legal requirements

[ehelifecycle]

I'm going through Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany and the Netherlands on a cycle tour.

I believe you have to wear a helmet in Spain and have funny lights and reflector set up in Germany. I know some countries are 0% alcohol, you cannot drink and ride. I have been known to have the occasionally bitter shandy on a casual bike ride in the summer months when riding in this country.

I know in the UK, you can have your house burgled and the police don't do anything, other than give you a crime number.

From my research I have a long list of do's and don'ts, but are these things actually policed and how serious an offence are they?

Any anecdotes from your travels, around things like wearing headphones, phone in hand, lights in flash mode, not using a cycle path, no pedal/wheel reflectors, wearing a hi viz etc.

[mjr]

Start with Cycling abroad | Cycling UK – https://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-libr ... al-traffic

I don't remember ever seeing any cycling laws abroad policed. I've unintentionally committed a couple of offences and seen many more, but those have been in places with too many cyclists for it to attract much attention. Others will have better stories!

[mattheus]

I'm sure the answer is on Youtube somewhere...

[sukuinage]

I live in Germany and, from my experience, nobody really bothers about any cycling rules apart from maybe very occasional crackdowns on using lights after dark. Certainly nobody checks whether you have reflectors as long as you have lights during lighting up time. I've toured in all the other countries apart from Italy and Spain and didn't bother to check whether there were any requirements - just made sure I was equipped with lights (which I only used during bad weather) as I don't generally tour in the dark

[st599_uk]

I live in Germany and, from my experience, nobody really bothers about any cycling rules apart from maybe very occasional crackdowns on using lights after dark. Certainly nobody checks whether you have reflectors as long as you have lights during lighting up time. I've toured in all the other countries apart from Italy and Spain and didn't bother to check whether there were any requirements - just made sure I was equipped with lights (which I only used during bad weather) as I don't generally tour in the dark

Doesn't the law in Germany require lights to be fitted at all times though?

I've only been pulled once in Germany - for being on the wrong side of a country lane

[jgurney]

I don't remember ever seeing any cycling laws abroad policed.

However, something which the police ignore may still be held against the rider in court after an accident (e.g. leading to compensation being reduced or withheld).

[mjr]

I don't remember ever seeing any cycling laws abroad policed.

However, something which the police ignore may still be held against the rider in court after an accident (e.g. leading to compensation being reduced or withheld).

Yes, but it's probably better to focus on avoiding the accidents within your control. The rest, the other parties's lawyers will probably portray you as a reckless hoon furriner no matter what you do - just look at how the media here treats visitors and foreign-born residents and even citizens!

[Navrig]

My approach to this is quite simple.

Protect yourself as you would when riding at home and be VERY sensible.

For me that means:
Helmet when riding on roads (I don't wear a helmet when riding around town at home),
Bright clothing (not black or grey or brown)
Lights all the time my bum is on the saddle (IMHO this is the main thing to staying out of the drivers' crosshairs),
Do not attract attention - 2 pints of normal strength beer (avoid the 8% specials), no stupid riding, keep to designated cycle ways (including roads),
Avoid night/dark time riding.

[mjr]

My approach to this is quite simple.

Protect yourself as you would when riding at home and be VERY sensible.

For me that means:
Helmet when riding on roads (I don't wear a helmet when riding around town at home),
Bright clothing (not black or grey or brown)
Lights all the time my bum is on the saddle (IMHO this is the main thing to staying out of the drivers' crosshairs),
Do not attract attention - [...]

If you use a helmet, urban camo and daytime lights in most cycle-friendly places, you will be attracting loads of attention!

[Navrig]

My approach to this is quite simple.

Protect yourself as you would when riding at home and be VERY sensible.

For me that means:
Helmet when riding on roads (I don't wear a helmet when riding around town at home),
Bright clothing (not black or grey or brown)
Lights all the time my bum is on the saddle (IMHO this is the main thing to staying out of the drivers' crosshairs),
Do not attract attention - [...]

If you use a helmet, urban camo and daytime lights in most cycle-friendly places, you will be attracting loads of attention!

Maybe BUT you are likely to be legal. No problems.

[sukuinage]

I live in Germany and, from my experience, nobody really bothers about any cycling rules apart from maybe very occasional crackdowns on using lights after dark. Certainly nobody checks whether you have reflectors as long as you have lights during lighting up time. I've toured in all the other countries apart from Italy and Spain and didn't bother to check whether there were any requirements - just made sure I was equipped with lights (which I only used during bad weather) as I don't generally tour in the dark

Doesn't the law in Germany require lights to be fitted at all times though?

I've only been pulled once in Germany - for being on the wrong side of a country lane

No, It's only at night or when if there is bad light during the day. None of my bikes conform to the rules as they don't have side reflectors and my road bike certainly doesn't have pedal reflectors but I've never heard of anyone being stopped for that. Looking at the number of ninja cyclists (mostly going to school) who cycle past me with no lights, there's not many controls on that as well!

[simonhill]

The helmet thing is creeping into the bits of Europe I've been to recently.

Last year I was surprised how many helmets I saw when in Ypres town. Especially among younger cyclists (20s ish).

Plus loads in France this summer.

Not talking about kit wearing roadies.

It was part of my 'helmets are not so uncommon now ' reasoning around insurance.
(Referring to points above, NOT a helmet discussion.)

[ANTONISH]

My approach to this is quite simple.

Protect yourself as you would when riding at home and be VERY sensible.

For me that means:
Helmet when riding on roads (I don't wear a helmet when riding around town at home),
Bright clothing (not black or grey or brown)
Lights all the time my bum is on the saddle (IMHO this is the main thing to staying out of the drivers' crosshairs),
Do not attract attention - 2 pints of normal strength beer (avoid the 8% specials), no stupid riding, keep to designated cycle ways (including roads),
Avoid night/dark time riding.

I've been offered wine at controls when riding a French randonee, hot chocolate reinforced with KIr, Gluh wine (it was atumn- it would be rude to refuse.
And of course the controls for the "Semaine Federale" usually have beer for sale.
Things happen on tour so night time riding may not be avoidable.

[Navrig]

My approach to this is quite simple.

Protect yourself as you would when riding at home and be VERY sensible.

For me that means:
Helmet when riding on roads (I don't wear a helmet when riding around town at home),
Bright clothing (not black or grey or brown)
Lights all the time my bum is on the saddle (IMHO this is the main thing to staying out of the drivers' crosshairs),
Do not attract attention - 2 pints of normal strength beer (avoid the 8% specials), no stupid riding, keep to designated cycle ways (including roads),
Avoid night/dark time riding.

I've been offered wine at controls when riding a French randonee, hot chocolate reinforced with KIr, Gluh wine (it was atumn- it would be rude to refuse.
And of course the controls for the "Semaine Federale" usually have beer for sale.
Things happen on tour so night time riding may not be avoidable.

I refer to my use of sensible

[foxyrider]

I live in Germany and, from my experience, nobody really bothers about any cycling rules apart from maybe very occasional crackdowns on using lights after dark. Certainly nobody checks whether you have reflectors as long as you have lights during lighting up time. I've toured in all the other countries apart from Italy and Spain and didn't bother to check whether there were any requirements - just made sure I was equipped with lights (which I only used during bad weather) as I don't generally tour in the dark

Doesn't the law in Germany require lights to be fitted at all times though?

I've only been pulled once in Germany - for being on the wrong side of a country lane

No, It's only at night or when if there is bad light during the day. None of my bikes conform to the rules as they don't have side reflectors and my road bike certainly doesn't have pedal reflectors but I've never heard of anyone being stopped for that. Looking at the number of ninja cyclists (mostly going to school) who cycle past me with no lights, there's not many controls on that as well!

Just to qualify my following comments, I've ridden quite extensively in Germany over the last, i dunno, 30 years? There are some crucial things worth knowing, some apply to other countries like Austria/Switzerland/Denmark etc too.

Firstly, whilst the lighting regs have changed in recent years, essentially to allow the use of LED lights, there are distinct bands of requirement (in the laws) regarding the need for lighting and what that lighting is. Essentially its based on weight/style/usage, sport bikes (a race bike or lightweight tourer for example) only require lights if ridden at night, city bikes must have compliant lights/reflectors at all times. Not saying this is enforced but could be. As far as StVo compliance goes, if your lights are legal in your home country you do not need to comply with the local regulation.

Secondly, much like the UK, there are roads where bikes are not allowed (besides motorways), this can be a village bypass or an underpass for example, they will be signed and enforced. There will always be an alternative route signed or a compulsory use cycle path. Beyond that it isn't compulsory to use cycle paths unless specifically signed (some big cities are quite hot on this, the flip side is they usually make a big deal about illegal use of those paths too), you'd be daft not to in many instances but i've ridden sportives in Germany that specifically do not use the bike paths as they are unsafe for several hundred bikes barrelling along at 30kph!

Apart from the obvious riding on the right you can't go far wrong riding as you would at home, keep an eye out for road priorities (not always as we might expect), if you are doing something wrong you will get shouted at! Watch what the locals do, obviously obey traffic signals, but otherwise just be sensible.

Across all my trips down the years across a dozen European countries, i've never been or seen anyone stopped for any cycling infringement. Not saying it doesn't happen but unless you've been really stupid its unlikely you'll get more than some 'advice', especially as you are a foreigner 'who doesn't understand the lingo'