cycling and the law

SUPERSUTT

can any one tell me what the law is about commuting back and to from work i work nights and some one said its law to have reflectors and lights is a must i know for personal safety its wise to fit lights and reflectors but i do xc mountain biking and have removed all reflectors iwas just going to fit some powerfull lights front and rear aswell as wear a hi-viz coat

craker

Google is your friend


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069837

If you're sensible about lighting and reflectors you're not likely to annoy the fuzz but a court may find Contributory Neligligence if you're invloved in an accident that wasn't your fault but you weren't displaying lights and reflectors as mandated by the highway code.

stuartturbo

Front and Rear lights a rear reflector and the amber pedal reflectors, the last most here probably don't have.
The lights must be BS marked but i seem to recall the most lights are not marked in this way rather than a EU marking as the market is larger. would look for the article but not that important

change that
http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4071

Blue Meanie

I spoke with the Police ref pedal reflectors, and my lack of them. They said 'off record' that shinies on shoes work in their eyes (pun intended).

When I get round to building a winter hack it will be bejewelled and festooned with the neccessaries.

roger_merriman

oddly the cheap flats I bought for the SS not only have reflectors but have stayed in.

i don't have any separate reflectors as I use the space for lights etc to be honest.

bartimaeus

WOWOW ankle wraps from Halfords are excellent, and will do instead of pedal reflectors.

I also have a respro i-Shots reflective stickers on the back of my helmet.

Powerful MTB lights can be too bright, dazzling oncoming cars, unless you have a decent mid-power mode. I run a (cheap) flashing light on the front alongside my MTB lights, as in my experience drivers see these more readily than steady beams.

beverick

Just bought a set of these for the winter:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... edals.html

BTW, You must also use lights if visibility is reduced as well as during the hours of darkness.

Bob

gbsahne001

beverick wrote:

Just bought a set of these for the winter:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... edals.html

BTW, You must also use lights if visibility is reduced as well as during the hours of darkness.

Bob

Sorry to do this but £11 cheaper here

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shim ... aid:515973

beverick

gbsahne wrote:

beverick wrote:

Just bought a set of these for the winter:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... edals.html

BTW, You must also use lights if visibility is reduced as well as during the hours of darkness.

Bob

Sorry to do this but £11 cheaper here

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shim ... aid:515973

Don't worry, I noticed Rose but discounted them immediately based on:
- once postage is considered the difference was less than £5 - nb Parkers are also £20 below most other retailers;
- It wasn't clear where the goods would be shipped from so there's the possibility of coming into conflict with HMRC at the point of entry; and
- their main customer care line has a German prefix and their UK one is a mobile phone number.

Basically, they failed the due-diligence test and the risk wasn't worth it for £5..

Bob

gbsahne001

ok, good to bear that in mind;

SimonAH

I have no front or rear reflectors at all, but a reflector on every single spoke (Lidl now, £10 will do your bike with eight left over). They turn the wheels to blazes of light when hit by car headlights from any angle.

If city riding in poor light then I top up with flashing LEDS (Knogs are ace) front and rear. Only if I'm unlit roading it do I then also use a bar mounted cycle specific light - angled down so not to dazzle.

Above compliant with the law? not really - but it would have to be one seriously bored policeman, in the throws of a messy divorce and an anger management problem to book me on it. Unless you're doing the full ninja thing at night I can't see a policeman taking any interest in your bicycle lighting anyway.

Hi Vis is tricky stuff by the way - unless it's cycling (or running) specific it's likely to make you sweat like a paedophile at a boyscout jamboree swimming contest.