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Thinking how to get all of the kids bikes plus adult bikes to France this year, three on the roof and three on the rear looks like the most likely option.
Anyone know what the French attitude to cycle carriers with or without additional signalling lights / number plates is on British cars over there? UK police don't seem to bat an eyelid (experience from years ago), but no experience abroad.
When we go we use fully lit and umber plated carrier and a diagonal extended load board.
If you're looking for an excuse to get fined then go ghetto.
Do you not think it's rather dangerous to obscure your lights with 3 bikes? Especially if your driving long distances with your family on board? I would not do that.
Just get the lighting done, its not as if you are nipping down to the local trails.
Just wear a Nigel Farage mask and bellow, "We're in control now!" if they stop you.
It's a legal requirement to not obscure lights, and in my experience you actually see French policemen on the roads in busy times - especially around toll booths. So why risk it?
As above I'm pretty sure visible lights and number plate are a legal requirement. If you don't have those don't be surprised if you get pulled over, escorted off the motorway and told you're not going any further until you've sourced the right stuff. The French (and Belgians) don't take it on trust that tourists will do the right thing without verification.
I've had an on the spot fine in the UK for obscuring my number plate with a bike rack in the past. One of the many reasons I now have a tow bar
I've got away with it for about 8 years on European trips. Just lucky I guess!
Have actually now got a tow bar with proper rack and lighting etc so not an issue from now on....
Broadly speaking, the French police wouldn't care. [b]But[/b] in the summer holiday period there will be a lot of controls on the main routes around France and they will look for reasons to take money off you (on the spot fines for foreign motorists are a good little earner).
That, but mostly this :
Do you not think it's rather dangerous to obscure your lights with 3 bikes?
Don't forget the train/boat will charge extra if you haven't booked the extra height/length.
Broadly speaking, the French police wouldn't care.
Even outside the summer period, the police heavily patrol key traffic points and pull people regularly. Might be worth the risk but I doubt it.
Might actually be safer if they can't see your number plate that identifies you as a Brit 🙂
(seriously, get a lighting socket & trailer board)
Even outside the summer period, the police heavily patrol key traffic points and pull people regularly. Might be worth the risk but I doubt it.
Sorry, lived here for 20 years, and they don't "heavily patrol" anything. They have radars (relatively recent), and they'll do you for speeding in the blink of an eye, but I've only ever once been stopped for a spot check in 20 years of residence.
Actually on the car I have the number plate and lights are not likely to be obscured with kids bikes on the back, especially not the lights (fiat multipla). I can live without the number plate being visible as that doesn't impact safety in any way, though I accept that it may not be lawful.
But I was as much concerned to understand if the French for example have a blanket ban or rule on bike carriers requiring lights hooked up, even if for practical purposes they are actually visible.
But all points on the thread well made and understood. I'm not one to compromise safety.
Derbyshire police have moments when they clamp down on bike carriers and light obstruction. Usually by the traffic lights on the A6 at Cromford, catching all the Carsington/High Peak Trail day trippers.
You can see that the dad driving wants the copper to keep talking as he can't face the bollocking he's going to get from the wife when they drive on. Especially as it took him an hour and a half to put the rack and the bikes on in the first place.