There are 3 main reasons why bike trailers get such unfair scrutiny from time to time. Despite his reservations, Dr. Rivara will not condemn bicycle trailers. There have been several reports I have found in online discussions of people arrested and fined by police for driving a bike trailer on the side of the road. Some local governments prohibit the use of bicycle trailers on the road because trailers are much wider than just cycling. Therefore, there is a change in the cars that the trailers do not see (low on the ground) and unintentionally cut the trailer. (4) .. This paragraph shall not prohibit the attachment of a bicycle trailer or bicycle semi-trailer to a bicycle if such trailer or semi-trailer is commercially available and designed for such attachment. Bike trailers are legal in many countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, most European countries and many others. Spain is a country where bicycle trailers are not legal. In the United States, it has been reported that drivers have been arrested by police for driving bicycle trailers down the road. Driving at night without lights is also considered illegal in many places.
3. (a) A bicycle shall not be used to carry more persons at the same time as the number for which it is designed or equipped, unless an adult cyclist can safely carry a child in a backpack or scarf on him. Because they are exciting, green or healthy and, therefore, not all the dangers associated with them are taken into account. The same can be said about bike trailers. They are extremely healthy, effective and fun, so the small luck associated with an unlikely accident can be more than offset by the blessings. In the case of motorcycle trailers, the easy comparison is with the famous bicycle established baby car seat. You can also search online for local cycling laws in your area. Many cities and states publish a legal document stating their local cycling laws. If there is no mention of bike trailers, you can assume that it is legal. “It`s reasonable not to use them on roads, especially on busy roads, and probably better to use them on the Burke-Gilman Trail or on a bike path,” said pediatrician Fred Rivara of the Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center. “And always ask your child to wear a helmet in those straps or pendants.” Trailers seem to pull awkwardly behind your bike.
But bike trailers are much safer than child seats in the event of an accident. (2) A person who drives a bicycle may ride or ride only in a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle. Part of the concerns of local governments about bike trailers stem from a misconception that bike trailers are dangerous. But are they really more dangerous than just riding a bike? The consensus is that bike trailers are slightly safer than child seats mounted on the bike. Trailers are low, more stable, closed and each lintel is shorter than a luggage rack mounted on a seat. (b) Except in the cases referred to in point (a), a cyclist shall carry any passenger under 4 years of age or weighing 40 pounds or less in a seat or luggage rack intended for the carriage of a child of that age or size which secures and protects the child from the moving parts of the bicycle. More and more people are turning to cycling for their daily commute in order to get around more, breathe fresh air and benefit the environment. Cycling with children in a bike trailer makes it easy and convenient to drop children off at school or daycare, but what risk do bike trailers and bike seats pose to children? We look at how parents can ensure that they transport their children safely around the city while enjoying their physical condition and the environment. This is probably the most legitimate concern with bike trailers. If you drive near cars, there is always a risk that cars will not see the trailer on a bike. However, you can help eliminate the risks by following some basic safety precautions (described here) and avoiding driving cars as much as possible. A salesman at a Seattle bike shop challenged the idea that riding down the street with a child in a bike trailer is a bad idea.
“You have to go to the track,” he said, adding that concerns about the safety of followers were “alarmist.” The last thing you want when driving a bike trailer outside is to be stopped by the police for misusing a bike trailer. Unfortunately, there were cyclists who were using bike trailers in the wrong place or in the wrong way who ended up with an expensive ticket. Parents may worry about lugging their little ones in a bike trailer, but experts agree that they should wait until their children are at least 1 year old. So no homemade bike trailers, but you can make your own car/truck trailer? Another thing to consider is whether or not children in your area should wear a helmet. If children`s helmets are applied, this also plays into the legality of bicycle trailers. Just be sure to check the helmet requirements for kids in the area. There is a whole article I wrote about the debate about children`s helmets in bicycle trailers, which you can read here. Bicycles have the same rights and obligations as cars in the United States and many other countries. Therefore, cyclists must also follow the same rules regarding visibility and safety at night. In many parts of the world, it`s perfectly legal to drive at night if you have bright lights and reflective clothing.
But bike trailers offer a completely unique set of fitness blessings that you and your child can enjoy together. This is perhaps the most valuable challenge with bike trailers. If you drive near the engines, there is always a risk that the engines will no longer see the bike trailer.