Am I allowed to mount a turn indicator on my bicycle?
Please refer your local regulations.
Are turn signals on bicycles allowed in Germany?
Yes and No. With the exception of S-pedelecs, turn signals on two-wheeled bicycles cannot be approved according to the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO), i.e. no bicycle manufacturer will currently obtain approval in Germany for a bicycle that is equipped with turn signals ex works.
Why is that? There can't be a really good reason. Research into this only brings up very strange explanations, such as a possible confusion of motorists. That did not convince us.
That's why we asked the
Federal Motor Transport Authority.
The answer is: Because no one has yet given any thought to the conditions under which turn signals on bicycles could be approved, i.e. how the turn signals must function, how and where they should be attached, and so on.
The regulatory basis is simply lacking.
However, according to STVO it is not forbidden to use turn signals.
STVO §9 only stipulates that the direction of travel must be indicated; there are no regulations on how this is to be done.
There is also no special regulation for bicycles.
The hand signal is therefore not explicitly prescribed, but "only" customary. Incidentally, it is usual for all vehicles without turn indicators.
The third brake light at the top centre of the car was once not allowed in the EU. After this additional brake light had been fitted often enough anyway, the legislator adapted the corresponding regulation on 01 January 1998.
On which bicycles are turn signals permitted and eligible for approval?
According to which regulations must turn signals be approved and fitted to bicycles?
The guidelines for approval are stated in
StVZO §67 (5)).
- Regelung UNECE No. 50 controls the brightness, light distribution, etc. of the turn signals up to the content of the approval document
- Regelung UNECE No. 74 regulates the mounting. Paragraph 6.8 ff. is where it gets interesting.
- Regelung UNECE No. 60 concerns the operating elements, which may have to indicate with symbols (arrows) in which direction to flash.
If turn signals are fitted, they must also comply with these regulations according to
StVZO §54 (6).
Should I give a hand signal even with working turn indicators on my bike?
Turn indicators on a bicyle are not common yet. Therefore show your turn in the usual way first and don't rely on attention of other people.
Who'll mounting the turn indicator system on my bike?
The installation needs no special skills, only some special tools like tongs for the cable. You can do it yourself, or your local dealer can take care of it for you.
How many turn indicator designs are available?
Generally all 12V LED indicators are for motorcycles. We select especially small models and check their power consumption. A valid approval, a successful design, low power consumption and good brightness are our criteria. And of course, we test all our models.
Do I have to stop flashing manually?
While the flashing can be stopped manually, it will automatically stop after 120 seconds.
What kind of bikes can the system be mounted onto?
Basically, the velorian turn indicator systems can be mounted onto any bicycle. There are no brackets for all kinds of bicycles yet, but we are developing more brackets currently.
How will the turn indicators be mounted on my bike?
There are already some brackets available in the
online shop. We are developing more brackets currently.
Does charging the battery consume a lot of power? Does this cause brightness to be lost on the headlight?
No to both of those things.
How long does the battery last?
Fully charged, depending on usage, it lasts up to 4 weeks or more. Connected to the hub dynamo, depending on usage, the battery should be fully charged at all times.
Is the battery replaceable?
Of course. The battery has a standard format and can be bought from any electronics dealer.
Where can I buy the velorian turn indicator system for bikes without battery?
The development of the D-Line will continue this year. We will also set up a pre-order option for it. Signing up for the newsletter will help you not to miss this date and to get one of the first systems at the market launch price.
Where can you buy the velorian e-bike blinkerset?
It can be ordered here in the
online shop. Or soon at the dedicated dealer. We will keep you regularly informed about the progress of the project via the newsletter.
Is the e-bike blinkerset suitable for every e-bike?
The velorian e-bike blinkerset works with an input voltage of 6 - 60 volts direct current, and thus covers all e-bike battery systems on the market. Due to the low power consumption of the velorian e-bike blinkerset, the connection can be realised very easily on the headlight cable. The connection is therefore just as simple as that of a headlight. Under certain circumstances, however, the light must always be switched on. On newer Bosch drive systems, power can also be tapped at the 3rd party port if Bosch ABS is not installed. Such a connection is available on many e-bikes.
Can different turn signals be installed at the front and rear? What voltage must the turn signals be operated with?
Yes, that is not a problem. They have to be 12 volt indicators.
Can more than 4 turn signals be installed? For example for a trailer?
Yes, only the total power of all turn signals must not exceed 6 watts.
Can I also fit the e-bike indicator set to my e-scooter? And am I also allowed to do this in Germany?