Legality of single reflector pedals?

[Alex L]

I don't want to start an argument on the laws and how useful/useless they are. But according to this:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989 ... le/20/made

Two reflectors on each pedal

Are required.

My Carrera came with a single amber strip in the middle (which decided to jump ship 2 mins into the journey), are they legally required to sell the bike with two reflectors or is a single one under the pedal legal?

[snibgo]

Hmm. Halfords can afford bigger lawyers than I can, so I'll be careful.

The legislation you quote (RVLR) is what you need at night. I think the relevant sales legislation is The Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2010 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010 ... ion/4/made), which says that bikes sold assembled need pedal reflectors that comply with RVLR.

You might find, if you read your paperwork with a magnifying glass and through a looking-glass, that the bike was sold to you unassembled, and that the shop then assembled it for you.

EDIT: I should add that RVLR has a number of amendments. I skimmed through them and could find nothing relating to pedal reflectors, but I might have missed it.

[Alex L]

I'm not after suing them, don't worry, reason being is I'm taking my bike back to hopefully be fixed due to a fault which has caused me to come off and the handlebar to bend. I just want a few things to throw at them in case they kick up a fuss.

From what you linked to me:

(12) A retro reflector must be fitted to each of the pedals of the bicycle in a manner which complies with the requirements of the Lighting Regulations relating to an obligatory pedal retro reflector.

(13) In this regulation, “the Lighting Regulations” means—

(a)in respect of the supply of a bicycle in Great Britain, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989(1); or

(b)in respect of the supply of a bicycle in Northern Ireland, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(2).

(14) An expression used in the Lighting Regulations has the same meaning in this regulation as in those Regulations.

Doesn't this mean that they have to supply it to both legislations. Although I agree they will probably claim it unassembled.

[snibgo]

I mean I'm being careful in case Halfords lawyers decide to jump on me! I'm not a lawyer, and can't afford one.

The bit you quote says (a) OR (b). If the bike was supplied in GB, then only (a) applies. If the bike was supplied in NI, (b) would apply. I've never read the NI legislation.

[Edwards]

If you were to dig really deep in the lighting regs and the construction and use regs I think you will find the size of and the angles at which the reflectors must be visible.
The reflector must be visible from front and rear. I have had pedals that have the reflector underneath on Trek bikes so other dealers do supply this type as well.
I think if you want some sort of leverage against them you are going down the wrong path.

PS It could be worth considering changing the title to a question about pedal reflectors and not naming one company, just might save legal problems.

[Alex L]

Have changed the title but I doubt they would do anything about it. Any if they did, I would have to bring up the damage of persons and property due to negligence on their part and falsely advertising a product that is incapable of fulfilling it's stated uses (a different item).

[thirdcrank]

In the late 1990's, Halfords sold some really good LED rear lamps called nitelites IIRC or some other spelling, possibly Knight lights. These were brilliant by the standards of the day. Tiny, taking two AAA batteries (again IIRC) and with a built-in reflector. The reflector didn't comply with the BS (It was not quite large enough) but they were very reliable and compared with the lamps we were used to using they were a marvel.

The lamp itself did comply with the BS but the standard mark was in the battery compartment. rather than on the 'lens' where it should have been. I remember some bright spark writing to the CTC mag saying he had complained to Halfords Head Office about this law-breaking and blow me, they apologised and withdrew all the stock from sale.

Gang warily

[Alex L]

In the late 1990's, Halfords sold some really good LED rear lamps called nitelites IIRC or some other spelling, possibly Knight lights. These were brilliant by the standards of the day. Tiny, taking two AAA batteries (again IIRC) and with a built-in reflector. The reflector didn't comply with the BS (It was not quite large enough) but they were very reliable and compared with the lamps we were used to using they were a marvel.

The lamp itself did comply with the BS but the standard mark was in the battery compartment. rather than on the 'lens' where it should have been. I remember some bright spark writing to the CTC mag saying he had complained to Halfords Head Office about this law-breaking and blow me, they apologised and withdrew all the stock from sale.

Gang warily

I understand your post, but this was against a good product, as opposed to a poor one. They don't make the bike any more so if they stopped selling it, it wouldn't be a big loss anyway. The pedals are the next to useless strap ones which one of the straps has fallen off too.