4evrplan

I'm in Texas, and I have two questions about road riding at night in this great state.

1) I have a red blinky; is the factory reflector still required?

2) Is it okay to have the head light mounted on my helmet, or do I have to mount it to the bike?

Thanks.

10 Wheels

You need a head light and tail light visible from 500 feet.
Have fun.

Arcanum

I believe that in most places you are required to have reflectors period, and lights at night. Lights do not remove the obligation to have reflectors, but some lights have reflectors built-in.

Dzrtrat

Sec. 551.104. Safety Equipment. (a) A person may not operate a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a brake capable of making a braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement. (b) A person may not operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle is equipped with: (1) a lamp on the front of the bicycle that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of the bicycle; and (2) on the rear of the bicycle:

(A) a red reflector that is: (i) of a type approved by the department; and (ii) visible when directly in front of lawful upper beams of motor vehicle headlamps from all distances from 50 to 300 feet to the rear of the bicycle; or
(B) a lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.

elvez

And the fine minds on San Antonio just wrote an oedinace echoing the state law. To thier credit they did pass the 3 feet passing ordinance with the caveat that it must be witnessed by a police officer and then he must determine it was a dangerous maneuver by the drive. Real teeth huh?the Govener session would not sign after a unamious leg vote. We had a high profile death of a couple on a tandem bike doing everything correct by a distracted drive in an F-250 that veered off the road twice. No charges. Great outcry. So the city has decided it's easirer to go after the cyclist to keep them safe. Much easier than go after drivers.

DallasSoxFan

Just remember in November that Rick Perry vetoed the safe passage bill.

4evrplan

From Dzrtrat's post, I see it's either or on the red light/reflector, but I'm still unclear if the head lamp has to be physically mounted to the bike or if mounted to my head counts as "on the front of the bike", since I'm also mounted to the bike. Anyone?

desconhecido 

If the light is mounted on your helmet and you turn your head is the light still visible from 500 feet to the front? I would think that for the sake of safety you would want a light that cast a steady beam.

rumrunn6

those are some bare minimums and makes no mention of reflectors for traffic from the side. consider using more than the minimum.

4evrplan

Hmm. I guess I'll look for some reflective tape and a way to mount my light to the bars. Also gotta remember to throw some spare batteries in my pack for the blinky.

truman

The helmet-mounted light is fine. I've had compliments from cops on mine. I no longer run it on the commute, just because I don't have a pocket to carry the battery pack in warm months, but I love the way I can use it get the attention of a driver ahead, before they have a chance to do something ignorant.

Having the light mounted on the fork crown is nicer for seeing bumps and holes in the road, though. Mounted on your helmet, it washes out a lot of the shadows you need for depth judgment.

4evrplan

Oh okay. Great tip!

that-guy

Skidding a locked wheel on dry pavement is the test? That wouldn't fly for any other wheeled conveyance. Weird.

njkayaker

Bicycles are rather different than "other wheeled conveyances".

Anyway, it is just a test of sufficient capability. It isn't a recommendation for use. (If you can't do this with a bike, the brake aren't good enough.) I don't think the police are doing a lot of this kind of testing anyway.

tcs

Of course, new bicycles - except track racing bicycles - when offered for sale in Texas (just as in all parts of the USA) are by federal regulation supposed to meet CPSC 1 C.F.R. Part 1512, but many do not.

tcs

bhchdh 

I beleive this light will satisfy the rear reflector or rear light requirement.

https://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/268

DallasSoxFan

Even better: Radbot 1000

JanMM

Indiana requires a rear reflector or tail light and a front light in the dark.

4evrplan

Nice solution, if a bit pricy. I won't be buying anything new though. If the police tell me I have to have a reflector, in spite of having the blinky, I'll put it back on and use both at the same time. Of course, I'd prefer not to be stopped in the first place.

4evrplan

As does Texas, the question is if the light can be mounted to your head or if it has to be on the bike itself.

bhchdh 

$12.90 on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Cateye-TL-LD50...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

JanMM

Indiana requires that the bike be equipped with a light.

" A bicycle operated on a highway from one‐half (1/2) hour after sunset until one‐half (1/2) hour before sunrise
must be equipped with the following" etc.

Which isn't to say that having a light on your helmet would get you stopped.

KD5NRH

Apparently, doing a wheelstand from 15mph is "good enough." I keep my rear brake a bit loose, and with a new, relatively soft and wide tire on the front, it ain't gonna skid with less force than it would take to put me over the bars.