bike bells in france

madturkey
madturkey Posts: 58
edited September 2008 in Tour & expedition
Going on a charity ride next week to Paris, and rumour has arisen on a message board that bikes are required by law to have a bell in France.

Anyone know if that is true? I know the legal position in this country...

Comments

  • onbike 1939
    onbike 1939 Posts: 708
    Touring bikes are required by law to have bells I believe. That said, this is never been enforced in my experience.
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    One of the many beauties of France is the number of rules/regulations that are more observed in their avoidance. This looks like another example.

    Still it does conjure up a picture of the tour de france riders being stopped by the gendarmes for not having the correct bells (and follow up images of titanium bells with carbon triggers for weight weenies.)

    PS what is the legal position here?
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • madturkey
    madturkey Posts: 58
    bahzob wrote:

    PS what is the legal position here?

    The UK law is that any complete bike sold by a shop must have a bell on it. But, the law doesn't stop you taking it off as soon as you own it. Clever people, lawmakers.
  • andymiller
    andymiller Posts: 2,856
    madturkey wrote:
    bahzob wrote:

    PS what is the legal position here?

    The UK law is that any complete bike sold by a shop must have a bell on it. But, the law doesn't stop you taking it off as soon as you own it. Clever people, lawmakers.

    IIRC the UK regulations follow an EU directive on product safety requirements for bikes placed on the market in the EU. I suspect the French may have taken the same approach.
    Italy Cycling Guide
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    madturkey wrote:
    Going on a charity ride next week to Paris, and rumour has arisen on a message board that bikes are required by law to have a bell in France.

    Anyone know if that is true? I know the legal position in this country...

    I've cycled in France since 1972 and I've come across cows and goats with bells but no bikes. No idea if that helps you :twisted:
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • ronstrutt
    ronstrutt Posts: 3,170
    infopete wrote:
    madturkey wrote:
    I've cycled in France since 1972 and I've come across cows and goats with bells but no bikes. No idea if that helps you :twisted:

    So, the solution is obvious. Tow a goat behind your bike!
    www.ruralrides.net
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    When I did my charity ride to France 6 weeks ago the organisers wouldn't let us take part if we didn't have a bell. So yes, it's a legal requirement and you'll look pretty silly if you're not allowed to ride because you haven't got one :)
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    ronstrutt wrote:
    infopete wrote:
    madturkey wrote:
    I've cycled in France since 1972 and I've come across cows and goats with bells but no bikes. No idea if that helps you :twisted:

    So, the solution is obvious. Tow a goat behind your bike!

    Wow, cool, I hadn't thought of that :lol:
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • daviddd
    daviddd Posts: 637
    I haven't used a bell in the past, but since I've been in Oz I've found it useful when encountering pedestrians on combined walking / cycling tracks. The Thorn Raven Tour comes with one as standard.
    Oct 2007 to Sep 2008 - anticlockwise lap of Australia... http://www.davidddinoz.blogspot.com/
    French Alps Tour 2006: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=r ... =1914&v=5R
    3 month tour of NZ 2015... http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/nz2014
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    It's true that many laws are "avoided" on the Continent, and no one minds, but why have a big hang-up about a bell?
    I take part in lower category races but don't bother removing the bell for them. I find it too useful when training where I might encounter slower riders or walkers, and anyway it only weighs 12 grams, its handlebar clamp included.
    By comparison, my tachometer weighs about 50 grams, all parts added together.

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