Guide to cycling traffic law in European countries

[jamesbradbury]

I'm interested in finding a guide to traffic law as it applies to cyclists for Europe, especially France and Spain. Things like what kind of lighting I require to be road legal and any differences from the UK.

Is there a website which gives this information for cycle tourists? I can't find anything obvious.

[Jules59]

That would be useful; Im going cycling in Germany and Italy in sept - all being well.

[mjr]

https://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-libr ... al-traffic covers lighting.

Most of Europe has similar rules to the UK but with left-right reversal, with two widespread exceptions:
1. if a cycleway has a blue circle sign, its use is compulsory and you are generally banned from the adjacent carriageway (often with exceptions for large groups or cargo bikes that don't fit). Optional cycleways have blue square signs or some other contrivance (such as all vehicles banned with an except-cycles plate beneath);
2. give way to the right at junctions unless signs or markings say otherwise, such as priority route signs or them having a stop line and you not.

[mjr]

French road rules translated at https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/plan ... rance.html

German rules summarised at https://nomadandinlove.com/cycling-in-germany-rules/

2019 international summary in the comic https://www.cyclingweekly.com/routes/ov ... ope-411273

[Jdsk]

"What can cyclist legally do, and not do, in Europe? Planning a trip abroad? Here's what you need to know about the law in top European destinations":
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/routes/ov ... ope-411273

Jonathan

[mattheus]

In general, the closer you get to the Med*, the less the rules tend to apply :- P

(which isn't to say drivers respect cyclists any less)

*May also apply to the Black Sea. Dunno yet.

[Vorpal]

I'm not aware of any general guide, but members could continue to add what they know to this topic?

We can start with, the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic set out some guidelines to apply across Europe (now adopted by the UN with more countries as signatories), and Article 44 refers to requirements for bicycles.

All bicycles must have:

An efficient brake
A bell – and no other audible warning device
A red rear reflector
Red rear lamp
White or selective yellow front lamp

The UK is the only country that interprets a bell to be required at point of sale. All others interpret it to mean in use. A number of countries have specific laws that prohibit air horns & other audible warning devices (e.g. Airzound, Hornit). I know that this is the case in Denmark & Norway.

Lighting is covered by the Cycling UK link above, except that most European countries now allow blinking lights, but do not allow them to be the only lights, so if you use blinking lights, you should also have a steady front and rear light at night.

Turning right on red is allowed for cyclists in FR*, BE*, NL** DE***, DK, SI

* in 30 km/h zones
** when marked with a sign "Rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij" (of course segregated paths often permit this by design)
*** also allowed for drivers of motor vehicles

Cyclists are not allowed to use the pavements in Denmark, unless they are marked for shared use. In Sweden & Norway it is permitted, but cyclists must give way to pedestrians, and in Norway, they must cycle no faster than 6 km/h in the presence of pedestrians.

Norwegian Highway Code https://www.vegvesen.no/en/traffic-info ... fic-rules/ (NB: this previously linked to an English language version. The English language version is no longer available, and the latest version of the Norwegian HC has not been translated)

[st599_uk]

Turning right on red is allowed for cyclists in FR*, BE*, NL** DE***, DK, SI

* in 30 km/h zones
** when marked with a sign "Rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij" (of course segregated paths often permit this by design)
*** also allowed for drivers of motor vehicles

With the proviso that there's probably a pedestrian crossing just around the corner which has right of way.

ECF used to do a lexicon which included descriptions of some of the odder signage.

[Slowtwitch]

A helmet for Spain, but not obligatory in France.

[foxyrider]

I don't know if Brexit has changed things but it has long been the accepted 'rule' that if you're 'vehicle', ie bicycle in this case, is legal for use in the home country you don't have to comply with any other vehicular regulations. That doesn't mean you shouldn't if you want but its not compulsory to have for example, lighting that meets the German regulations.(which do not apply to sports bikes in any event, ditto bells & reflectors) In my experience, the authorities are happy enough that you have lights at night without checking that they are the correct specification, plenty of the locals, just as here, will have stuff that doesn;t meet the letter of the local law.

Road stuff is generally pretty obvious, you;ll be 'encouraged' if you don't turn when allowed at red for example, bike free roads are usually obvious etc, etc.

Spain's helmet law is, besides being a bad bit of legislation and confusing to say the least, the only thing people should be aware of as i'm sure everyone on here (?) rides sensibly, on the road, will have a roadworthy bike and will use lights when appropriate.

[mjr]

Turning right on red is allowed for cyclists in FR*, BE*, NL** DE***, DK, SI

* in 30 km/h zones
** when marked with a sign "Rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij" (of course segregated paths often permit this by design)

Also allowed in FR when marked with a sign showing a wonky bicycle in a give way triangle, which I think is shown in the link given earlier.

[pal]

...
ECF used to do a lexicon which included descriptions of some of the odder signage.

This still exists (if this is what you were thinking of?): https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/ ... tion-2019 (The section on 'infrastructure' is the one with the cycle path (etc) terminology. No more wondering about the Finnish for 'advisory cycle lane'!)

[Slowtwitch]

In France they're are a lot of one way streets that cyclistd are allowed to ride down, against the traffic! It seems odd at first, but there is a specific narrow lane in which to do so.

[mjr]

In France they're are a lot of one way streets that cyclistd are allowed to ride down, against the traffic! It seems odd at first, but there is a specific narrow lane in which to do so.

Often there isn't a lane, same as in eastern England. Drivers generally move over, give way and wait by passing places, unlike here.

[CliveyT]

Often there isn't a lane, same as in eastern England. Drivers generally move over, give way and wait by passing places, unlike here.

And if there is a contraflow lane over here I've seen drivers annoyed because cycles going with flow because "they're not using the cycle lane"