Although governments rarely impose any safety elements for cyclists with the exception of wearing a helmet for those under 12 in France and a visibility vest at night outside urban areas, here is a list of safety elements and essential accessories for the urban cyclist.
Is a helmet mandatory when cycling?
Regular helmet, folding helmet, light helmet, helmet with indicator… The helmet market offer is booming linked to the number of cyclists constantly increasing too. It is for sure the most important cyclist accessory, although surprisingly it is not mandatory.
French law states that only drivers and passengers under 12 years of age on a cycle in circulation must wear a helmet . In Sweden it is 15 years. Do we have a harder head after 12 or 15 years? Certainly not in the event of an impact with a vehicle or with the ground. Injuries due to an impact on the skull remain the leading cause of death among cyclists (3 out of 4 deaths).
According to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), the risk for a cyclist to be the victim of an accident is three times higher than for a motorist. The risk of being seriously injured is sixteen times higher. According to a Kantar study, 74% of cyclists want bicycle helmets to become mandatory equipment. In the event of an accident, let's remember that the head is injured more than once in three cases. For these accidents, three out of four deaths are due to head trauma. Enough to reopen the debate on the obligation of wearing an helmets. Surprisingly, the French fédération of cyclists (FUB) describes the proposal as "counterproductive, stigmatizing and discouraging". However, let us remember that 244 cyclists died in France in 2022 with 96% were riding on countryside roads. The development of facilities to make cycling safer, reducing the speed of motorised traffic, learning how to ride a bicycle and making helmets more widespread are among the factors that could reduce cycling deaths.
Wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of serious head injury by almost 70%. This is shown by an Australian study (led by Jake Olivier and Prudence Creighton from the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of New South Wales) reviewed 40 studies on the topic involving 64,000 injured cyclists worldwide. This research is important because it provides robust evidence on the effectiveness of cycle helmets in preventing serious head injuries, contributing to informed debates about cycling safety policies and mandatory helmet use.
Please note that wearing a helmet is mandatory in France for adults riding a speedbike (electric bike exceeding 25 km/h and going up to 45 km/h because it is then considered a moped).
Wearing a bicycle helmet is therefore strongly recommended regardless of your age or your journeys.
What are the penalties for not wearing a helmet when cycling?
Since wearing a helmet is not mandatory for adults, they are not at risk. If they are transporting a child who is not wearing a helmet, the French fine is €135. If the child's helmet is not or is not properly attached, they may be fined too.
What are the standards for a bicycle helmet?
It is not recommended to use a too old or second-hand helmet as it is not possible to know the possible damage it has suffered. It is also recommended to change your helmet regularly because over time and UV rays, shock-absorbing materials can harden and no longer be as protective as needed.
Standards govern bicycle helmets such as CE marking which must be accompanied by other mentions such as:
- The standard number
- The manufacturer's name or brand
- The date of manufacture
- Height and weight.
According to the European standard EN 1078, the helmet must:
- Be well adjusted to the cyclist's head according to its size (from 53 to 60 cm)
- Perfectly cover different parts of the head such as forehead, temples, sides, back and crown especially in children.
- Be equipped with very resistant shock absorbers
It is possible to add comfort options such as ventilation to air the skull, foam and a wheel in the internal shell for more comfort and better readjustment of the helmet, a visor to avoid glare or even an external or integrated light.
There are now helmets dedicated to bike commuting with a LED front light, automatic integrated indicators (triggered by tilting the head) and a brake light controlled by the accelerometer of your smartphone.
In any case, the helmet must meet the requirements:
- Either from the NF EN 1078 + A1 standard which refers to helmets dedicated to cyclists as well as those using roller skates and skateboards.
- Either from the NF EN 1080 standard which refers to impact protection helmets intended for young children.
Materials, standards, design to absorb certain impacts or even lifespan, find out more to find the helmet that suits your needs.
Which countries require helmets?
Wearing a helmet is mandatory in Australia, New Zealand, Namibia and Argentina. It is also mandatory in Finland and South Africa, but there is no fine for forgetting to wear it. Wearing a helmet is mandatory for children in France, Iceland, Austria, Slovenia, Sweden, Japan and Taiwan.
On January 13, 2021, the French Senate rejected a bill aimed at generalizing the mandatory wearing of helmets. The first reason is technical, the senators believing that such a decision does not concern the legislative but the regulatory, therefore the State. The second reason is that the obligation to wear a helmet, and the related sanctions, would reduce the practice of cycling even though everyone agrees that the benefits of its practice are major from an ecological and also public health point of view.
Is a reflective vest mandatory when cycling?
Wearing a certified retroreflective vest is mandatory for all French cyclists, and any passengers, riding outside urban areas, at night or when visibility is poor. It does not need to comply with the EN20471 standard reserved for professional clothing. This vest increases the visibility distance of the person wearing it by 3 during the day, and by 6 at night, in short it is the ultimate signaling garment.
Why then limit this obligation outside urban areas? The visibility of a cyclist in the city, at night and even during the day, remains very light. Aren't motorists required to wear a vest day and night as soon as they get out of their vehicle on a motorway? Wearing a retroreflective vest is therefore strongly recommended everywhere and all day long.
Are gloves mandatory when cycling?
Anyone who has ever fallen off their bike will tell you that wearing a pair of gloves is more than necessary. However, it is not mandatory for cyclists, while it has been for drivers and passengers of motorbikes in France since 2016. Fortunately, winter temperatures push many cyclists to equip themselves at least to protect themselves from the cold.
Is the Airbag jacket mandatory for cycling?
The airbag jacket for cyclists has just arrived on the market. At the slightest shock or in the event of a fall, it inflates in a few milliseconds to protect the thorax and spine. It is the ultimate safety element for which you will have to invest a few hundred euros.
Is an anti-pollution mask mandatory when cycling?
Even if they are not protective elements in the event of an impact or fall, anti-pollution masks remain the best way to protect your respiratory tract from fine particles linked in particular to exhaust gases (including Nitrogen dioxide). According to information from Santé France, pollution is said to 40,000 deaths per year. A good reason to buy one!
It is recommended to use a mask with a filtration standard of at least FFP2/N95 such as Frogmask whose filters block up to 0.4µm particles. Their behind-the-neck fastening system allows great comfort without pulling behind the ears and makes it easier to wear a helmet even with a ponytail.
These cycling masks also protect against pollens in spring and cold and rain in winter, the period when there are the highest pollution peaks.
I wrote a dedicated article on how to choose a breathing mask if you want to know more.
Can you ride a bike while listening to music?
Good to know. It is forbidden to wear any device capable of emitting a sound to the ear (earphones, earpieces or headphones). The use of a telephone held in the hand or stuck in the helmet is also forbidden. There is no device allowing cyclists to telephone while riding to date, notice to entrepreneurs!
Here is an infographic summarizing the mandatory bicycle equipment (bell, traffic lights, brakes, etc.) in red and recommended in blue
The list could be longer with comfort accessories such as a smartphone holder (be careful not to take your eyes off the road), a waterproof jacket or poncho in a colour or even fluorescent for rainy days, a waterproof backpack, a bag or basket to put your lock in or electric indicators.
