fsir

I ask because I want to DIY my own bike like. I imagine there are laws governing over brightness but can you be liable if your bike light is too dim?

I'm not out to make a super bright light. The brightness I'm going for can be compared to accent light, really.

If i share the DIY with people can I be liable if my bike light is under bright and someone gets injured using it?

deapee

Going to go out on a limb here and say that if you want a correct, legal answer, to either research the local laws set by your state...or contact a lawyer who is familiar with those laws.

That being said, I would assume that a bike is legal to operate in any circumstances as received from the factory. There could be reflective laws that require a set amount of reflective area to be present on the bike (I would assume that if those do exist that the bike manufacturer meets the requirements of the most strict state before shipping a bike)...although there could be absolutely no laws regarding the use of a human-powered 'vehicle' when operated in accordance with the law on a public roadway.

FenderTL5

Our local law indicates it has to be visible from a specified distance.
Check your local law for specifics.

fsir

so this makes sense. There may be reflective requirements but if there were light requirements, wouldn't bikes ship with lights installed?

so any other light you add to your bike, assuming it's not blinding drivers, is just icing, right?

indyfabz

^^This. Required lights and/or reflectors will either be a matter of state or local jurisdiction. For example, there are state requirements in PA. However, Philadelphia, being the only 1st Class county in the state, can make it's own laws governing the subject, and it has. State and local requirements may be the same.

Brought to you by the magic of Google:

Biking in New Jersey, Regulations, Commuter Information

deapee

When it comes to legal advice, assumptions are so bad. Just look up your state's code.

I personally don't ride at night. If I did, my question would be: What is the brightest light I can put facing front (and rear) on my bike?

2manybikes

All the states bike laws are now on the internet. Look it up. Most are similar to mine. A white light visible form 500 feet away at night and a red reflector on the rear. This is for bikes ridden at night. No need to sell bikes with lights on them already.


Here is my state

31-19-10

TenSpeedV2

With the myriad of available lights, why would you try to reinvent the wheel? Get something that has been tried and tested and will work well. Lights from Cygolite, Niterider, B&M, Planet Bike, Serfas, etc.

OldTryGuy

For Florida Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine see #7

Retro Grouch 

You're getting into lawyer stuff now, so I wouldn't bet on it.

fsir

Thanks, everyone. I could always promote as a "trail light" for backpackers and if people want to use it as a rear bike light, that's their business.

indyfabz

Yep. I actually looked up his state's law for him. You were probably typing your post at the time I was submitting mine.

OP: It doesn't stand to reason that bikes would he shipped with lights since, under any law or municipal ordinance I have seen, lights are only required when riding at night.

fietsbob

Liability, that's a lawyer answered question..

cyccommute 

To cut to through the noise, the Uniform Vehicle Code states

This is the code that states across the US use as guidance in setting up their vehicle laws so that there is less confusion for vehicle operators when they travel from state to state. Most all state laws will say the same as above, although the rear taillight provision is usually missing. This may be a new provision as well. All of the state laws I've looked at state the above just about verbatim.

500 feet, by the way, is just shy of 2 city blocks which is really quite a distance. The code doesn't say how bright it has to be at that distance only that it has to be visible.

fsir

Thank you. This was most very helpful.

sorry I should have googled all this, I guess. But sometimes you just want to ask those with more experience just in case.

gecho

Would be nice to see a DOT standard for bicycle lights so we could more products on the market that put the light on the road instead of illuminating the treetops. Designing a proper light seems to pose thermal management challenges so many manufacturers don't seem to bother. Having the emitter out front pointing back towards a reflector makes it tricky to get a sufficient heatsink on the LED. Cree has some interesting wave guide / micro lens designs in their lighting products to evenly distribute light, I'm curious if that would work with something like a headlight.

Maelochs

As was said above ... the market is already flooded with perfectly good headlights. I doubt DIY light would be significantly better, and I don't see that there is a lot of room in the market for a new product unless it has a lot of dollars in marketing (read: gets reviewed by a bunch of bike magazines and advertises in same.)

Not to put a damper on anyone's entrepreneurial spirit, but I doubt most folks have the tech in their garages to build a significantly better light that can be marketed for the same amount as the established companies can manage.

Brighter than is generally needed, rechargeable by USB and plug -in solar charger for touring, easy to mount, multiple modes (levels of brightness and flash patterns) are pretty standard for most head- and tail lights. What were you planning to offer?

If it really is something special I might be interested---i ride at night a lot.

jefnvk

1) Yes. Whether you will be, is very unlikely, at least here in Michigan. Compared to many night riders, any light is an improvement. As others have stated, the law in my state says the front white light must be visible at a certain distance.

2) Doubtful, unless marketed as legal in their jurisdiction when it is not, but if you are that worried a lawyer is your friend.

As others have also stated, the light set I use cost $15 and is bright and visible. Unless you need something really custom, DIY doesn't make much practical sense.

cyccommute 

First, current bicycle lights on the market don't "illuminate the tree tops". Most reflectors on LED lights have a 35° angle on them. While this is a "flood" light, it gives a cone of light that is relatively small at a reasonable distance. If the cyclist is entirely dumb and aims the light horizontal to the ground, the radius of the cone at 100m is about 5m. Yes, this is a cone of light that is 10m in diameter and could start to hit the top of a small tree. However, the area of the circle prescribed by the cone's base is 1530 m^2 and, given the available lumens of a single Cree emitter...about 700 lumens currently...that works out to a lux of 0.5 lumens/sq m or about the brightness of a full moon. In other words, not much.

On the other hand, if the cyclist is smart and aims the light down so that the light doesn't just spray light into the sky, the radius of the cone's circle (an eclipse really but circles are easier) is 0.4m which isn't enough to go "illuminating the tree tops". It's got more lux because the area is much smaller but you want a high lux to get illumination.

As for a "DOT standard", the Germans have a standard which very much limits innovation and development of new lights. The reason that we have so many lights to choose from and that they are so cheap is because we don't limit them. We let the market decide. If people want lights that are more highly designed...and much more expensive...they are free to buy what they want and need.

fsir

One of those USB "mini-torch" or "jolt" flashlights inside a translucent red 13 dram medicine bottle with a lanyard threaded through a hole in the top.

hankaye

Howdy All;
Just a quick reference for various State Laws, compiled in 2012 so ... verify to be sure.

State Bike Laws | League of American Bicyclists

hank

Maelochs

Thank ya, Hank.

Marcus_Ti

Bingo. In most states so far as I know, the require reflectors....but not lights. Which is funny since reflectors don't do much good.

In the USA there aren't even regulations for car lamps in terms of brightness. And car headlights can surpass 4000 lumen EACH (per side). EU is different, they actually noticed the insanity of after-market car lamps and have put a cap on their brightness.

drlogik 

I think most laws are regulated by the locale and/or (maybe) at the State level. I live in Scottsdale Arizona and by local law we have to have a front white light and a rear red light when it is dusk and dawn. Reflectors are not enough and the Police will stop you to! I support this 100% actually.