What should a good bicycle lamp be able to do?

A good bike lamp should have certain features to ensure the cyclist's safety and visibility. The Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) in Germany specify the requirements for lighting devices for bicycles in order to increase road safety. Here are some important features that a good bike lamp should have:

1. StVZO conformity (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations): The StVZO is a German set of regulations that specifies the requirements for the equipment of bicycles, including lighting. A good bicycle lamp must comply with the regulations of the StVZO in order to be legally used on the road.

2. Brightness and range: The lamp should be bright enough to illuminate the road well and give the cyclist a good view. The range of the lighting is crucial in order to identify potential obstacles at an early stage.

3. Freedom from glare: The lighting should be designed so that it does not dazzle other road users. Glare-free lamps prevent oncoming or preceding people or vehicles from being affected.

4. Rear light and side lights: A good bike lamp should have both a bright front light and a clearly visible rear light. In addition, side reflectors or side radiation are important in order to be clearly seen from the sides.

5. Easy to assemble and operate: The lamp should be easy and secure to mount on the bike and be easy to operate, even while riding.

6. Weather resistance: The bicycle lamp should be waterproof and weatherproof in order to function reliably even in bad weather conditions.

7. Long battery life or efficient energy consumption: A good bike lamp should have a long enough battery life or be energy efficient to enable longer use and not give up during long rides.

8. Different light modes: The ability to choose between different light modes (e.g. continuous light, low beam) enables flexible adaptation to the respective driving situation.

With regard to the StVZO, compliance with bicycle lamps is important to ensure that the lighting complies with legal requirements. This serves to ensure the safety of all road users by improving the visibility and recognizability of cyclists on the road. Bicycle lights that comply with the StVZO regulations help to avoid accidents and increase road safety.

To check the lights, your bicycle lights must be properly attached to your bicycle in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). This means that the lighting should be mounted at a height of 40 to 120 centimeters above the ground.

Here are four easy steps to adjust your lighting:

1. Ride your bike about five meters from a wall.

2. Measure the height of your bike lights on your bike and mark this height on the wall.

3. Hold the bike straight on the handlebars. Now turn on your lights.

4. Pay attention to the beam of light on the wall. The top edge of the light cone should be below the height mark. If it is above this, the light could blind other road users.

StVZO lamp under 100 euros, completely modular and easy to set up: https://support.www.sons-of-battery.de/gvolt100