Front brake only - is it legal?

hey,.
i thought it was ok to have front brake and fixed on the back but was told by police this morning, who stopped next to me at a traffic light (on Cowley Rd., Oxford), that i had to have a back break by law. He said he knew the law about fixed wheel bikes because he had one himself.

As far as I could figure out, the Construction & Use Regulations for Pedal Cycles (1983), says you have to have two independent braking systems for both wheel. I thought that the fixed wheel (braking with legs) counted for the back break?

What's the latest legal news about this in the UK? Apparently in Berlin they've been confiscating bikes...

Google

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4073
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069866

"Most sorts of cycle are required to have at least two efficient braking systems, by which the front wheel (or wheels) can be braked independently of the rear wheel (or wheels). This means that if there are two wheels at the front or rear, the relevant system must act on the pair. It also means that the combined operation of front and rear brakes from one lever is not allowed except as an extra braking system: additional to the two independent front and rear braking systems required by this law. Apart from saying that a brake that acts directly on a pneumatic tyre shall not be deemed to be in efficient working order, these regulations do not define how the brakes are operated (by hands, feet or maybe even the teeth?) or how they work. A lot of words are nevertheless devoted to wheels that cannot rotate independently of the pedals (i.e. no freewheel), the effect of which is that a fixed wheel drive counts as a braking system – on that wheel or wheels."

^
Print off
Put in pocket
Show to next policeman who thinks he knows it all
Then cycle off whilst calling him a cunt

Job done!

I think they've only been confiscating bikes without any brakes in Berlin. Front only is fine.

^
Print off
Put in pocket
Show to next policeman who thinks he knows it all
Then cycle off whilst calling him a cunt

Pretend to phone 999 and claim that there's someone here "Impersonating a Police Officer".

I pulled this gag on the two Community Support Officers that tried to stop me for riding on a clearly signed shared use pavement after cycling across a Toucan crossing.

When they, understandably, had a sense of humour failure and started getting shirty I just cycled off knowing that they wouldn't be able to catch me.

Repped

I think they've only been confiscating bikes without any brakes in Berlin. Front only is fine.

nope thats not true anymore. latest seems to be that bikes need front and rear to avoid being confiscated. though they've started just handing out tickets now rather than confiscating.

german law though states that you need two independent mechanical methods of stopping your bike, so technically a fixed gear drive would count. nobody's taken the cops to task on this though, weirdly.

... but this thread is about london, no?

+

Pretend to phone 999 and claim that there's someone here "Impersonating a Police Officer".

I pulled this gag on the two Community Support Officers that tried to stop me for riding on a clearly signed shared use pavement after cycling across a Toucan crossing.

When they, understandably, had a sense of humour failure and started getting shirty I just cycled off knowing that they wouldn't be able to catch me.

This exact thing happened to me. They talked to me like I was scum aswell, I was crawling along on a 10 metre wide boulevard which was completely empty.

Only in Germany...

nope thats not true anymore. latest seems to be that bikes need front and rear to avoid being confiscated. though they've started just handing out tickets now rather than confiscating.

german law though states that you need two independent mechanical methods of stopping your bike, so technically a fixed gear drive would count. nobody's taken the cops to task on this though, weirdly.

... but this thread is about london, no?

Copper was talking out his ass

Does it really matter having that extra brake? I'm keeping mine on, I really can't see the point in removing it. Sure you might save a couple of hundred grammes, but I really can't see any other benefit.

horses for courses really, some like having it, some doesn't.

Fine if you start off with one, but a pain to fit one if you don't - especially if your frame isn't drilled for it: extra money spent (and aesthetics screwed) for no discernible benefit.

Fine if you start off with one, but a pain to fit one if you don't - especially if your frame isn't drilled for it: extra money spent (and aesthetics screwed) for no discernible benefit.

fair enough

If a fixed whell bike is sold for street use it legally has to be supplied fitted with two brakes. As I understood it when I checked you are then perfectly legally able to remove your rear brake along with the bell and front, pedal and wheel reflectors as soon as you leave the shop.

Nodder Plodder

this is the "freewheel with only front brake" backlash.

cos there's so many of those poseur twats on the road.

If a fixed whell bike is sold for street use it legally has to be supplied fitted with two brakes.

Bzzzzzt. Nope. Read the CTC link given above.

There are two parts:

a) To use a bike on the road it must comply with the Construction and Use Regulations. This means it must have two brakes or, if fixed, you can get away with removing the rear brake (but not the front).

b) At time of sale (only) it must comply with the Pedal Cycles (Safety) Regulations. This means it must have a bell and front/rear reflectors and also comply with the Construction and Use Regulations. Along with a few other bits such as being in good working order and brakes "properly adjusted".

Also, if you buy the bike without pedals fitted then it's not a complete bike and therefore doesn't have to comply with any of this. It's considered just a part not a full bike.

My Wilier didn't have reflectors or a bell on it when I bought it. I fitted my own pedals in the shop and rode away on it into the sunset (well, Holborn actually).

Wheel reflectors are not part of either requirement. Mass produced or lower spec bikes tend to have them fitted. I removed them from my Hybrid because they've a nasty habit of working loose, turning sideways, getting stuck in the stays/forks and taking out a bunch of spokes and (subsequently) some of my teeth.

Bikes sold "for racing" in Oz didn't need all the reflectors, etc. on them. No good bikes have this kind of shit, legal or not.

Bikes sold "for racing" in Oz didn't need all the reflectors, etc. on them. No good bikes have this kind of shit, legal or not.

Exactly.

Would some jobsworth from Trading Standards really require a £5bn track bike made of finest milled unobtainium, baked soot and feathers (with no fittings for brakes at all) destined for the pert bottom of La Pendleton to have reflectors and a bell? Probably.

Would some jobsworth from Trading Standards really require a £5bn track bike made of finest milled unobtainium, baked soot and feathers (with no fittings for brakes at all) destined for the pert bottom of La Pendleton to have reflectors and a bell? Probably.[/quote]

Ha!

Policeman in "being an ignorant twat" shocker!

I like the fact that the copper claimed to ride a fixieskidder.

Fine if you start off with one, but a pain to fit one if you don't - especially if your frame isn't drilled for it: extra money spent (and aesthetics screwed) for no discernible benefit.

I think its that 'aesthetic' that makes a lot of unipack riders with a freewheel remove their back brake, so they can be like trendy curryers.