[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR1512.16]
[Page 562-563]
TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
CHAPTER II--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
PART 1512_REQUIREMENTS FOR BICYCLES--Table of Contents
Subpart A_Regulations
Sec. 1512.16 Requirements for reflectors.
Bicycles shall be equipped with reflective devices to permit
recognition and identification under illumination from motor vehicle
headlamps. The use of reflector combinations off the center plane of the
bicycle (defined in Sec. 1512.18(m)(2)) is acceptable if each reflector
meets the requirements of this section and of Sec. 1512.18 (m) and (n)
and the combination of reflectors has a clear field of view of 10[deg] vertically and 50[deg]
horizontally. Sidewalk bicycles are not required to have reflectors.
(a) Front, rear, and pedal reflectors. There shall be an essentially
colorless front-facing reflector, essentially colorless or amber pedal
reflectors, and a red rear-facing reflector.
(b) Side reflectors. There shall be retroreflective tire sidewalls
or, alternatively, reflectors mounted on the spokes of each wheel, or,
for non-caliper rim brake bicycles, retroreflective wheel rims. The
center of spoke-mounted reflectors shall be within 76 mm (3.0 in.) of
the inside of the rim. Side reflective devices shall be visible on each
side of the wheel.
(c) Front reflector. The reflector or mount shall not contact the
ground plane when the bicycle is resting on that plane in any
orientation. The optical axis of the reflector shall be directed forward
within 5[deg] of the horizontal-vertical alignment of the bicycle when
the wheels are tracking in a straight line, as defined in Sec.
1512.18(m)(2). The reflectors and/or mounts shall incorporate a
distinct, preferred assembly method that shall insure that the reflector
meets the optical requirements of this paragraph (c) when the reflector
is attached to the bicycle. The front reflector shall be tested in
accordance with the reflector mount and alignment test, Sec.
1512.18(m).
(d) Rear reflector. The reflector or mount shall not contact the
ground plane when the bicycle is resting on that plane in any
orientation. The reflector shall be mounted such that it is to the rear
of the seat mast with the top of the reflector at least 76 mm (3.0 in)
below the point on the seat surface that is intersected by the line of
the seat post. The optical axis of the reflector shall be directed
rearward within 5[deg] of the horizontal-vertical alignment of the
bicycle when the wheels are traveling in a straight line, as defined in
Sec. 1512.18(m)(2). The reflectors and/or mounts shall incorporate a
distinct, preferred assembly method that shall insure that the reflector
meets the optical requirements of this paragraph (d) when the reflector
is attached to the bicycle. The rear reflector shall be tested in
accordance with the reflector mount and alignment test, Sec.
1512.18(m).
(e) Pedal reflectors. Each pedal shall have reflectors located on
the front and rear surfaces of the pedal. The reflector elements may be
either integral with
[[Page 563]]
the construction of the pedal or mechanically attached, but shall be
sufficiently recessed from the edge of the pedal, or of the reflector
housing, to prevent contact of the reflector element with a flat surface
placed in contact with the edge of the pedal.
(f) Side reflectors. Reflectors affixed to the wheel spokes shall be
mounted either flat on the spokes or within the spoke cage such that the
angle between the optical axis and the normal to the plane of the wheel
shall not exceed the angle of the spokes with the plane of the wheel.
The reflectors shall not interfere with any wheel adjustments. The side-
mounted reflector devices shall be essentially colorless or amber on the
front wheel and essentially colorless or red on the rear wheel.
(g) Reflector tests. The pedal, front-mount, rear-mount, and side-
mount reflectors shall be tested in accordance with the reflector test,
Sec. 1512.18(n), to assure the reflectance values over the angles given
in tables 1 and 2.
(h) Retroreflective tire sidewalls. When retroreflective tire
sidewalls are used in lieu of spoke-mounted reflectors, the reflecting
material shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The retroreflective material shall form a continuous circle on
the sidewall.
(2) The retroreflective material shall adhere to the tire such that
after the tire has been subjected to a temperature of 50[deg] 3 [deg]C (122[deg] 5.4 [deg]F) for
30 minutes, the retroreflective material cannot be peeled or scraped
away without removal of tire material.
(3) The retroreflective material shall be as resistant to abrasion
as is the adjacent sidewall material so that when retroreflective
material is removed from the inflated tire by abrasion with a wet, steel
bristle brush, tire material will be removed along with the
retroreflective material.
(4) The retroreflective material shall be tested for performance in
accordance with the retroreflective tire test, Sec. 1512.18(o), to
assure the reflectance properties over the angles given in table 3. When
a portion of the retroreflective material is selected (and the remainder
is masked as specified in Sec. 1512.18(o)(2)(i)), the selected portion
shall not contact the ground plane when the assembled bicycle is resting
on that plane in any orientation.
(i) Retroreflective rims. When retroreflective rims are used in lieu
of spoke-mounted reflectors or retroreflective tire sidewalls, the
reflecting material shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The retroreflective material shall form a continuous circle on
the rim.
(2) If the retroreflective material is applied to the rim in the
form of a self-adhesive tape, the following requirement must be met: Use
a sharp knife, razor blade, or similar instrument to carefully release
an end of the tape material sufficient to be grasped between the thumb
and finger. Grasp the freed tape end and gradually pull in a direction
90[deg] to the plane of the rim. The tape material must break before
additional separation (peeling) from the rim is observed.
(3) After the retroreflective material is abraded in accordance with
the abrasion test for retroreflective rims at Sec. 1512.18(r), the rim
must then be tested for performance in accordance with the
retroreflective tire and rim test at Sec. 1512.18(o), to assure the
reflectance properties over the angles given in table 3.
[43 FR 60034, Dec. 22, 1978, as amended at 45 FR 82627, 82628, Dec. 16,
1980]