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Reflectors on pedals. Legal requirement?

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  • August 7, 2017 at 3:42 pm #27465
    joeegg

    A friend showed me the new spd’s he’d just fitted on his hybrid. He said that it was difficult to find spd’s with reflectors.Why with reflectors?It’s the law he said.He told me a cyclist he knows was prosecuted because of not having reflectors on his pedals.

     

    Are 99% of us riding illegally and looking at time doing porridge ?

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  • August 8, 2017 at 9:22 pm #899205
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    fenix

    Prosecuted for no pedal
    Prosecuted for no pedal reflectors ? Never happened.

    August 8, 2017 at 1:11 pm #899203
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    kil0ran

    Shimano sell commuter SPDs
    Shimano sell commuter SPDs with built-in reflectors. Click’r range. Double sided and low release tension, well built too, mine are three winter’s old and still going strong

    August 8, 2017 at 1:05 pm #899201
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    jaysa
    Mungecrundle wrote:
    https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D3627%26context%3Dall_theses&ved=0ahUKEwiHnoCRzInVAhXJDMAKHUQ4Dec4KBAWCDYwCA&usg=AFQjCNF4VaGRYjkXqT18ludF-biOUG6H_g

    Cool study! Where do I get rear-facing ankle lights – I’d like some?

    I do use fluorescent yellow velcro straps with little LEDs powered by a coin cell, bought from Lidl. They work well on ankles and wrists when running and riding. 

    Because the LEDs are all round your wrist or ankle, they may help visibility from the side and front – it can be hard for motorists to make out a non-flashing bike headlight against a background of powerful car headlights, so rotating and flashing lights can’t be bad.

    I’ve since stuck 3M reflective tape on the straps, and only wish the LEDs were brighter. Won’t win any style awards – but I’m still alive …

    August 8, 2017 at 12:27 pm #899199
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    Anonymous

    The coppers are probably only
    The coppers are probably only going to pull the reflectors thing on you if you’re in full ninja mode when they come across you at night. If you’ve got a Blinder on the rear or just lights in general they won’t be bothered.

    August 8, 2017 at 12:25 pm #899197
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    Simon E

    Shimano SM-PD22 reflectors

    Shimano SM-PD22 reflectors clip onto SPD pedals and act as a flat platform for non-SPD shoes. They have the added benefit of enable the pedal to hang so the cleat is facing upwards, which makes clipping in very easy. £7.50 on ebay

    As Mungecrundle has shown, the circular motion of pedal reflectors or other reflective material on the shoe/lower leg and wheel (3M spoke reflectors are ace) are far more conspicuous than a static reflector.

    A previous discussion on reflective tape etc:

    http://road.cc/content/forum/210988-my-health-and-safety-abomination-bike

    August 8, 2017 at 12:16 pm #899195
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    StraelGuy

    I’m with the reflective tape
    I’m with the reflective tape guys. My winter bike is festooned with the stuff – readily available on eBay. Looking cool should not be a consideration on a winter bike – it should be visibility, visibility, visibility.

    August 8, 2017 at 12:05 pm #899193
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    ChrisB200SX

    3M reflective tape.

    3M reflective tape.

    August 8, 2017 at 9:35 am #899191
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    Canyon48

    Pedal reflectors and a rear

    Pedal reflectors and a rear red reflector are legally required front and rear for cycling in the dark.

    I seem to recall that if you are unable to fit pedal reflectors, reflective ankle straps can be used instead – don’t quote me.

    The police aren’t going to stop you for riding without reflectors, however (providing you are lit well).

    As mentioned previously, if you are involved in a collision with a car at night (and you don’t have reflectors) be aware that given the way cyclists are treated in terms of legality, you’d probably get a lot of the blame.

    I don’t ride with reflectors at night – a 100 lumen rear and 800 lumen front light both pulsing are likely to get more attention than a small reflector.

    August 8, 2017 at 9:20 am #899189
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    davel

    Dunkeldog wrote:

    Dunkeldog wrote:
    Personally speaking, I’d rather do hard time than bling the Speedplays with reflectors.

    Amen to that.

    3M on the cranks for me.

    August 8, 2017 at 9:16 am #899187
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    davel
    guyrwood wrote:
    I think realistically you’ve got more chance of being struck by lightning than the police giving a toss about reflectors on your pedals…

    http://road.cc/content/news/226803-live-ish-blog-transcontinental-race-no-5

    “So #TCRNo5cap235 just got hit by lightning in Romania…”

    End times, people: end times

    August 8, 2017 at 8:27 am #899185
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    Woldsman

    As I understand it pedal

    As I understand it pedal reflectors must be fitted to any bicycle manufactured after 1st October 1986 that is ridden between dusk and dawn.  Snazzy piping etc. on the heel of your sand shoes are not the legal equivalent of amber pedal reflectors conforming to BS 6102/2 or its modern replacement. 

    I fitted a pair to my (Shimano 105 5700 SPD-SL) pedals at the beginning of last year because I started to do some night riding.  As you can see they are uber cool and, crucially, they haven’t fallen off yet.  I also have a pair of Shimano M324 SPD pedals with a flat surface on the underside.  They have reflectors front and rear, which is also a legal requirement, I believe.

    August 7, 2017 at 7:30 pm #899183
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    P3t3

    I must bring a proper geek, I
    I must bring a proper geek, I bought a set of pedal reflectors to fit this winter. I’ve noticed I see the reflectors on unlit bikes before I see the lights on a bike without pedal reflectors when I’m driving. It’s probably overkill given how bright my lights are though.

    August 7, 2017 at 7:19 pm #899181
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    Mungecrundle

    Making yourself conspicuous

    Making yourself conspicuous in the environment is both easy to do and effective at increasing your visibility to other road users. This is obvious to all but the most obtuse, but it is nice to have some data to back up what would otherwise be dismissed as common sense.

    https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D3627%26context%3Dall_theses&ved=0ahUKEwiHnoCRzInVAhXJDMAKHUQ4Dec4KBAWCDYwCA&usg=AFQjCNF4VaGRYjkXqT18ludF-biOUG6H_g

    There is quite a lot to go at there but below is the take home graph for me.

    Pedal / heel reflectors are useful at creating the biomotion that observers pick out at greatest distance. You can get as good if not better effect with some 3M reflective tape on the trailing and leading edges of the crank, but that would not meet any specified standard if that is what your friend is ultimately concerned about.

     

     

    August 7, 2017 at 6:51 pm #899179
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    Dunkeldog

    Personally speaking, I’d
    Personally speaking, I’d rather do hard time than bling the Speedplays with reflectors.

    August 7, 2017 at 5:29 pm #899177
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    mike the bike

    BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

    BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
    …… If you’re that bothered put a reflective strip on the heel of your shoes.  

     

    Exactly, Mr Sheds.  My desire to look cool and a bit pro overcomes my wish to stay alive and there’s no way I’d be seen with reflectors on my pedals.  However, all my shoes have reflectives on the heels, one set I’ve glued on myself, using bits of flexible reflector found on an old jacket.

    Aah the joy of a bodge that works.

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