coupling a blade-shaped shield to a handlebar such that the blade-shaped shield is spaced apart a specified distance from the handlebar so as to allow for a user to grip the handlebar;

the blade-shaped shield comprising a frontal surface configured to extend along at least a portion of a gripping region of the handlebar, the frontal surface shaped to shield the user's hand while gripping the handlebar;

an illumination source disposed on or within the blade-shaped shield, wherein the illumination source is powered and sized so as to illuminate with sufficient intensity to illuminate an object or surface a distance away from the blade-shaped shield; and

illuminating a path of travel outward from the frontal surface in an opposing direction away from the gripping region.