Post Tagged with: "bicycle"

During the holiday season, rear-mounted bike racks are popular companions to easily transport your own bikes. Depending on where you go on vacation, different rules than in Germany apply to this transport.

In Germany, for example, a third license plate must be used if the carrier covers the license plate on the vehicle. In addition, the carrier may protrude a maximum of 150 cm at the back and the bicycles may protrude a maximum of 20 cm on the sides. Special labeling for the bicycle racks and/or their load is not required in Germany. However, any lamps that may be hidden on the vehicle must work on the rear bike carrier.
It’s similar in Austria too: In Germany we are allowed to protrude 20 cm on the sides of bicycles. If the license plate is not readable and is covered up, a third license plate must be used. If taillights and reflectors are used, it is mandatory to use a light bar.

Rules for rear bike racks in Belgium and the Netherlands

In Belgium it is a little different, where the width of the vehicle with a bike rack cannot exceed a total of 255 cm. In addition, the vehicle’s license plate and lighting must be fully visible; if this is not the case, both a separate lighting bar and a third license plate are required. What is also special is that a bicycle rack with its own rear fog light is also required for vehicles with a Belgian license plate.
In the Netherlands, bicycles are also allowed to protrude 20 cm, so the maximum width is 255 cm. The rear bike carrier may protrude a maximum of one meter to the rear. A third license plate and extra lighting must be used if this is obscured by the use of the rack on the vehicle. As in Germany, special labeling of the rear bicycle carrier is not required.

Rear bike rack in southern Europe

In Italy, bicycles may protrude a maximum of 30 cm on each side when transported; a red and white marking board is also mandatory there. This must have dimensions of 50×50 cm. We have summarized all the information about this in a separate blog post. When it comes to the license plate and the lighting, in Italy you have to remember that both have to be fully visible. If this is not guaranteed, you will have to use a separate light bar and a third license plate.
Also in Spain, light bars and the third license plate are required under the same conditions. In addition, a square, red and white striped sign measuring 50×50 cm is mandatory there, even if there are no bicycles loaded on the rack.

In Spain’s neighboring country Portugal, it is initially advised to transport bicycles on the roof with a roof rack. If a rear bike carrier is used, the carrier and the bicycles must not be wider than the car. It must also be proven that the carrier is approved for the transport of bicycles and that the carrier is demonstrably suitable for transport. At the rear, the rear bike rack is only allowed to protrude 45 cm, which is significantly less than in all other countries. Important to know: For carriers that are mounted on the towbar, this is measured from the trailer hitch. In addition, in Portugal the necessary measures apply if the license plate and lighting are obscured (use of third license plate and light bar). The warning sign is also mandatory.

Regulations in Northern Europe

In Northern Ireland the regulations are quite simple, bikes are only allowed to protrude a maximum of 30.5cm on each side. If the license plate is covered, it must be replaced by a third license plate; the same applies to the lighting.
In Sweden, bicycles are only allowed to protrude a maximum of 20 cm on each side and a third license plate must always be attached. The lighting must also be fully visible, otherwise a light bar is required. There are also country stickers.

For transporting bicycles, the rear bicycle carrier is above all practical and uncomplicated. But so that your journey goes without problems, you should definitely keep a few points in mind when driving in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

The third license plate is compulsory in Germany

Once your rear bike carrier is loaded, it mainly covers the license plate. According to the German StVO, the license plate must always be visible. In Germany it is therefore mandatory to attach a third license plate, i.e. a replacement license plate, to the rear bike rack. When buying the carrier, it is best to ensure that it has a way of attaching the license plate. You can easily get a third license plate from the Road Traffic Office. The best thing to do is to mount it firmly on the carrier so that it cannot be forgotten. Important: It is not necessary to stamp the license plate.

Also make sure that the lighting of your vehicle is not covered when transporting the bicycles. Since this often cannot be avoided, your rear bike carrier should also have lighting that can be connected to the vehicle electronics via the socket at the rear.

In Austria you need a red license plate

In Austria, too, you have to mount a third license plate on the rear bike rack if your cargo covers the original license plate. The specialty, however, is that you need a red license plate. You also have to pay attention to the lighting on the rear bike carrier, which is already known from Germany.

The load securing and loading of the rear bike carrier in Switzerland

In addition to the third number plate and the lighting, there is a special focus on loading the rear bike carrier and securing the load in Switzerland. The bicycles must explicitly not be wider than the vehicle and not pose a risk to road traffic. There is an interesting special rule with regard to the dimensions: the bike must not exceed the total length of two meters, but it would also be okay if the bike protrudes 20 cm on each side above the vehicle. If you have an accident in Switzerland due to an incorrectly secured load, you will have to pay for the damage in any case. In our neighboring country, make sure to lash the bikes tightly and use all the safety measures provided on the rear bike carrier. Uninstall any other parts on the bike that could easily fall off, such as air pumps, saddle pads or baskets, and avoids the use of a cover. Above all, the latter would also affect the driving behavior of your vehicle.

The speed limit with the rear bike rack

Most European countries do not have a speed limit for driving with a rear bike rack, but you should pay attention to what the manufacturers of the rack specify and you should not exceed these values.

Make sure to also pay attention to the rules for transport on the rear bike carrier in other EU countries.

If you want to take the bikes with you on vacation or are planning a bike tour far away from home, the best way to transport the bikes is by car. You have various options for the transportation as you can use the rear bike carrier on the one hand. On the other hand, you have the option of transporting bicycles on the roof of most vehicles. But which of the two options offers which advantages?

Transport with the rear bike carrier

Of course, you need a towbar to transport your bikes on a rear bike rack. The rear bicycle carrier is placed on the towbar and fixed to the ball head. At the same time, you have to make sure that your rear bike rack has a lighting system and is equipped with a license plate, as both can be hidden on the vehicle when the bikes are being transported. Before driving off, you should also check the width of the vehicle with the bicycles on the carrier, the bicycles should not protrude beyond the width of the vehicle. Make sure that you do not overload your rear bike carrier and that you secure and fasten the bikes well.

The German ADAC also recommends paying special attention to the speed at which you are driving with the rear bicycle carrier. The driving behavior of your vehicle can change due to the carrier and its load, also due to the increased air resistance. TheADAC recommendation is therefore not to drive faster than 120 km / h and not to use a cover.

Your bicycles for transport on the roof

The first requirement for transporting the bicycles on the roof is a roof rail on your vehicle. The carrier system is attached to this. As with loading the rear bike rack, you have to make sure that this and the vehicle are not overloaded when transporting with the roof rack. You should therefore always keep an eye on the roof load and also know the weight of your individual bicycles.

The loading of the roof rack is a little more complex than with the rear bike rack and the loading height is of course more uncomfortable for you. It is best to protect the car with a blanket while it is being loaded and make sure that the two of you load the roof with the bicycles.

When driving with a roof rack loaded with bicycles, you should also make sure not to be traveling too fast. Of course, this transport option also changes the driving behavior of the car accordingly. When driving into underground garages, tunnels or under locking beams, you should make sure in advance that it is also possible to drive in with the bicycles on the roof.

You have to pay attention to this when you are abroad

In some countries protruding cargo must be marked. In Germany we do not know this from the ride with the rear bike carrier, but it is necessary in Spain, Portugal, Austria or Belgium, for example. The type of marking for protruding cargo is regulated individually for each country, it is best to inform yourself before your trip in order to avoid fines during your journey.