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Home > Tips and advice > Cycling in the dark or winter months

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Cycling in the dark or winter months

You should take extra precautions to make sure that you are safe when cycling in the dark. As long as you have a few essential items like light, reflective clothing and reflectors on your bike, there's nothing to stop you pedalling the night away!

Follow the advice on this page to help you stay safe when cycling in the dark. Follow this link for tips on cycling in snowy weather.

Plan your route

Traffic-free routes, which feel safer during the daytime, may not be well-lit at night. If you know you are going to be cycling at night, it's worth thinking ahead and making sure that your route has street lighting. Sometimes it's safer to cycle on the road.

You should also think about parking you bike in a well-lit area.

Watch out for hazards more carefully

Traffic isn't the only hazard at night. Watch out for uneven surfaces and potholes, animals, pedestrians in dark clothing and other cyclists without lights. Look for them carefully and give them a wide berth when you see them.

Think about safety when turning right

If you want to turn right, it is more difficult and dangerous to move to the middle of the road when it's dark. Stop on the left hand side and wait for a gap in the traffic before you turn.

Be seen

When cycling in the dark or in the winter when it gets darker earlier, it's even more important to make sure that you are visible so that other road users can see you.

Here are some tips to help you do this:

Lights

• It is important to have lights on your bike if you are cycling in the dark. It will put you at risk if you cannot be seen and you will be breaking the law.
• You should have a white light at the front of your bike and a red light at the rear.
• Even if there are street lights and you can see easily without lights drivers will find if difficult to see you as a cyclist if you do not have lights at night.
• Lights for your bike should be British Standard BS 6102/3.
• You should put the lights where they can be easily seen, not hidden behind saddles or framework.
• It is a good idea to carry spare batteries and bulbs with you in case they run out when cycling along.
• If you see other vehicles using their light, use yours.
• Remember, if you are using dynamo powered lights they will go out when you stop, so road users will not be able to see you. You can buy dynamo lights which have a backup 'standlight' when you are stopped.

Reflectors

• Reflectors are also a good idea to be seen more clearly at night on you bike.
• You are required by law to have a red reflector at the rear of your bike.
• You should also have amber reflectors should on your pedals.
• Reflectors should meet British Standard BS 6102/2.
• Make sure your reflectors are clean at all times.
• You can also make your bike more visible by adding spoke reflectors.

Clothing

• Fluorescent or bright clothing helps you to be seen during the daytime, especially in dull weather.
• Reflective strips on coats, trousers and trainers can help you to be to be seen at night.

Other reflective items

• If you have no reflective clothing to wear at night, wear something white-coloured to increase your visibility.
• You can also add reflective items such as stickers, or slappits to dark clothing or bags to improve your visibility.

If you become a member of Cycle Shrewsbury we will send you a membership pack which include reflective slappits. Join here.