Battery lights now legal in Germany

[CJ]

And here's a thing you didn't expect: one of the many countries that require a bell is Northern Ireland!

I did expect it but then I do live in NI
But I've yet to meet a local cyclist who believes me when I tell them.
Don't suppose you have a link to the relevant legislation for NI?

I don't think this particular statute is available online.

According to the Northern Irish Highway Code (see p118), a bell is one of the thing you MUST have on a bike, and the word MUST in that document always has the force of law (see p3). The particular legislation referenced is "RV(T)R reg 7".

Referring to"The Road User and the Law' on NI Direct reveals that RV(T)R dates from 1933 and is unfortunately not one of the statutes of which that site holds an online copy. However: the red word MUST on p118 of your Highway Code should be proof enough for sceptics.

[NUKe]

From what I've seen in NI its a bit like the rest of the UK's pedal reflectors law not enforced and not adhered to.

[CJ]

From what I've seen in NI its a bit like the rest of the UK's pedal reflectors law not enforced and not adhered to.

True.

And you can either keep your head in the sand and let the general public label cyclists 'scofflaws', or bombard your MP with indignant letters demanding a change in the law.

[MickTheCyclist]

According to the Northern Irish Highway Code (see p118), a bell is one of the thing you MUST have on a bike, and the word MUST in that document always has the force of law (see p3). The particular legislation referenced is "RV(T)R reg 7".

Referring to"The Road User and the Law' on NI Direct reveals that RV(T)R dates from 1933 and is unfortunately not one of the statutes of which that site holds an online copy. However: the red word MUST on p118 of your Highway Code should be proof enough for sceptics.

Thanks. I had the NI HC but couldn't find the legislation either. But you're right the HC should be enough.

[foxyrider]

How ridiculous it is to fit a front dynamo hub to a bike that isn't going anywhere without a battery big enough to power its lights for a month!

The better ones from Trek and Giant for example do now run the lights off those whopping great batteries!

[chrisw]

You'd think living in Germany that I really should know the law! I wasn't aware that lights were a legal requirement, I need to look into this. There are certainly a lot of bikes running around without lights, but most of the town bikes, especially the new ones do have dynamo systems. I use a powerful battery set up in the winter, but at this time of year I run sans lights, I haven't been stopped yet but that's no guarantee here.

The police here are certainly hot on traffic infringements by cyclists, if you jump a light for instance (Yep we have special traffic lights just for Bikes!) you can end up with points on your driving licence. I saw a motorcycle cop stop a cyclist in Hannover the other day and give him a dressing down for an infringement.

[MickTheCyclist]

You'd think living in Germany that I really should know the law! I wasn't aware that lights were a legal requirement, I need to look into this.

Here's a useful guide from ADFC