Heights of lights.

[JohnW]

Please educate me. I know that this information is available, but perhaps someone would save me the trouble - as a friendly gesture among friends
Minimum height of rear and front lights on bikes?

[Brucey]

https://www.cyclinguk.org/lighting-regulations

note that

- there is (apparently) no minimum height for a front light. Max =1500mm
- the range of permissible rear light heights (350-1500mm) is not the same as the range of permissible rear reflector heights (250-900mm).

cheers

[pwa]

I wonder why 1500mm max height for front. That seems very high.

[Gattonero]

The 1500mm maximum height has to be for helmet-mounted lights, obviously has to be a tall person with an upright riding position.

[Mick F]

Penny farthing?
Big high-wheeler?

[pwa]

The 1500mm maximum height has to be for helmet-mounted lights, obviously has to be a tall person with an upright riding position.

I don't think a light mounted on your head counts as bike lighting. Officially. It has to be fixed to the bike to count.

[rjb]

Or a high bike.
Has anyone ridden one?,. I've seen a couple, passed the opposite way by a pair doing a UK coast tour.

[mattheus]

The 1500mm maximum height has to be for helmet-mounted lights, obviously has to be a tall person with an upright riding position.

I don't think a light mounted on your head counts as bike lighting. Officially. It has to be fixed to the bike to count.

Yup, I'm pretty sure that's right.

__________________________________________________________

Penny farthing?
Big high-wheeler?

I'd guess it's for the Penny; they've been around a bit longer, there's lots more of them, and some high-wheelers are way higher than 1.5m anyway (see picture!)

[Brucey]

common practice was to hang a lantern in the middle of the big wheel, so that it would show a red light to the rear and a white light to the front.



cheers

[hamster]

WOW, thanks for that! Lighting and refilling the lantern must have been fun!

[Mick F]

Those spokes look a little corroded methinks.

[gaz]

.

[freiston]

I'd guess it's for the Penny; they've been around a bit longer, there's lots more of them, and some high-wheelers are way higher than 1.5m anyway

Can't be. According to Halfords* cycle lighting has only been a legal requirement since 1988.

*So it must be true

Also from the same link, "Lights also need to be 1500mm off the road ". So it's not just the local branch that is prone to doing things wrong.

[mattheus]

If you get a bike from Halfords and the lighting setup seems a little odd, now you know why!

[JohnW]

If you get a bike from Halfords and the lighting setup seems a little odd, now you know why!