeted distribution method will help get environmentally friendly lights to the right hands (or handlebars). And so can local businesses and schools.

Last week, SBBIKE tested a sliding-scale donation distribution of the rechargeable lights sold at its DIY shop, Bici Centro, 434 Olive St. Participants at SBBike Moves, a monthly social ride, were offered lights for $5-$15.

Education director Christine Bourgeois said she was thrilled with the response; people were excited about lights charged with USBs and donated what they could, some giving more to keep the program running.

Throughout the winter (until the lights run out), SBBIKE angels will continue lighting up the night. Armed with rechargeable lights, they will ride at sunset to heavy traffic spots, such as the Obern Trail, the beach, or State Street.

Local business owners and schoolteachers or administrators can be light angels, too, by collaborating with SBBIKE to ensure employees or students are safely lit while riding. Carpinteria Family School, got a grant for 20 sets of lights.

SBBIKE has teamed up with a local group who’ll be angels just before Thanksgiving: As part of their clothing drive, the 805 Chromies will deliver (on their cruiser bikes) gloves, socks, hats — and lights — to people who are currently without homes.

The past eight years — when single-use lights were distributed for free over a week at street corners in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria — made a marked difference, said Bourgeois. Volunteers spread the word about the need for lights, for both safety and the law. But it was becoming cost prohibitive, and SBBIKE didn’t want to keep using throwaway lights.

Enter the targeted, season-long distribution and lights made to last. Bourgeois’s long-term goal is to get law enforcement on board.

“We’d like them to collaborate with us, and instead of giving tickets, give lights,” she said.

To help those who’ve fallen back to dark commutes, become a bike light angel at your business or school. Contact Bourgeois at edu@sbbike.org or 805-699-6301.

— Holly Starley for SBBIKE.