Fitted lights & bike reflectors... How 'legal' are we all really?

[Tin Pot]

Fitting lights is conforming to the prevailing zeitgeist that a cyclist is in any way in control of his/her own destiny.

Plus, light pollution.

I can't remember what the requirements are anyway..?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Full B S Lights, 2 front, 2 rear, pedal reflectors on rear of pedals, spoke reflectors on the rear wheel, I've got to get another pack of these to do the front

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ELBYFF0/ref=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item

 

[Dan B]

There used to be a maximum wattage on BS lights, that's good news if they've removed it. There also used to be requirements of the mounting brackets that hardly anything on the market complied with.

My lights are legal in the UK by virtue of the "equivalent or better standard from another EU country" loophole. The other country is of course Germany

I don't have pedal or wheel reflectors (SPDs) but I'm fairly sure the bike predates 1985 or at least that it would be an awful lot of effort to prove otherwise

 

[snorri]

Depends if you have any visible presents....or is it presence

Guardian angels are never visible

 

[lazybloke]

I briefly had pedal reflectors last year (they are just visible in the avatar pic).
I think I'm right in saying I don't need them because my bike is of 1983 vintage.

And i'd enjoy pointing that out (smart alec style) to a copper some day, if only the rest of the bike met regulations; the lights don't have any kitemarks, and the traditional rear reflector pinged off during an argument with a fence.

 

[subaqua]

With my current setup my bike is fully compliant with the lighting regs. In fact they are to STVZO (Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung) standard so exceed the British requirements. No surprise really as it's a new bike bought from a German outlet online.

I have additional non-compliant lights.

GC

this is my set up too. german lights run from the dynamo hub. even have wheel reflectors too

 

[Slioch]

BS are minimum standards. If your lights exceed them then you are legally compliant.

I wasn't aware of that. Useful to know. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[MontyVeda]

I'm wondering if @flake99please is actually going to correlate the poll results with various claims/whines about lighting in other threads.

 

[flake99please]

I think that when the poll has had a good time to run (and a few more results in), it would be perhaps useful to mention the percentages.

 

[sidevalve]

As a point the OP asks about legality - lights of any sort are not required in daylight [as with cars and m/cycles] only - yep - poor visibility and at night.

 

[Saluki]

Blinks Frog lights front and rear, cat eye front and rear and a couple of other front lights, probably not B S but the are nice and bright.
No reflectors on the bike but have reflecty bits on shoes, longs, jacket, gloves etc

I have those clip on individual spoke reflectors but can't find them at the mo

 

[mickle]

I don't know if my lights comply and am not motivated to find out. Two fronts, one on flash. One rear which has a main constant lensed led plus two flashing less within it. I have one of those multi led flashing pattern making thingies in the backwheel when the nights draw in. And a ton of reflective tape on rims and cranks. Also several hand fulls of those 3M clip on spoke reflectors.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

As a point the OP asks about legality - lights of any sort are not required in daylight [as with cars and m/cycles] only - yep - poor visibility and at night.

Not required in poor visibility, only required between sunset and sunrise (although it would be wise).

GC

 

[Tin Pot]

Two clauses (sections) in detail (taken from the 1992 version of BS 6102-1)
Clause 15. Lighting and reflectors:

• 15.2.1 Rear reflectors - all bikes must have red rear reflectors
• 15.2.2 Side reflectors - the reflectors on wheel spokes should be two sided and be fitted within 10cm of the outside rim. They must be either yellow or white
• 15.2.3 Front reflectors - bicycles with front lights do not need front reflectors. Those without front lights must have a white/clear reflector
• 15.2.4 Pedal reflectors - bikes must have yellow reflectors on the pedals.

So bikes must look really uncool to be compliant.

 

[mjr]

So bikes must look really uncool to be compliant.

Retro roadsters are compliant AND cool