Are you legal?

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Isobel
Isobel who?
Is a bell necessary on a bicycle?
No, but read the Highway Code and see below.

If you only ride in daylight and your bike is properly maintained, then the only legal requirement is a working brake on each wheel (but see the requirement for the brakes to be efficient in the Highway Code.)

The complications start if you ride at night.

You must have front and rear lamps, pedal reflectors and a red rear reflector. These must meet either BSI 'Kitemark' standards (BS6102/3 Part 1 (Reflectors) Part 2 (Lights)), or the equivalent Euro standard.

The regulations on sales of new bikes require more reflectors to be fitted but you do not have to keep them on, or replace them if they drop off. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 requires the following:

One rear reflector, fitted on the centre line or offside of the vehicle, between 350mm and 900mm off the ground.

Amber reflectors to the front and rear of pedals.

Reflectors for clipless pedals are either unobtainable or useless which is why so many new bikes are sold without pedals. If you have clipless pedals, reflective ankle bands show you are trying to comply with a stupid law.

Complications with lights:-

If you do have lamps fitted during the day, you must use them if visibility becomes poor.

One front lamp is required for a pedal cycle with less than four wheels and without a sidecar. This lamp must have an approval mark.

The regulations were amended in 2005 to permit flashing lights on bicycles - white at the front, red to the rear. The regulations provide that when emitting a flashing light the intensity shall be not less than 4 candelas and shall flash between 60 and 240 times per minute. As long as this requirement is met there is no requirement for a lamp with a steady light to be present at the same time. Multiple flashing LED lights that flash in sequence or randomly do not appear to be acceptable; the lamp is permitted to flash on and off only.

That's it as far as the law is concerned. However, British Standards also apply to bicycle lights, although the most recent edition of the relevant standard (BS 6102-3) has not yet been incorporated into the law. When it is, the British Standards will also apply - read on...

Although LED lamps are very bright, lightweight, reliable and the batteries last ages, most types do not meet the British Standard. For instance, many rear lamps incorporate a reflector, but the reflector also needs to comply with the British Standard, and the standard number needs to be marked on the lamp itself.

The British Standard for front lamps includes a requirement that they be capable of running for 10 hours on a set of batteries. This means that most of the powerful rechargeable front lamps fail that part of the standard unless you have a car battery in your pannier.

There are now LED lamps with rechargeable batteries which do meet the British Standard. For non-flashing front lamps, this also requires an intensity of 4 candelas minimum and is intended to light up the road up to 16 metres in advance to enable obstructions to be seen within braking distance.

The most important point is to remember that you need to be seen by the driver of a car looking for a gap in a queue of cars with headlights on. The headlights of the emerging car will be pointing across the road so your reflectors will not help. You need the brightest front lamp you can get.

If you have a set of bright lamps, steady, flashing or strobing, you are unlikely to be prosecuted BUT, if you are knocked off in a collision with a motor vehicle, the driver's insurance company may use any excuse to delay and reduce compensation - just when you or your heirs are least able to fight. Remember, the driver of the motor vehicle may be the only person there to give evidence.

Your riding:-

A bike is a vehicle and you must comply with the law applying to vehicles. The best advice here is to get a copy of the Highway Code and read it, especially the rules for cyclists.

The Highway Code makes clear what is law and what is only advice. If you are knocked off while disregarding the advice, you are more likely to find the insurance company dragging its feet. For example, there is no legal requirement to dress in fluorescent yellow and twinkle like a little star, but if you are killed in a road 'accident' your clothing will be photographed 'and used in evidence'. (This also applies to your grandma walking home from a bring-and-buy sale in a navy blue coat.)

Sources:-

The information above is based on research including the following:

Statutory Instrument 2005 No 2559, “The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 2005”.
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.
Highway Code.
BS6102-3, “Specification for photometric and physical requirements of lighting equipment”.

This article was updated on 18 September 2007

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