My pedals are illegal at night. What to do???
11-06-13, 05:50 PM
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Look to your state law to see what is required for riding at night.
Not if they don't have reflectors on the front.
Last edited by njkayaker; 11-06-13 at 06:16 PM.
11-06-13, 05:58 PM
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11-06-13, 06:03 PM
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11-06-13, 06:05 PM
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Use these:
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SPD-pl...s=spd+platform
They only occupy one side of the SPD pedal so you can use regular shoes on one side and still clip in on the other...reflectors included.
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SPD-pl...s=spd+platform
They only occupy one side of the SPD pedal so you can use regular shoes on one side and still clip in on the other...reflectors included.
https://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Ban.../dp/B000KG6JB8
The motion aids in figuring out what is ahead of you. They work OK.
11-06-13, 06:09 PM
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The ankle/pedal reflectors add motion that is very valuable fo be identified as a cyclists from a ways off. Hopefully, your reflectors move similarly.
(Note that, while I'm replying to you, I'm trying to provide info to more than just you.)
Last edited by njkayaker; 11-06-13 at 06:25 PM.
11-06-13, 06:16 PM
#32
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Good that you are aware of that! There is a visibily requirement in the CA law.
The ankle/pedal reflectors add motion that is very valuable fo be identified as a cyclists from a ways off. Hopefully, your reflectors move similarly.
(Note that, while I'm replying to you, I'm trying to provide info to more than just you.)
The ankle/pedal reflectors add motion that is very valuable fo be identified as a cyclists from a ways off. Hopefully, your reflectors move similarly.
(Note that, while I'm replying to you, I'm trying to provide info to more than just you.)
11-06-13, 06:18 PM
#33
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No.
Yes. The reason bikes are sold without pedals is because the rider who uses some other pedal system would be forced to buy pedals that they can't use. (The other reason is that it saves the manufacturer a bit of money.)
That dumb change was added in 2010 and removed in 2011. No state (that I know of) has any such requirement.
https://www.georgiabikes.org/index.ph...a-bicycle-laws
Georgia covers that:
40-6-297.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a new bicycle or a pedal for use on a bicycle unless the pedals on such bicycle or such pedals are equipped with reflectors of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. The reflector on each pedal shall be so designed and situated as to be visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during darkness from a distance of 200 feet.
40-6-297.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a new bicycle or a pedal for use on a bicycle unless the pedals on such bicycle or such pedals are equipped with reflectors of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. The reflector on each pedal shall be so designed and situated as to be visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during darkness from a distance of 200 feet.
https://www.georgiabikes.org/index.ph...a-bicycle-laws
Last edited by njkayaker; 11-06-13 at 06:26 PM.
11-06-13, 06:21 PM
#34
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A little derailing but somewhat related, when I'm buying cycling clothing I notice a lot advertised as having reflective striping, or piping etc, and often I find what they actually mean is perhaps they'll line a pleat with a tiny amount of the piping.. or have a logo in a semi reflective way. Ideally I'll get someone who can sew to do me a favor and put some of the construction reflective cloth tape on my clothes for me, seems a much better route if you want to be visible to me.
Some of the reflective material doesn't work if it's wet.
I use the following straps (work when wet). In white. One of the ride inspectors was impressed with how bright they were.
https://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Ban.../dp/B000KG6JB8
Last edited by njkayaker; 11-06-13 at 06:24 PM.
11-06-13, 06:31 PM
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People (buying "higher end" bikes) are very particular about what pedal system they prefer. Including real pedals would be a waste for them and not including saves the manufacturers some money.
Many people never ride at night.
11-06-13, 06:47 PM
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Use these:
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SPD-pl...s=spd+platform
They only occupy one side of the SPD pedal so you can use regular shoes on one side and still clip in on the other...reflectors included.
I never realized how much pedal reflectors contribute to our night visibility until I drove behind someone who didn't have lights, but did have all reflectors.
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SPD-pl...s=spd+platform
They only occupy one side of the SPD pedal so you can use regular shoes on one side and still clip in on the other...reflectors included.
I never realized how much pedal reflectors contribute to our night visibility until I drove behind someone who didn't have lights, but did have all reflectors.
This was my first reaction on what I could do, but I got the XT "Trail" pedal for my commuter as I wanted a bit of a larger platform for accelerating at a light before clicking my second foot in, etc. Turns out these don't work with these pedals. Instead you have to get the SM-PD60 which seem harder to find, https://www.bike-discount.de/shop/a82838/reflektorset-sm-pd60.html
The SM-PD60 Looks like they could brake off easily, and make the second side of the pedal useless, so didn't want to go this option, hence why I posted this question.
Anyway, it sounds like good ankle or shoe reflectors might make me compliant. I am not really worried about a ticket, but in the lawsuit happy world I don't want to be doing anything "illegal" that could be used against me in court if I am in an accident, etc. Sounds crazy, I know, but I could just see some driver suing me for damage to their car because they hit me due to my lack of pedal reflector.
11-06-13, 06:52 PM
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A little derailing but somewhat related, when I'm buying cycling clothing I notice a lot advertised as having reflective striping, or piping etc, and often I find what they actually mean is perhaps they'll line a pleat with a tiny amount of the piping.. or have a logo in a semi reflective way. Ideally I'll get someone who can sew to do me a favor and put some of the construction reflective cloth tape on my clothes for me, seems a much better route if you want to be visible to me.
I always though these tiny reflective strips are useless, but I did discover on a very dark MUP that I could only see some bikers or runners from a distance due to the tiny reflective pieces on their clothes or shoes, many of which where no larger then a quarter. See is relative...saw small moving dots that as I got closer where recognizable, but still much better then people with no reflective clothing. I still think that clothing manufactures should have much larger reflective surfaces on clothes.
11-06-13, 07:02 PM
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I am generally well lit with dynamo headlamp (fork crown) and rack tail lamp (with reflector), 3 blinkies at selected locations in the rear, an axle mounted LED headlamp, reflective sidewalls on tires, and I wear an ANSI compliant reflective vest. For some reason, I really dislike pedal reflectors and so refuse to use them. I don't know if it is illegal for me to do so, but I don't care. If I get pulled over it won't be because I wasn't visible. And if someone claimed I wasn't visible, it would not be because of my bare pedals, it would be because their eyes were closed.
11-06-13, 08:16 PM
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So according to CA law for riding a bike at night, a bike shall be equipped "with a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible
from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet".
OK, so most flat pedals have reflectors, but most SPD pedals do not have a reflector. Most commuters near me use SPD or some sort of clipless pedal, and are apparently all illegal at night. It does seem like Shimano has ugly plastic reflector devices that you can attached to many of their SPD pedals, but they look like they would fall off easily. Not to mention the fact that I wanted to switch to a mountain pedal for commuting so I can clip in on either side. The reflector adapters for these block the ability to clip in on one side, removing that benefit. one such example is the SM-PD60
Not sure how many other areas have a similar law (It appears the UK does doing some online searching). Does anyone out there do anything about this? Has anyone tried any of these reflector devices?
It does seem like pedal reflectors are very good for visibility by cars. I could do alternative such as reflective material on my shoes, reflective ankle band, etc - these are probably about as effective as pedal reflectors, but technically not legal. I would hate to be in an accident at night and have a lawyer say I was illegal since I didn't have pedal reflectors, especially if I had something that was just as effective, but not legally compliant.
Curious if others have this law or do anything about it. Thanks!
from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet".
OK, so most flat pedals have reflectors, but most SPD pedals do not have a reflector. Most commuters near me use SPD or some sort of clipless pedal, and are apparently all illegal at night. It does seem like Shimano has ugly plastic reflector devices that you can attached to many of their SPD pedals, but they look like they would fall off easily. Not to mention the fact that I wanted to switch to a mountain pedal for commuting so I can clip in on either side. The reflector adapters for these block the ability to clip in on one side, removing that benefit. one such example is the SM-PD60
Not sure how many other areas have a similar law (It appears the UK does doing some online searching). Does anyone out there do anything about this? Has anyone tried any of these reflector devices?
It does seem like pedal reflectors are very good for visibility by cars. I could do alternative such as reflective material on my shoes, reflective ankle band, etc - these are probably about as effective as pedal reflectors, but technically not legal. I would hate to be in an accident at night and have a lawyer say I was illegal since I didn't have pedal reflectors, especially if I had something that was just as effective, but not legally compliant.
Curious if others have this law or do anything about it. Thanks!
You should write to the law makers of CA and tell them to stop making dumb laws.
11-06-13, 10:25 PM
#40
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Personally, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I have a hard time thinking a cop is going to be bored enough to deal with that (and my degree is criminology). Just be sure that you have good headlight/taillights and maybe a headlamp if you're really worried.
11-07-13, 12:12 AM
#41
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I think that it's a law that is unlikely to be enforced by police. However, if you are involved in a collision and are injured, and sue, the other party could claim you were operating illegally and make it that much harder for you to collect or to lower the amount that you might otherwise get.
11-07-13, 06:59 AM
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11-07-13, 06:59 AM
#43
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I think that it's a law that is unlikely to be enforced by police. However, if you are involved in a collision and are injured, and sue, the other party could claim you were operating illegally and make it that much harder for you to collect or to lower the amount that you might otherwise get.
11-07-13, 07:30 AM
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It may be the law in a lot of states as shown in the write up above, but most authorities would not know of it unless they read all the laws and kept up with any changes. For the most part, they stay current with the general traffic rules etc. but bicycling rules are really not enforced very much at least around here anyway. I wouldn't be too concerned with it until a police actually stops you and writes you up for not having them.
11-07-13, 07:51 AM
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I think that it's a law that is unlikely to be enforced by police. However, if you are involved in a collision and are injured, and sue, the other party could claim you were operating illegally and make it that much harder for you to collect or to lower the amount that you might otherwise get.
BTW: I am not complaining. Just reporting. Knew it was my responsibility. Paid the ticket, and the hospital bill, moved on.
11-07-13, 09:07 AM
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I don't live in California but I would think a reflective band around your ankles would more than fulfill that law. If it doesn't that is ridiculous. I have a yellow one (like a slap bracelet) on my right leg and my Road id on the left. ALthough i am not sure how much you see from the back since I have panniers on both sides.
11-07-13, 09:11 AM
#48
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https://www.cityofvancouver.us/ced/pa...afety-and-laws
11-07-13, 10:28 AM
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11-07-13, 11:31 AM
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There are better choices.
https://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Ban.../dp/B000KG6JB8[/QUOTE]