Pedal Reflectors

Kieran_Burns

It's been said on here that you must have pedal reflectors when riding at night. I'm lit up like a christmas tree and have more reflective gear on than tinsel town.

However, it appears I am breaking the law by not having two little strips of reflective material on my pedals.

I have semi-cleated pedals on (I like having options) so is there any way I can fit after-market reflectors on, or do I need another pair?

downfader

I wonder if fitting reflective stickers to the suface would help? Some of those pedals dont offer much space for a proper reflector do they.

dondare

Kieran_Burns wrote:

It's been said on here that you must have pedal reflectors when riding at night. I'm lit up like a christmas tree and have more reflective gear on than tinsel town.

However, it appears I am breaking the law by not having two little strips of reflective material on my pedals.

I have semi-cleated pedals on (I like having options) so is there any way I can fit after-market reflectors on, or do I need another pair?

If the bike was manufactured before 1985 then the pedal reflector law doesn't apply, which is silly as old bikes are more likely to have rat-trap pedals that can accept reflectors. I have not yet discovered a practicable clipless-pedal/reflector combination but I do ride a very old bike so I'm OK.

You, on the other hand, are almost certainly illegal and are bringing cycling into disrepute. To jail with you!

ansbaradigeidfran

Don't pass go, and I'll take that £200 thanks!

Kieran_Burns

I feel so dirty.....

symo

R'tarded law at it's finest.

The Chingford Skinhead

You caould always buy some scotch-tape - available in most bike shops. Alternatively surely if you have reflective things on the back of your shoes (my trainers do) then you are covered - perhaps :?: :?:

I think the reason pedal reflectors are promoted is because the movement makes you (the cyclist) easier to see

dazzawazza

I think the law exists to cover all the chav / numpties that ride at night without lights.
If it's the law, then their £50 Asda full suspension bikes are more likely to have reflectors on the pedals. This will give some sort of minimal visibility at night.

ansbaradigeidfran

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

I think the reason pedal reflectors are promoted is because the movement makes you (the cyclist) easier to see

Maybe not easier to see, but that regular up-and-down simple harmonic motion of the pedal reflectors says very clearly that "this is a cyclist" (remembering that this law was written before flashing LED lights were invented).

See this for details over what exactly the law says you should have on your pedals (two per pedal, front and back, amber, BS6102/2 mark, but no specific size necessary), and then decide how strictly you're going to follow it.

The Chingford Skinhead

ansbaradigeidfran wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

I think the reason pedal reflectors are promoted is because the movement makes you (the cyclist) easier to see

Maybe not easier to see, but that regular up-and-down simple harmonic motion of the pedal reflectors says very clearly that "this is a cyclist" (remembering that this law was written before flashing LED lights were invented).

See this for details over what exactly the law says you should have on your pedals (two per pedal, front and back, amber, BS6102/2 mark, but no specific size necessary), and then decide how strictly you're going to follow it.

Ooh - well I'm illegal then as well. I have the rear ones but the front ones had to give way for the toe clip things. The law is an ass

ansbaradigeidfran

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Ooh - well I'm illegal then as well. I have the rear ones but the front ones had to give way for the toe clip things. The law is an ass

Don't worry too much: my new bike was sold pedal reflectors (good), but it had a front reflector (not legally needed) instead of a rear one (legally needed). Mind you, he shouldn't have sold it to me without a bell attached, according to the Pedal Cycles (Safety) Regulations!

phil_ss1

Hi,

I've been concious that as I'm running 2 x sided SPD's with no reflectors I'm therefore illegal.

With nights drawing in I've noticed that cycles with reflectors are more noticable.

So i have just bought the following two items...

Single Sided SPD's from DHCCyclesport off eBay, these were almost half the RRP price!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0301595952

Pedal Reflectors from SJS, and these are BS marked:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Thor ... R-4092.htm

The reflectors have two bolts that are adjustable to cope with various ptiches of bolt holes in pedals.

Sundays job is to fit the pedals to the bike...

I can then use the bike with normal shoes if just nipping to the shops etc..

Regards

Phil

Nick6891

my pedals dont have anywhere to attach refectors

coffeecup

The offical line on bicycle lighting:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicle ... edalbi4556

and a useful commentary on the rules

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4071

I use SPD pedals without reflectors and have a powerful rear light but no rear reflector

If you can't see me you must be blind or not looking!!

a couple of orange reflectors on the pedals ain't gonna stop some idiot running over the top of me.....

sc999cs

You can always try a beamer band or slapwrap? Maybe not totally legal but shows an intent to imply with the law.

Specialized Needs

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I have semi-cleated pedals on (I like having options) so is there any way I can fit after-market reflectors on, or do I need another pair?

This is probably not much help if you already have flat/cleat pedals; however, the Shimano SM-PD22 bits allow you to transform some double sided SPDs to a flat/cleat combo with reflectors. This may help someone else who finds this thread.

Are there similar/equivalent rules in other European countries, I wonder?

Stuart

Kieran_Burns

The stupid thing is that I have reflective damn near everywhere - including the rear of my tights - and they have had comments passed on how clear they are.

Yet I am still illegal...

I feel so bad - I might go and kick a cat. :twisted:

linsen

Have you ever been challenged by someone about your "illegality" with regard to reflector pedals? Surely every road bike with SPDs is then illegal? And for years LED lights were "illegal", as lights had to me meusured by "candle power" (I'm sur esomeone out there will correct all this garbage if I'm wrong )

Given the choice between someone with highly reflective clothing visisble from space (that's me ) with no reflectors on the pedals, and some oik with the latter but no lights, and wearing black from head to toe, I know who I'd have the problem with.......

Kick the cat anyway though, I'm sure it deserves it

ansbaradigeidfran

linsen wrote:

Have you ever been challenged by someone about your "illegality" with regard to reflector pedals? Surely every road bike with SPDs is then illegal? And for years LED lights were "illegal", as lights had to me meusured by "candle power" (I'm sur esomeone out there will correct all this garbage if I'm wrong )

You called?

As I understand, the old legislation actually said something about requiring filament bulbs, and a constant light source. Everyone using LEDs was illegal for several years.

On technicalities, I'm still illegal with my LED lights: because they have a constant option they need a BS mark (flashing only just have to be bright enough and flash at a constant rate of 1-4/second), which they don't have. I'm happy enough to ride the streets at night with them, though.

phil_ss1

coffeecup wrote:

...a couple of orange reflectors on the pedals ain't gonna stop some idiot running over the top of me.....

May be not but some wise-ass laywer will try and reduce any compensation by a few £K

Phil

dondare

In that incident where a girl died after being knocked down by a cyclist it was brought up in court that his bike didn't have pedal reflectors.
It wasn't even dark at the time of the accident.
He lost the case.

biondino

He lost the case because he killed a girl, dude!

dondare

The "illegal" pedals were mentioned in court despite being completely irrelevent to either the cause of the accident or the cause of death.

goldblendslurper

It's a strange law. What about speedplay pedals??? The pedal body goes inside the cleat!! Therefore it isn't possible to attach a reflector to pedal itself. And, recumbants??? Does the law apply to them?? Their pedal reflectors would face the sky and the floor not forwards and backwards.

biondino

I guess they're all illegal, technically! Sucks that they have this weapon to use against us should it prove useful to them.

always_tyred

dondare wrote:

The "illegal" pedals were mentioned in court despite being completely irrelevent to either the cause of the accident or the cause of death.

Dondare, ever time this topic comes up we have this exchange- there is no way to determine, on the basis of the facts you state if the pedal thing formed any basis in the determination of either guilt or sentencing or if it was just something the prosecution lawyer said.

The facts of the case (daylight) and that the law does not require that reflectors be fitted in daylight, very strongly suggests that it was just something the prosecution lawyer said.

As such, I still do not think that we on this forum, in our wisdom, have documented any case anywhere, ever, in which this provision has been invoked to the detriment of any cyclist. For that reason, I wouldn't want people reading to go off and fit pedal reflectors out of fear of the microscopic possibility that failure to do so will bite them in the ar$e.

If you cycle without adequate lighting and have an accident, I'm sure its a possibility. However, if you cycle with lots of lighting, I do not think that the Britsh Standard compliance of your attire and equipment will be all that important in the event of an accident and any ensuing legal proceedings.

Actually, on another thread (I forget which) there is some discussion that attempts to argue otherwise are looked upon dimly by the court.

So there.

dondare

It did come up on the old C+ forum.

Kieran_Burns

Are we concluding that the law is an impossible one to apply then?

It seems that if we (as cyclists) can demonstrate 'due diligence' (for want of a better term) in providing adequate lighting / reflective gear then any attempt to use the lack of pedal reflectors as a contributory factor in an accident, is going to fail.

I have a nightvision jacket that is unobscured by anything, so my back lights up VERY clearly. My tights have reflective strips, as do my shoes. I won't even go into the 11 LEDs pointing directly backwards, nor the mudguard reflector, pannier trim, tyre trim, mudguard trim.

If someone can't see that lot, and tries to say that two little strips partially obscured by my feet wouuld make the difference they deserve the judge to come down off his bench and give them a good slap.

Bodhbh

Couple of big fat strips of reflector tape around the back of the heel of the shoes should do the same job, probably still not legal tho.