BIKE: Which bicycle lights are approved in Germany?
Robin Stroda: The legal requirements for bicycle lighting in Germany are regulated in the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). These include front and rear lights, as well as front and rear reflectors. StVZO-approved lighting must have a glare-free light cone - similar to the dipped beam on a car. The bicycle lighting can also have a high beam. The lights may also be detachable, but must be attached to the bike at dusk, in the dark or in poor lighting conditions. Flashing front or rear lights are not permitted!
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How do I know if my bike light is approved?
To make sure that your bike lights are approved for road use, you should check their approval number. Among other things, the Federal Motor Transport Authority checks whether all legal requirements for the light image are met. Lights that fulfil all quality and safety criteria are given a so-called K number, which is visibly attached to the headlight and rear light.
The brightness of bicycle lights is specified either in lux or in lumen. What exactly do these designations mean?
Lumen and lux are measured values for light and brightness. The visible luminous flux emitted by a luminaire is referred to as lumen. Lumen therefore indicates how much light a luminaire - for example an LED - emits. The brighter the lumen value, the more light a luminaire emits. The intensity of the light from a luminaire that hits a certain surface is specified in lux. This refers to the light emitted by the light that actually reaches a specific point on a surface, for example the road. The specified lux value for bicycle lights always refers to the brightest point at a distance of 10 metres. Put simply, the lux value is therefore always dependent on the optics used, i.e. the direction of the light in any given direction.
For a better understanding, here is an example from everyday life: Imagine that the water from a garden hose represents the lumens and the optics represent a spray gun: With the same amount of water, I can spray the water through my spray gun either in a wide jet or in a very wide spray. The harder the jet is that hits a certain point at a certain distance, the higher the lux value. However, the amount of water (lumen) always remains the same. For us as cyclists, it is important that the road is fully and evenly illuminated so that all light zones are well lit. The following therefore applies when comparing different StVZO-compliant lamps: The lux and lumen values can be used as a guide. Of course, it is better if both values are as high as possible. However, the decisive factor for a good bicycle light is the quality of the light field, which is determined by the headlight optics. You should therefore definitely test this before buying.
How bright should a bike light be?
The brightness of the lighting depends on the intended use. Do I use a city bike or mountain bike, do I ride on a lit and paved road or am I going off-road? Do I primarily just want to be seen or do I want to see something myself? In a well-lit city, lights such as the Aura 35 USB from Sigma are perfectly adequate. With a range of 45 metres and good illumination, the 35 lux front light also ensures greater safety. If you also cycle outside the city, train at dusk and in the dark or cover long distances, you should opt for a more powerful front and rear light. Especially with rear lights, "being seen" is all the more important, as cyclists cannot see the traffic situation behind them. In addition to the classic rear light, there are also rear lights with a brake light function. This ensures greater visibility and safety in road traffic.
How do I attach my lights to my bike correctly?
The front light must be installed at a height of between 40 cm and 120 cm. In addition, the bike light should be aligned in such a way that other road users are not dazzled. So if you align your light horizontally, not much can go wrong. You can, of course, make fine adjustments, but please do not point it upwards, otherwise you will dazzle other road users and that can be dangerous.
When do I need a helmet light?
If you are travelling off the road in the dark or at dusk, you need a reliable helmet light. This illuminates further, wider and above all higher and ensures optimum perception of the surroundings. As it is attached to the helmet, it follows the rider's line of vision and therefore offers the best illumination. This is particularly important when cornering and ensures greater safety, as the direction of vision usually differs from the direction of turn-in, especially when travelling on winding trails. Attention: The use of helmet lights is not permitted in road traffic in Germany. If you use them anyway and the helmet light dazzles other road users, you may even be fined. You should therefore switch them off on the road!
What about lighting on an e-bike?
Conventional e-bikes are usually already fully equipped with front and rear lights. E-mountainbikes, on the other hand, usually do not have permanently installed lighting. These can either be retrofitted and connected to the battery, but this can usually only be done by a specialist workshop. Mountain bikers in particular therefore like to use practical battery-powered lighting for off-road use. Simply clip it on and off you go!
Which lighting is the right one for me?
As described above, this depends on the area of application and your requirements. And, of course, how much money you want to spend. Good and reliable lighting sets for the city are available from 30 euros upwards. Off the beaten track, if you are often out and about on your MTB or gravel bike, you should definitely wear a helmet light in addition to the StVZO-compliant lighting. This should have at least 800 lumens of lighting power. The best combination is StVZO-compliant lighting and a good helmet light. Then you will not only get safely from home to the trail and back, but also have a lot of riding fun.
Love Trails - Respect Rules: That's the slogan behind the joint campaign by BIKE, FREERIDE and EMTB. But what's behind it? Six rules are the foundation of our campaign, with which we want to improve the image of mountain bikers in the long term. Together with bike celebrities such as Greta Weithaler and partners such as Bosch, we want to draw attention to each of the rules via our print magazines, websites, social media channels and videos. Here is the video for "No Nightrides - Give the animals their rest":
Marc Strucken
Editor
