Bicycle Lights
Question
Angie asked: Does law require the rear bicycle light to be only a reflector or does it have to be a battery operated flashing red light?
Answer
At night or In inclement weather, a bicycle must be equipped with a front white light, a rear red reflector and rear red light. Lights may be flashing or steady. Unspecified additional lights may also be used front and rear.
s. 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations
(7) Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a lamp and reflector on the rear each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 feet to the rear. A bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by this section.
s. 316.217 – When Lighted Lamps are Required
(1) Every vehicle operated upon a highway within this state shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices …. under the following conditions;
(b) During any rain, smoke, or fog.
s. 316.2397 – Certain Lights Prohibited; Exceptions
(7) Flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles except:
(c) For the lamps authorized under …. s. 316.2065 (Bicycle Regulations) …. which may flash.
Some will remove the front and rear reflectors when they install lights due to lack of bar space, that is the problem I had, but according to the law you are required to have both. You can buy lights that have reflectors built in to solve that problem.