Cycling Law: I never knew that!

[alp1950]

The cycling section of the Highway Code is fairly short but did you know that:

... when cycling at night your bike must be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). I only use mudguards in winter & they have a red reflector, but my clipless pedals certainly don't. Are there any roadies out there who comply with this regulation?

... a work colleague was stopped by a policeman who told him that it was illegal to cycle with a flashing as opposed to a fixed front white light. Untrue; steady lights are recommended but flashing lights are permitted.

...the Highway Code states that you must not cycle on pavements. Pretty unambiguous but then I came across this statement on the bikehub website: In Scotland the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives everybody the right to non motorised access to most land in Scotland, including roads, tracks, and paths. So, apart from trampling over gardens or disturbing working farm-yards, you can walk, ride your bike, or ride a horse on any path, road or field margin. bikehub.co.uk So does this mean that here in Scotland we can cycle on pavements? I'm not sure but I think the Highway Code trumps the Land Reform Act so even in Scotland I guess pavement cycling is illegal- unless anyone knows better?

 

[HLaB]

The reflector stuff is weird, I know the law there but as you say 90% or more (my self included) are in contravention of this but I think its a law aimed at looking after you. I usually go out on a Tue or Thu night club run and folk there are riding black carbon road bikes with no reflector but themselves are lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree.

That Polis officer was well out of date, in fact the last set of lights I bought said you had to use the front on flashing to be legal.

I'm not sure of the in's and out of the Land Reform Act but I believe in essence it gives the individual the right to access but in a responsible manor, riding on the pavement ain't responsible.

 

[gaz]

Check out UK Cycle rules

 

[StuartG]

The manufacture rule only affects manufacturers. A bike is not registered as such so the date of your bike is really what you say it is. After all a 1984 bike will have gone through some changes. Or to put it another way every single component of your bike may have changed - but does that effect the original manufacture date?

Claiming it as 1984 bike does put the onus on the CPS to try and prove the unprovable. Which they won't. Just be sensible with a rear reflector and some decent lights. You don't need the law to tell you that. IMHO the police are only going to go after those that don't bother and there are plenty of easy targets without getting technical. Unless of course they want to nail you cos they just don't like you. In which case there is no defense ...

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Theres a lot of our boys in blue who are largely ignorant of the cycle laws and I would think you would be unlucky if you got stopped for no reflectors. Whats the legal position with the pedal manufacturers? Most clipless pedals wont take reflectors, reflectors supplied with flat pedals are mostly made of flimsy plastic and not securely attached so they either break or fall off very quickly, I'm on toe clips and straps and I'm lucky in that my pedals tuck the reflectors under the platform out of the way so they are likely to stay there.

 

[martint235]

I knew about the pedal thing. The flashing light used to be law until not long ago. It may still be law but with guidance issued that it's not to be enforced. FWIW I have a steady and a flashing front light on my bike.

It's also worth remembering that the Highway Code is a guidance document not law so the Land Reform Act will take legal precedence. I'm not sure of the status of the Land Reform Act against the Road Traffic Act though which is where most of the laws regarding use of the road are to be found.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

My daughter ordered me a pair of those double sided SPD Shimano (M520?) pedals as a belated b'day present from High on wheels. For some reason these came with a small platform with reflectors on that clip on to one side of the pedal. (SM-PD22). They were for my ''other'' bike and I thought I'd leave the platforms on so that I'd have a bike to ride with ordinary shoes over short distances - shops, pub, etc. I've only used them with MTB shoes so far but the fact that you can only clip in on one side hasn't bothered me at all and they're genuinely legal.

They're narrower than your average platform pedal so they might be a bit uncomfortable for long rides in everyday shoes, but they might suit some people. It's a flexible solution.

 

[Mad at urage]

I knew about the pedal thing. The flashing light used to be law until not long ago. It may still be law but with guidance issued that it's not to be enforced. FWIW I have a steady and a flashing front light on my bike.

It's also worth remembering that the Highway Code is a guidance document not law so the Land Reform Act will take legal precedence. I'm not sure of the status of the Land Reform Act against the Road Traffic Act though which is where most of the laws regarding use of the road are to be found.

Flashing light thing amended 2005:

Amendments to regulation 13 (lamps to show a steady light)
6. In regulation 13(2)—

(a)the word “or” immediately following sub-paragraph (e) shall be omitted;

(b)after sub-paragraph (f) there shall be added—

“(g)a front position lamp capable of emitting a flashing light (whether or not it is also capable of emitting a steady light) which is fitted to—

(i)a pedal cycle; or

(ii)a trailer drawn by, or a sidecar attached to, a pedal cycle;

and which, if it is a lamp which is required to be fitted pursuant to regulation 18, is capable, when emitting a flashing light, of emitting light to the front of the pedal cycle, trailer or sidecar (as the case may be) of an intensity of not less than 4 candelas; or

(h)a rear position lamp capable of emitting a flashing light (whether or not it is also capable of emitting a steady light) which is fitted to—

(i)a pedal cycle; or

(ii)a trailer drawn by, or a sidecar attached to, a pedal cycle;

and which, if it is a lamp which is required to be fitted pursuant to regulation 18, is capable, when emitting a flashing light, of emitting light to the rear of the pedal cycle, trailer or sidecar (as the case may be) of an intensity of not less than 4 candelas.”

source: http://www.legislati...gulation/6/made

 

[Theseus]

Not that i have a trailer, but interesting that you need a front light on one as well if you use it in the dark.

 

[benb]

If you've got visible lights and a rear reflector, no police office would bother to prosecute you for not having pedal reflectors.

Also, seeing as nearly all cycling shoes have reflective patches on the heels, you could probably successfully argue that you were complying with the law that way.

 

[martint235]

If you've got visible lights and a rear reflector, no police office would bother to prosecute you for not having pedal reflectors.

Also, seeing as nearly all cycling shoes have reflective patches on the heels, you could probably successfully argue that you were complying with the law that way.

That's the way I've always looked at it. As my shoes physically attach to my pedals rather than just resting on them, I count the reflective strip as becoming attached to the pedal. (Someone did disagree on a previous thread though)

 

[SquareDaff]

Most people on this forum have enough lights on their bike to be seen from orbit - so having a reflector on should really be a moot point - policeman or not!

 

[benb]

Check out UK Cycle rules

What an excellent site - thanks Gaz.

 

[perplexed]

Check out UK Cycle rules

That's quite a handy link, thanks!

 

[Garz]

My mate is in the derbyshire police force. When I quizzed him on this he honestly answered that each bobby interprets it differently and a lot of them don't apply a modern twist to keep it sensible.

Like already mentioned the reflector business is archaic when some commuters are flashing and beaming from all angles and are surely safer than a chav riding a pre-85 machine with pedal reflector and rear red (with no hi-viz clothing)...