Lights and Bell

cantwbr1

One of my kids picked up the cycle safety booklet from our local Garda station. Page 3 states;
“It’s the law to have a bell on your bike at all times and to have workinglights.”

Is this correct and should we all have lights on the bike during the day

tomasrojo

You only need lights after dark -- and a red rear reflector.

You do officially need a bell (except on a bike "adapted for racing" or something like that), but I've never heard of that being enforced, so I treat it as a "dead letter" law.

kenmc

there's an exemption, can't remember the exact words, something like "unless modified for racing".
lights only needed during lighting up time as defined by road traffic acts

Pinch Flat

Bell not required of modified for racing. Lights after dark are a legal requirement.

I use Exposure strobes back and front during the day depending on conditions (low sun, shadows etc).

Edit - here's another solution to a bell

http://inhabitat.com/trotify-makes-your-bike-sound-like-a-galloping-horse/

07Lapierre

In France last year every Dutch cyclist that I came across had a bell on there bike, every one of them! .. Pinarello Road bike with Di2 or Campag EPS, Carbon Wheels, Carbon Handlebars and a tiny black (I assume carbon) bell attached.

Very law abiding those Dutch cyclists!

Fian

Yeah, love that "carbon" ringing sound when it is hit by the clapper :P

sbs2010

Isn't the exemption for the bell only for races?

So all bikes need a bell unless you are in an official race of some sort?

Pinch Flat

sbs2010 wrote: »

Isn't the exemption for the bell only for races?

So all bikes need a bell unless you are in an official race of some sort?

According to the legislation (S.I. No. 190/1963 - Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963), the requirement is :

"93. (1) Every pedal cycle (other than a cycle constructed or adapted for use as a racing cycle) while used in a public place shall be fitted with an audible warning device consisting of a bell capable of being heard at a reasonable distance, and no other type of audible warning instrument shall be fitted to a pedal cycle while used in a public place."

DaithiMC

Pinch Flat wrote: »

According to the legislation (S.I. No. 190/1963 - Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963), the requirement is :

"93. (1) Every pedal cycle (other than a cycle constructed or adapted for use as a racing cycle) while used in a public place shall be fitted with an audible warning device consisting of a bell capable of being heard at a reasonable distance, and no other type of audible warning instrument shall be fitted to a pedal cycle while used in a public place."

So that makes the AirZound things illegal?

Beasty

It's all covered in the Irish Cycling legislation thread

Thread closed