I've read that it's a legal requirement if cycling during dark hours when I'm in these countries.
I'm based in Ireland and I currently use white wheel reflectors… so was thinking of swapping these for Orange/ Yellow.
by alka5eltzer
I've read that it's a legal requirement if cycling during dark hours when I'm in these countries.
I'm based in Ireland and I currently use white wheel reflectors… so was thinking of swapping these for Orange/ Yellow.
by alka5eltzer
4 Comments
In Germany, legally: yes. But I’ve never heard them enforcing the reflector laws
Germany: you need two yellow/orange reflectors per wheel, mounted 180° from each other.
White clip on reflectors *on every spoke* are also allowed.
Another option is a tyre with a reflective strip on the sidewall (caution, not all materials fulfill the requirements).
Keep in mind you also need a front-facing and a rear-facing red reflector, as well as yellow/orange reflectors on the pedals.*
You also need front and rear lights – no flashing allowed. Lights may be detachable.
All lighting equipment needs to be officially certified (there’s a numer molded into the equipment somewhere.)
In practice though, this only matters when there is the annual or so traffic-safety day/week and police setting up stationsry checkpoints to stop and inspect every single bike using this particular road, OR if you do something especially unruly and the guys/girls have an incentive to funktioniert you over.
In general, police are pretty chill and be more than happy if you have working lights and it’s obvious that you are making an observable effort at not being invisible.
* Bonus fact: pedal reflectors were patent in the mid 1930s by Hitler’s former driver and became mandatory for all new bikes. The company producing them was part owned by the inventor and partly by the SS. Making pedal reflectors mandatory was thus partly corruption/embezzlement/rent seeking and partly a hidden tax to fund SS human breeding projects.
https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Loibl_GmbH
Never used them. But realistically, how much are you going to ride in the dark in the middle of summer? It stays light until very late in the evening. If you like to get up extremely early and depart in the dark, be assured that pretty much all cops are sleeping at that time, and the few that are awake are not going to bother getting out of their car at 4 am to give you ticket for a missing reflector. If your regular lights are working, you’ll be fine.
However, that’s the legal consideration. That’s also the safety part. Being visible from the side of your bike can be a lifesaver if you need to ride in the dark for whatever reason. So consider to have at least spoke reflectors, or tire reflectors, or a high-vis jacket, or bike lights that are visible from the side of your bike.
Here’s the law for France.
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34169?lang=en (poor automated translation!)
Reflectors; white to the front, red to the rear, orange on the wheels and pedals.
Bell.
Brakes, front and rear.
At night:
Lights; white to the front, red to the rear. Both non-flashing. Flashing can be in addition, but you must have the constant light.
High-visibilty vest. This has to be a purpose made and CE marked high visibility vest.
Most of this is common sense, but don’t think anyone has ever been pulled over and fined for not having orange reflectors on their wheels or pedals. You would have to annoy a gendarme with detailed knowledge of bike law having an already bad day to run this risk!
Enjoy your tour!