Roadworthy bicycle

Bicycle lighting

The German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) stipulate that bicycles must have a dynamo-powered headlight and a rear light. These are supplemented by front and rear reflectors as well as spotlights in the pedals and wheels. Contrary to many assumptions, rumors and false reports, battery-powered lights are only permitted on racing bikes weighing less than eleven kilograms.

• Dynamo
  The dynamo converts the energy used to move the bike into electrical energy and thus into light. There are side-running dynamos and the more recommendable hub dynamos.
• Rear light
  Modern rear lights shine very brightly even when standing: if the cyclist stops at a traffic light, the rear light continues to shine for several minutes thanks to a built-in mini battery. Naturally, a reflective rear light is integrated and provides additional safety. This equipment increases road safety and is now mandatory equipment for new bicycles.
• Battery light
  A functioning battery light is generally tolerated by the police - but everyone knows the annoying problem: the batteries often run out just when you need them to work. That's why every bike should have a lighting system.

Unfortunately, too many cyclists are still riding without lights in the dark season. To draw attention to this issue, the "FahrRad in Aachen" campaign organizes the "FahrRad in Aachen, aber Helle" campaign every year in November/December with the help of bicycle dealers, the police, the traffic watch and the ADFC.

See and be seen...

...is of crucial importance in road traffic. When it is dark and visibility is poor, you also need to be seen. The visibility and road safety of cyclists can be significantly improved by wearing bright, reflective clothing and materials, among other things. Reflective tags - in the shape of animals, for example - are popular with children and can be attached to rucksacks or scooters. High visibility vests or safety collars also lead to increased visibility.

The brighter and more conspicuous cyclists dress, the better they are seen in the dark:

• People dressed in dark clothing are only noticed from 25-30 meters.
• Brightly dressed people can be recognized from 40-50 meters.
• People wearing reflective clothing can be seen from a distance of 130-160 meters.

Visibility in the dark can also be increased with reflectors or clip-on spoke reflectors.

Bicycle helmet

Of course, a helmet cannot prevent accidents, but it cushions the impact of every fall on the head and prevents or reduces the severity of head injuries. Parents should therefore only allow their children to cycle when wearing a helmet. If children get used to wearing a helmet at an early age, cycling with a helmet will be taken for granted when they reach adolescence.

A loose-fitting helmet not only loses a large part of its protective function, but also harbors new risks of injury. It must therefore be possible to adjust the helmet straps precisely. They must not be loose, otherwise the helmet will immediately slip off your head in the event of a fall. The front strap in particular must lie flat against the head so that the helmet cannot be pulled off the head and the strap cannot get caught. Abus has written instructions on how to adjust and wear the helmet correctly (PDF, 200 KB).

In general, a helmet should be replaced after five to seven years, depending on the intensity of use. It is essential to replace a helmet in the event of obvious damage and after a fall on the head, as the impact causes micro-cracks in the shell that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Due to this damage, the helmet can no longer absorb the impact energy through the shell in the event of another fall, but transmits it directly to the head. In the case of children's helmets, the rough handling of the helmet results in many small scratches and scrapes, but these are insignificant in terms of safety. Too much direct sunlight on the helmet has an unfavorable effect, so helmets should not be stored in sunny places if possible.

The roadworthy bicycle

If you ride your bike on the road, you should not simply rely on the fact that everything is in order. Instead, you should regularly check whether your bike is actually roadworthy.

According to legislation, a bicycle is roadworthy if it has the following features:

• Two independent brakes (hand and coaster brake)
• a bell that should not be too quiet
• one lamp (front)
• a white reflector (front)
• a dynamo, preferably a hub dynamo
• a rear light with reflector
• a red reflector (rear)
• four yellow spoke reflectors (cat's eyes) or reflective white stripes on the tires or in the spokes
• non-slip and firmly bolted pedals, each equipped with two pedal reflectors

If the equipment is incomplete, a bicycle may not be used on the road.

Exemptions

• Road bikes that do not weigh more than eleven kilograms are considered sports equipment and do not have to be so extensively equipped. This applies in particular to the lighting: instead of the permanently attached alternator, headlights and tail lights on racing bikes only need to be carried so that they can be switched on in poor lighting conditions or in the dark.
• There is no such special rule for mountain bikes. However, bikes with inadequate road safety equipment are usually tolerated by the police. However, there is no guarantee of this.

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