Are there laws in the U.S. governing bike lights?
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Are there laws in the U.S. governing bike lights?
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?
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?
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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?
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?
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.
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Our local law indicates it has to be visible from a specified distance.
Check your local law for specifics.
Check your local law for specifics.
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?
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?
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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.
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.
so any other light you add to your bike, assuming it's not blinding drivers, is just icing, right?
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Brought to you by the magic of Google:
Biking in New Jersey, Regulations, Commuter Information
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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?
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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
Here is my state
31-19-10
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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.
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For Florida Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine see #7
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You're getting into lawyer stuff now, so I wouldn't bet on it.
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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.
Last edited by fsir; 05-31-16 at 09:01 AM.
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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.
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If i share the DIY with people can I be liable if my bike light is under bright and someone gets injured using it?
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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?
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?
UVC §12-702: Headlight and taillight required at night
Every bicycle in use at the times described in §12-201 [one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise] shall be equipped with a lamp on the front emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, and a taillight on the rear emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 1000 feet to the rear.
UVC §12-703: Rear reflector required at all times
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a red reflector of a type approved by the department which shall be visible for 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.
Every bicycle in use at the times described in §12-201 [one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise] shall be equipped with a lamp on the front emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, and a taillight on the rear emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 1000 feet to the rear.
UVC §12-703: Rear reflector required at all times
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a red reflector of a type approved by the department which shall be visible for 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.
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.
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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.
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.
sorry I should have googled all this, I guess. But sometimes you just want to ask those with more experience just in case.
Last edited by fsir; 05-31-16 at 11:56 AM.
#16
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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.
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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.
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.
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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?
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?
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.
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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.
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.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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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?
.
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?
.
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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
Just a quick reference for various State Laws, compiled in 2012 so ... verify to be sure.
State Bike Laws | League of American Bicyclists
hank
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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
Just a quick reference for various State Laws, compiled in 2012 so ... verify to be sure.
State Bike Laws | League of American Bicyclists
hank
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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.
#24
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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.