Cycling is healthy, burns calories and makes you fit. But do you know the most important regulations when cycling? Here are exciting everyday facts.
Daylight saving time is cycling time. The great weather and the warm temperatures ensure that many occasional cyclists regularly get their bike out of the cellar.
A good decision, but they are not always quite stable – and even for many year-round bikers.
As a cyclist, like all other participants in road traffic, you have not only rights, but also obligations. Especially since many regulations are regularly updated and amended. We answer the most frequently asked questions about traffic rules and cover widespread errors that repeatedly provide misfilling between bikers and drivers.
But one should know not only the interpretation of the road traffic regulations. With our suitable driving technology tips, you can also get even easier, faster and especially safer through city traffic. Test yourself – had you known and answered all our seven questions correctly?
1. Car or bike: This applies to the zebra crossing
From a legal point of view, the zebra crossing is a pedestrian crossing, so cyclists only take precedence over traffic if they change beforehand and push them to the other side. This rule also applies to a common footpath and cycle path.
If you do not want to get off, you have to cross the road as if there were no zebra crossing and grant drivers the right of way. Otherwise, a fine of ten euros is even threatened if a driver is being hindered.
2. Dodge open car doors
To minimize the risk of collision, it is important to focus on one point next to the obstacle – and not on the car door. Then hammer in the handlebars and tilt the wheel slightly into the evasive direction (usually to the left).
The upper body remains erect, the left knee is placed outside. After the door or other obstacle has been surrounded, immediately turn back in order not to get into the oncoming traffic.
3. No chance for thirds: a safe lock
One of the safest castles is the New York Fahgett-aboudit Mini (approx. 90 €) of the company Kryptonite. The 18-millimeter steel bracket resists bolt cutters and lever attacks. This is a U-lock lock.
Although these are generally considered particularly robust and theft-proof, they are quite heavy and very inflexible due to the rigid U profile. Often even lampposts have too large a diameter to secure the wheel with an iron.
Good alternatives are a ‘tailor cable lock (but most often cannot be attached to the frame) or a fold lock. Rule of thumb for all types of locks: the heavier, the more secure – but this is also reflected in the price.
4. Can you talk about cycling or listening to music?
As when driving, the mobile phone is taboo on the bike. Writing text messages, checking Instagram or telesys without a hands-free system cost a fine of 55 euros.
And it is enough to hold the smartphone only in your hand, since this suggests wanting to use it. Makes sense, because driving one-handed is rarely a good idea in hectic urban traffic.
On the other hand, it is allowed to make phone calls with a speakerphone, and those who pedal more easily with the appropriate beats can also use the headphones to listen to music.
A permissible maximum volume is not allowed for this, but the sound must not be so loud that the sounds of the road traffic – and possible warning signals – are no longer perceived.
5. Drive up and down curb
If you want to ride a curb up your bike, it is easiest and safest to actively raise the front wheel just before the edge and set it off on top of the curb.
To do this, first bend slightly, then shift the body centre of gravity backwards and at the same time stretch the arms jerky. Once the arms are long, the front wheel almost takes off alone. To get this routine, the timing is crucial.
6. There are also speed limits for cyclists
For all vehicles – including bicycles – the speeds arranged by shield are valid for all vehicles – including bicycles – section 41, paragraph 2, point 7 of the StVO. This means that a cyclist is not allowed to ride at a pace of 30 zones faster than 30 kilometers per hour.
In a traffic-calmed area (play street), which is a priority for drivers – and cyclists must also stick to that. It does not matter that no speedometer is required for speed control for bicycles.
Cyclists who are travelling on pavements (for example, to accompany children up to a certain age) always have to ride at pace. In contrast, the general speed limit of 50 km/h in closed-districts applies only to motor vehicles (StVO 3, paragraph 3, all-general speed limits).
So cyclists are allowed to ride in the city at least as theoretically as fast as they want and can. However, the law also assumes that bicycles do not reach any higher speeds anyway.
7. Cars with Dash Cams – that’s it means for cyclists
In a car accident, Dashcam shots (i.e. images of a camera installed in the car) can also be used for a subsequent civilian process. This has been decided by the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe for motorists.
For cyclists, however, this does not mean that they are allowed to install a mini camera on the handlebar to film the entire traffic. This violates data protection and personal rights.
Car Dashcams film only a limited period of time (e.g. two minutes). If there is no accident, the data will be overwritten. Such recordings can also be taken into account in the process – however, they must not be shared on social media platforms.
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