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. 316.217When 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. 316.2397Certain 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.

1 Comment on “Bicycle Lights

  1. 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.

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