Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Are bicyclists required by law to have safety lights/blinkies on all the time?

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

Are bicyclists required by law to have safety lights/blinkies on all the time?

Old 09-16-10, 09:52 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, Maine USA
Posts: 779

Bikes: Trek 850 Antelope

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Are bicyclists required by law to have safety lights/blinkies on all the time?

Are bicyclists required by law to have safety lights or blinkies on at all times while riding? This isn't for only certain times of the day or at night but all the time. Some bicycle clubs recommend but don't require it to increase the cyclist's visibility and/or safety. Does this apply as a law where you live? Please discuss.

Last edited by powerhouse; 09-16-10 at 11:30 PM.
powerhouse is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 09:58 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
tjspiel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times in 12 Posts
I'm sure it varies by location but I doubt that many places (if any) require that lights be on all the time.

You do need them at night here and they have to be visible from a certain distance but I don't remember what that is.
tjspiel is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 09:58 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
mechBgon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,957
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Check your state's laws (Google for "Maine bicycle laws" and you should get what you need).

In my state, the stipulated visibility equipment is required from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, and in conditions where "persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet ahead." (RCW 46.61.780, RCW 46.37.020). The rest of the time, you could legally ride a bike that doesn't have the safety equipment at all (in the state of Washington).
mechBgon is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 10:01 AM
  #4  
Old, but not really wise
 
CptjohnC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fairfax, VA commuting to Washington DC
Posts: 814

Bikes: 2010 Kona Dew Drop (the daily driver),'07 Specialized Roubaix (the sports car), '99 ish Kona NuNu MTB (the SUV), Schwinn High Plains (circa 1992?) (the beater)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
To the best of my knowledge (and the bicycle law page posted by the local cycling advocacy group) front light/rear reflector are required only in hours of darkness. Rear light/blinkie only required on roads with 35 mph speed limit. This applies to all 3 local jurisdictions (MD/VA/DC) but obviously your local law could be different.
CptjohnC is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 10:22 AM
  #5  
Señior Member
 
ItsJustMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
I don't know of any place that requires lights or reflectors during the day. Most roadies would be in violation if that was the case. I think all localities require at least reflectors, and many if not most require lights at night. Most of the laws in the US specify that the light has to be "visible for a distance of not less than 500 feet"
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 10:30 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Not here and I wouldn't follow it if they were.
I don't even run reflectors on my non commuting road bike.
DataJunkie is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 10:33 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 4,063
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Lights and reflectors on bicycles, etc.
(17) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor-assisted bicycle and bicycle (other than a unicycle) shall carry a lighted lamp displaying a white or amber light on its front and a lighted lamp displaying a red light or a reflector approved by the Ministry on its rear, and in addition white reflective material shall be placed on its front forks, and red reflective material covering a surface of not less than 250 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in width shall be place on its rear. 2009, c. 5, s. 28 (1).


Edit: fixed to full text of Ontario HTA

Last edited by ghettocruiser; 09-16-10 at 10:38 AM.
ghettocruiser is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 10:37 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 646

Bikes: Surly LHT set up for commuting

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
In Portland we must have a white front light and red rear light or reflector from dusk to dawn. It is dark during winter commute hours so lighting would be mandatory at those times.
Greg_R is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 10:53 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, Maine USA
Posts: 779

Bikes: Trek 850 Antelope

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I checked my state's bicycling laws and found that lights are required and to be on only at night. I, myself, have equipped my bicycle with lights and use them whenever I ride.

In Portland, ME, I recently learned at a club meeting that bicycle-mounted police officers pulled over a civilian cyclist for the reason that his bicycle's safety lights weren't on. This was during the daytime. Could they have been just a bit overzealous? Hmmmm...

Last edited by powerhouse; 09-16-10 at 10:56 AM.
powerhouse is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 11:26 AM
  #10  
34x25 FTW!
 
oboeguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,013

Bikes: Kona Jake, Scott CR1, Dahon SpeedPro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
IIRC, NY state requires lights at night, but not during the day. Not sure about reflectors.

NYC (maybe the state too?) requires a *bell*, yes, a bell at all times. The impracticality of a bell on NYC should be obvious. I've heard of ticket blitzes where cyclists are hit with tickets for not having a bell.
oboeguy is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 11:49 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 131
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by oboeguy
IIRC, NY state requires lights at night, but not during the day. Not sure about reflectors.

NYC (maybe the state too?) requires a *bell*, yes, a bell at all times. The impracticality of a bell on NYC should be obvious. I've heard of ticket blitzes where cyclists are hit with tickets for not having a bell.
I used my bell all the time when I rode/lived in the city.
Trick fall is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 12:11 PM
  #12  
Recreational Commuter
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 1,024

Bikes: One brand-less build-up, and a Connondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra Disc. A nicer bike than I need, but it was a good deal, so... ;-)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Ohio requires headlight and rear blinky from sunset to sunrise, or any other time when conditions make it impossible to see at least 1000 feet ahead. (Same as for cars headlights and taillights, refers to the same section of code.)
Kotts is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 12:16 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
bhop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,894

Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I think you've gotten your answer already, but I just want to add that I use mine all the time. I think it helps to be seen, but even if it doesn't, I use rechargeable batteries, so it's no big deal either way.
bhop is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 12:49 PM
  #14  
Member from- uh... France
 
pharasz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Posts: 329

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Bianchi Volpe

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I think in Florida lights are required for the same times/conditions as for cars: from 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour after sunrise, and when raining.
pharasz is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 12:50 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
exile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 2,896

Bikes: Workcycles FR8, 2016 Jamis Coda Comp, 2008 Surly Long Haul Trucker

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Wow, I just found out i've been breaking the law by not having a bell. I have lights, reflectors, and usually follow every other provision. Time to give up cycling and get an SUV.

What happens if you are in a bike race?
exile is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 01:03 PM
  #16  
Sumerian Street Rider
 
khutch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Suburban Chicago
Posts: 660

Bikes: Dahon Mu P8, Fuji Absolute 1.0

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
As far as I know Illinois has no such law. If we do we citizens have not been informed of it and I have made no effort to find out what our laws are. Using a light at night is a no brainer. I've been running my headlight during the daytime in blinky mode since my accident earlier this year, but not on bike trails just on public roads. It seems like a good idea even though it is not 100% effective. I believe that Illinois motorcycles are required to burn their headlights all the time, either that or most modern motorcycles come set up with DRLs and riders don't bother to defeat them. Any state that requires daytime use of motorcycle headlights is game to require them for bicycles too, I suppose. Probably Big Nanny just hasn't thought of it yet....

Ken
khutch is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 01:10 PM
  #17  
GATC
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: south Puget Sound
Posts: 8,728
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times in 27 Posts
In WA a white light to front (visible from 500') and red reflector to rear (visible from 600' under state patrol car low beam) are required in 'hours of darkness' (30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise).

Red light to rear is allowed in addition to the required reflector.

Nothing is required outside of hours of darkness.
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 01:22 PM
  #18  
Señior Member
 
ItsJustMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by exile
What happens if you are in a bike race?
Street racing is illegal
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 01:27 PM
  #19  
Fat Guy Rolling
 
dcrowell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Louisville Kentucky
Posts: 2,434

Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Kentucky requires lights at night or when overcast! I run lights all the time so not an issue. Kentucky also requires a bell, but only half of my bikes have a bell. I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for it though.
dcrowell is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 01:45 PM
  #20  
Lentement mais sûrement
 
Erick L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Montréal
Posts: 2,253
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Here in Quebec, every bicycles must have these reflectors:

- White in front
- Red in the rear
- Yellow in front wheel spokes
- Red on rear wheel spokes
- One yellow on each pedals (it doesn't say on each side of both pedals.

Now, about lights:

- At night, every bicycles must have a front light capable of lighting an object at 10 meters, and rear light.

Furthermore...

- It is forbidden to sell or rent a bicycle without the proper equipment cited above.

That means...

- The Bixis are illegal. This is the city's bike sharing program.
- My bike, as sold to me, was illegal and still is. My wheel reflectors are white and I have none on the pedals.
- Just about everyone's bike is illegal, including the police's.
Erick L is offline  
Old 09-16-10, 08:00 PM
  #21  
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,217

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
Originally Posted by powerhouse
In Portland, ME, I recently learned at a club meeting that bicycle-mounted police officers pulled over a civilian cyclist for the reason that his bicycle's safety lights weren't on. This was during the daytime. .
Was this incident confirmed to really have happened? That's a bit hard to swallow, especially for bike cops to be involved.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Old 09-17-10, 04:58 AM
  #22  
Bike addict, dreamer
 
AdamDZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Depends on a state. In NYS you're only required to have reflectors on the front, rear and spokes during daylight. Then flashing or steady lights after dark.

Originally Posted by JanMM
Was this incident confirmed to really have happened? That's a bit hard to swallow, especially for bike cops to be involved.
If you don't have passive reflectors you may be required to run your lights, although most lights act as reflectors too, so without solid confirmation, this is hard to believe. Or maybe the cyclist did something else that got the cop's attention.
AdamDZ is offline  
Old 09-17-10, 06:31 AM
  #23  
all-weather commuter
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
In some places it is illegal to have blinkies. Only solid lights are legal. IIRC, in New York the bicycle section of the VTL does not say it, but another section states that only emergency vehicles are allowed to have blinking lights.
RobertFrapples is offline  
Old 09-17-10, 07:22 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York City
Posts: 875
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
IMO, lights on a bike during the day are of limited use since the majority of lights built for bikes will have a very poor lumens output. I can understand using bike lights during very dark cloud cover or when weather conditions dictate a need for lighting, but using bike lights as "running lights" are basically useless since they're not bright enough anyway.
ratdog is offline  
Old 09-17-10, 07:42 AM
  #25  
Bike addict, dreamer
 
AdamDZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by RobertFrapples
In some places it is illegal to have blinkies. Only solid lights are legal. IIRC, in New York the bicycle section of the VTL does not say it, but another section states that only emergency vehicles are allowed to have blinking lights.
Blinking lights are legal in NYS as long as they're red and white, blue are illegal.

Adam
AdamDZ is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.