As the days get shorter, FABB wants to remind local riders that, by law, every bicycle ridden between sunset and sunrise must have the following:
- At least one white headlamp on the front of the bike with a light visible from at least 500 feet (10-watt halogen, 1-watt LED minimum).
- A red rear reflector visible for 500 feet. If you ride on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or greater, one red tail light visible from 600 feet to the rear is required. Note: Rear lights are safer than reflectors.
- Taillights may be steady or blinking and may be attached to the bicycle or rider. (Additional lights and reflectors are not required but improve visibility even during the day.)
- Riders also must signal a left turn, by law, at night (but you also should be doing this at all times).
Historically, crash rates tend to increase when daylight saving time changes (November 3, 2019), so the next month or so is a good time to be extra careful out there.
You can find this and other helpful information about being safe while sharing the road on your bike on FABB’s Resources webpage and its link to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Share VA Roads site.
FABB has a large supply of paper copies in English or Spanish of the ShareVARoads booklet available to members for themselves and to share with others. If you would like to receive a supply of printed booklets, please contact [email protected].
