Cycle dynamos "declared illegal by EU"

On Sun, 12 Jan 2003 18:02:57 +0000 someone who may be Call me Bob <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

On BBC Ceefax today (letters page, 145) there is a letter claiming that dynamos have been declared
illegal by the European Union and can no longer be fitted to UK bikes on the grounds that they go
out when stationary.

Anyone know where they got this idea from and just what (if any) grain of truth there is in it?

They are probably confused.

It is illegal to make a right turn with just a dynamo equipped bike, as the lights will go out.
There is nothing illegal about dynamo lights. The law appears to ignore standlight equipped
dynamo lights.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

Call me Bob said:

What's this guff then?

News to me, but I doubt it is /new/ legislation else I'm sure would have seen it mentioned on
www.bike-eu.com or Bikebiz - and there's been nowt abowt it.

~PB

David Hansen said:

It is illegal to make a right turn with just a dynamo equipped bike, as the lights will go out.

I am not sure if this is _illegal_. I know the highway code recommends against the right turn when
using a dynamo, but that does not make it illegal.

John " 2.4W Front 0.6W rear" Tomlinson Remove the singers of Spam before replying

Tony W said:

Quoted message said:

Anyone know where they got this idea from and just what (if any) grain of truth there is in it?

Quoted message said:

So you fit a front & back back-up and are legal again. Hey, given the number of dark cyclists is
anyone going to book you for only having lights while moving.

Forget it.

You misunderstand. I'm not worried, the charges have to be a teeny bit more serious before I ring my
solicitor.

As it happens I don't use a dynamo on any of my bikes, I posted because the BBC are broadcasting a
letter relating to cycling which sounded to me like complete guff. I was wondering what the origin
might have been.

Bob
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[email hidden] (Rory) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Call me Bob <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

What's this guff then?

On BBC Ceefax today (letters page, 145) there is a letter claiming that dynamos have been
declared illegal by the European Union and can no longer be fitted to UK bikes on the grounds
that they go out when stationary.

Anyone know where they got this idea from and just what (if any) grain of truth there is in it?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds like rubbish to me (I wouldent believe anything you read on the ceefax letters page, Full of
daily mail reading europhobic whingers)

As far as I know the E.U has no juristiction over member states traffic laws and regulations, so the
letter is complete rubbish.

The law as far as I understand it is that using a dynamo is perfectly legal so long as you keep to
the left, and dont stop to turn right in the middle of the road.

As dynamoes have been used quite safely for many decades I dont see why they should be banned now.
If anything their safer than battery powered lights because they eliminates the chance of
batteries failing.

Graham

Quoted message said:

As far as I know the E.U has no juristiction over member states traffic laws and regulations, so
the letter is complete rubbish.

Agreed. The next 'law' will be that we have to drive on the right. Pah!
--
Chris
______________________________________

"I am unique, just like everyone else"

"Call me Bob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What's this guff then?

On BBC Ceefax today (letters page, 145) there is a letter claiming that dynamos have been declared
illegal by the European Union and can no longer be fitted to UK bikes on the grounds that they go
out when stationary.

Anyone know where they got this idea from and just what (if any) grain of truth there is in it?

So you fit a front & back back-up and are legal again.

Hey, given the number of dark cyclists is anyone going to book you for only having lights
while moving.

Forget it.

T

"Call me Bob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What's this guff then?

On BBC Ceefax today (letters page, 145) there is a letter claiming that dynamos have been declared
illegal by the European Union and can no longer be fitted to UK bikes on the grounds that they go
out when stationary.

Anyone know where they got this idea from and just what (if any) grain of truth there is in it?

Not sure where this comes from originally, but whilst in a Halfrods (it was sunday, all the proper
bike shops were shut!) I was told by a sales assistant that none of their dynamos came with rear
lamps because they were illegal because they went out when stopped. I pointed out that this was
complete unadulterated [censored], but he didn't look convinced.

This is the kind of chinese whisper that gains a life of its own, and although much-repeated, no-one
who repeats it is able to state an authoritative source.

Quoted message said:

Bob
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Call me Bob said:

On BBC Ceefax today (letters page, 145) there is a letter claiming that dynamos have been declared
illegal by the European Union and can no longer be fitted to UK bikes on the grounds that they go
out when stationary.

I think you'll find it's bollocks. The Dutch in particular are huge dynamo users, as are the
Germans; neither would permit such ill-informed stupidity. Can you say "standlight?"

Guy
===
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dynamic DNS permitting)
NOTE: BT Openworld have now blocked port 25 (without notice), so old mail addresses may no longer
work. Apologies.

Call me Bob <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

What's this guff then?

On BBC Ceefax today (letters page, 145) there is a letter claiming that dynamos have been declared
illegal by the European Union and can no longer be fitted to UK bikes on the grounds that they go
out when stationary.

Anyone know where they got this idea from and just what (if any) grain of truth there is in it?

I'd be surpised if it was true, as there would have been plenty of noise about it from Germany,
where you *must* have a dynamo powered light on your bicycle (battery-powered lights are only
allowed for racing-bikes lighter than 11kg). Prob one of them "Eu says bananas have to be
straight/bent by not more than 24 degrees" tabloid stories...

Richard Burton said:

This is the kind of chinese whisper that gains a life of its own, and although much-repeated,
no-one who repeats it is able to state an authoritative source.

Yus, I expect tomorrow there'll be a letter calling the original correspondent a halfwit and
correcting him (or her) :o)

Bob
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"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It is illegal to make a right turn with just a dynamo equipped bike, as the lights will go
out.........

If this is the case then it's also illegal to stop at a set of traffic lights whith just a dynamo
equipped bike for the same reason.

John Tomlinson <[email hidden]> wrote: ( On Sun, 12 Jan 2003 19:36:32 +0000, David
Hansen ) <[email hidden]> wrote: ( >It is illegal to make a right turn with just a
dynamo equipped bike, ) >as the lights will go out.
( Iam not sure if this is _illegal_. I know the highway code ) recommends against the right turn
when using a dynamo, but that does ( not make it illegal.

Does it? I thought the HC just suggested that it might possibly be a bad idea to turn right from the
middle of the road, whatever the light, which is what it otherwise tells you to do. (Rule 59)

I seem to see from Schedule 10 of The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 that a rear light is
necessary on unicycles at night. (The formula is "a pedal cycle with less than four wheels".)

Geraint Jones said:

I seem to see from Schedule 10 of The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 that a rear light
is necessary on unicycles at night. (The formula is "a pedal cycle with less than four wheels".)

Correct. It used to have a different formula and they escaped. Despite not being required to have
one, when I commuted by unicycle and was out on it at night I had front & rear lights.

regards, Ian SMith
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Geraint Jones said:

I seem to see from Schedule 10 of The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 that a rear light is
necessary on unicycles at night. (The formula is "a pedal cycle with less than four wheels".)

Yeah, but it's not hard to fit a rear light and it would just be silly to ride at night without
lights anyway. I've always used lights on the public highway at night or in poor visibility.

--
Danny Colyer (remove safety to reply) ( juggler.netdannyOpen ↗ ) Recumbent cycle page:
speedy5.freeserve.co.ukrecumbentsOpen ↗ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." -
Thomas Paine

Chris Heys said:

Quoted message said:

As far as I know the E.U has no juristiction over member states traffic laws and regulations, so
the letter is complete rubbish.

Agreed. The next 'law' will be that we have to drive on the right. Pah!

Yeah, and it will be phased in gradually.

~PB