Lights On Your Bike After Dark

[Wester]

Can you be fined if the Police caught you without lights on your bike after dark in a urban area ?

 

[mickle]

Yes. You might also be deaded by a truck.

 

[gaz]

You can be fined if you don't have lights 30mins before sunset.

 

[Drago]

30 mins after official sunset, or when visibility is seriously reduced.

 

[defy-one]

Yes. You might also be deaded by a truck.

Thankyou for making my mouthful of tea end up on the floor! roflmao

 

[TheLondonCyclist]

You can be fined if you don't have lights 30mins before sunset.

That's a new one. Who or where did you get that information from?

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Yes. You might also be deaded by a truck.

One light on the handlebars and one on the helmet is best.
At least if a muppet pulls out on you ... you can briefly aim the helmet light at them so they are alerted to your presence.

Bear in mind cars have windows, which can be obscured by water/ice/cigarette tar so a little old
light on the bars aiming at the road doesn't make you "visible".

 

[snorri]

That's a new one. Who or where did you get that information from?

Highway Code, Rule 60
https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82

 

[TheLondonCyclist]

Highway Code, Rule 60
https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82

The first thing that it says is that you should wear a helmet... that's not a law, so why is it in there for rules?

 

[gaz]

The first thing that it says is that you should wear a helmet... that's not a law, so why is it in there for rules?

rule != law

 

[TheLondonCyclist]

rule != law

There's no law indicating that you have to wear a helmet.

 

[addictfreak]

The first thing that it says is that you should wear a helmet... that's not a law, so why is it in there for rules?

The difference is in the wording, 'Should' is advice, 'Must' is law.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[totallyfixed]

Like so many rules / laws pertaining to bicycles in this country they are completely out of date, this has come up many times before [often by me ] but pedal reflectors, really. It's about time someone,.and I have no idea who it is, the Transport Minister maybe? Anyway gets a grip of these antiquated laws and writes down some sensible, practical stuff, it really shouldn't be that difficult.

 

[subaqua]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/2/made
defines what is the legal minimum lights you need and when yu need to switch them on. if you read the document properly, including interpretaions ( which cross references other lgislation) you will see there are NO exceptions for pedalcycles.

 

[subaqua]

Like so many rules / laws pertaining to bicycles in this country they are completely out of date, this has come up many times before [often by me ] but pedal reflectors, really. It's about time someone,.and I have no idea who it is, the Transport Minister maybe? Anyway gets a grip of these antiquated laws and writes down some sensible, practical stuff, it really shouldn't be that difficult.

1989 wasn't that long ago