night light laws

Roger said:

The lights I have on my bike have various settings, either always on or a
variety of flashing sequences. They are very bright and some of the
flashing sequences are kinda strange, so I'm wondering if any laws exist
regarding bike lights.. The box they came in (some foreign brand) did
mention that they may not be legal in all countries, but if they're for sale
at bike shops I'd imagine they're ok..

Assuming you're in Australia [1], I can't be stuffed hunting up the
exact legislation, but it's words to the effect of a white light on the
front, fixed or flashing, clearly visible at 100m, red on the rear with
the same criteria, and wheel reflectors.

I have reflective tape on my shoes, anywhere from 1 to 7 rear lights
[2], and at least 1 decently bright front light.

Dave - who hasn't been night riding for a bit

[1] Don't laugh. I've seen bikes for sale that are in Austin, Texas,
and that's not the worst.
[2] http://mtb-oz.q36.org/onfire.jpg has a pic of an in progress flashy
pack o' doom at the '04 Sydney 24 Hour

"Roger" asketh...

Quoted message said:

Hello.
The lights I have on my bike have various settings, either always on or a
variety of flashing sequences. They are very bright and some of the
flashing sequences are kinda strange,

Cool aren't they.

Quoted message said:

so I'm wondering if any laws exist regarding bike lights..

Yes, there are.

Quoted message said:

The box they came in (some foreign brand) did
mention that they may not be legal in all countries, but if they're for sale
at bike shops I'd imagine they're ok..

Don't assume anything.

In NSW to be a legal road vehicle at night a bicycle must also have :
- Lights fitted and in use when riding at night - a steady or flashing white light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres
and a flashing or steady red light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bike
- red rear reflector that is clearly visible for 50 metres when light is projected onto it by a vehicle's headlight on low beam

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficinformation/bicycles/makingitsafertocycle/bicyclesafety/cyclingrules.html

Parbs - flashing away ;-)

"Random Data" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Roger said:

The lights I have on my bike have various settings, either always on or

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

variety of flashing sequences. They are very bright and some of the
flashing sequences are kinda strange, so I'm wondering if any laws exist
regarding bike lights.. The box they came in (some foreign brand) did
mention that they may not be legal in all countries, but if they're for

sale

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

at bike shops I'd imagine they're ok..

Assuming you're in Australia [1], I can't be stuffed hunting up the
exact legislation, but it's words to the effect of a white light on the
front, fixed or flashing, clearly visible at 100m, red on the rear with
the same criteria, and wheel reflectors.

I have reflective tape on my shoes, anywhere from 1 to 7 rear lights
[2], and at least 1 decently bright front light.

Dave - who hasn't been night riding for a bit

[1] Don't laugh. I've seen bikes for sale that are in Austin, Texas,
and that's not the worst.
[2] http://mtb-oz.q36.org/onfire.jpg has a pic of an in progress flashy
pack o' doom at the '04 Sydney 24 Hour

I am pretty sure that you also have to have at least one light attached to
the bike - ie. if you have a front light on your helmet and a red flasher on
your backpack but none on your bike, then you are not acting within the law
(hopefully someone can confirm this??)

Ride On,

Gags

You dont say where you are but in Queensland at least you wont have a problem if youve got white light to the front and red to the rear. I leave mine on flash and having the light flashing wont get you into trouble.
cheers
Mick

"Gags" <gags_44nospamatnospamtpg.com.au> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I am pretty sure that you also have to have at least one light attached to
the bike - ie. if you have a front light on your helmet and a red flasher on
your backpack but none on your bike, then you are not acting within the law
(hopefully someone can confirm this??)

From the Australian Road Rules

259 Riding at night

The rider of a bicycle must not ride at night, or in hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility, unless the *bicycle,
or the rider,* displays:

(a) a flashing or steady white light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the front of the bicycle; and

(b) a flashing or steady red light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bicycle; and

(c) a red reflector that is clearly visible for at least 50 metres from the rear of the bicycle when light is projected onto it by a
vehicle's headlight on low-beam.

Parbs

Parbs said:

From the Australian Road Rules

259 Riding at night

Note that what's in the National Road Rules in necessarily what's been legislated, or even understood.

The NSW RTA's drivers handbook claims that cyclists must signal left.
Is this consistent with the NSW legislation?
It is definitely not what the national road rules say:

rule 46 Giving a left change of direction signal
(5) This rule does not apply to a driver if the driver’s vehicle is not
fitted with direction indicator lights.

A bicycle is a vehicle without indicators. Driver includes rider.

trek-man said:

You dont say where you are but in Queensland at least you wont have a
problem if youve got white light to the front and red to the rear. I
leave mine on flash and having the light flashing wont get you into
trouble.
cheers
Mick

--
trek-man

My rear flasher exploded on impact this morning, it came off the mount
as I hit a big bump. This was its second fall, as it also came off on a
bump on my way down Mt Gravatt, that'd be right, I had to climb back up
and get it, and of course I was in big gears. Anyway after the second
drop, once I got it all back together, it was fine. Until the next big
bump, where the red plastic popped off, even though the unit didn't come
out of the mount. Batteries on the bike path. And again, ten minutes
later. Stupid cheap flasher.

Tam

Tamyka said:

My rear flasher exploded on impact this morning, it came off the mount
as I hit a big bump.

And here I was thinking you were going to say you'd thrown it at a Prado (precisely the reason I carry my shotty).

Lotte

LotteBum said:

Tamyka said:

My rear flasher exploded on impact this morning, it came off the mount
as I hit a big bump.

And here I was thinking you were going to say you'd thrown it at a
Prado (precisely the reason I carry my shotty).

Lotte

Ooooh, maybe it jumped out at a Prado... Abby, were we passing a Prado?

Tam

Ooooh, maybe it jumped out at a Prado... Abby, were we passing a Prado?

Tam[/QUOTE]
😄 Prado seeking light, now we need rocket launchers and caltrops :eek: