Night cycling: enjoy your night rides safely!

Cycling at night requires some precautions. Visibility is less good, especially in autumn and winter when the weather conditions are less favorable. However, what may seem like an obstacle at first glance is actually quite feasible. Cycling at night simply requires being visible to other road users. Are you wondering what equipment is required for cycling? What lighting is best for cycling at night? What clothing and accessories should you wear to be seen? We explain everything in this article!

Mandatory equipment for cycling on a night out

The yellow vest on a bicycle: mandatory equipment in certain situations

Article R431-1-1 of the Highway Code stipulates: if you are driving outside built-up areas at night or when the light is poor, you must wear a reflective vest . Without this PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), you will be liable to a second-class fixed fine of €35. This fine can be as high as €150 in certain cases.

This yellow vest must comply with the European standard EN 1150, which governs high-visibility clothing for non-professional use. In particular, it must meet these two criteria:

• The CE mark appears on its label or packaging.
• It has retroreflective gray horizontal stripes (the fluorescent color alone does not ensure your visibility).

This yellow vest complements your bike's lights, essential for good visibility.

Mandatory bicycle lights

Riding a bicycle at night requires that your bike be equipped with lights that comply with French regulations. In particular, it must have functional front and rear lights as well as reflective reflectors:

• a white reflector at the front;
• one or more red reflectors at the rear;
• four orange reflectors on each pedal and on the wheels (these are not obligatory if your tires already have a retroreflective device).

All these lighting devices have only one goal: to allow you to ride your bike safely . Another vehicle must be able to spot you from a distance in all circumstances (at night, in bad weather, etc.). However, depending on where you ride and your daily habits, you will not choose the same lights for the front and rear of your bike. Let's take a look together.

Bicycle lights for cycling at night

Lights are one of the key components of your bike. They ensure your visibility and therefore your safety during your night rides. Good, powerful bike lights are therefore essential, especially if you often ride at night!

The power and luminous flux of a bicycle lamp

Before discussing the different types of bicycle lights that exist, it is important to understand the concepts of power and luminous flux. The intensity of a bicycle light includes two units of measurement:

• Lumen (lm): This measures the light intensity emitted by a source. Simply put, the more lumens a lamp has, the more intense the brightness emitted.
• Lux (lx): it quantifies the illumination and luminous power received by a surface. 1 lux corresponds to the homogeneous illumination of 1 lumen for a surface of 1 m².

To make you visible to other road users, there are several types of lighting. These have different light intensities and adapt to the environment in which you are cycling.

Lights for cycling in the city

Are you an urban cyclist? You probably know this: even if you are more visible thanks to street lighting, cycling in the city requires pedaling alongside many motorized vehicles. In this situation, seeing, but above all being seen, is essential , especially at night!

To give you an idea, a front lamp of 20 to 100 lm will be sufficient in the city. At the rear, you can opt for a lamp of 10 to 20 lm .

Some of these bike lights are versatile and have several modes (soft and powerful for example). Depending on the ambient light, you can then adapt your lighting mode.

Lighting for driving outside built-up areas

Outside of built-up areas, the lack of street lighting drastically reduces your visibility. If rain and fog are added to the mix, it will be very difficult for a driver to spot you.

For optimal safety, choose a powerful bicycle light . A light with a minimum power of 300 lm is recommended for the front. For your rear light, choose a light with a power of at least 100 lm .

If you have powerful lighting, make sure to tilt your headlight slightly downward. This will avoid dazzling oncoming traffic!

The different types of lighting for your bike

Beyond the intensity and power of a lamp, you may also want to consider how it works. Indeed, there are different types of bicycle lights. Depending on your habits and the frequency of your nighttime cycling , you may not necessarily need to invest in high-end bicycle lights.

Here are the main types of lighting you can find on the market:

• Battery-powered: Recommended for occasional use, this type of front or rear lighting is wireless. Easy to install, the lighting remains constant, even when stationary. When the batteries wear out, the brightness emitted decreases. It's then time to change your batteries.
• USB: This is suitable if you can easily charge your lights. For charging on the bike, you will need a USB dynamo charger.
• Hub or bottle dynamo: powered by the energy you exert while pedaling, this system powers the front and rear lights. Some lights now incorporate a capacitor, allowing them to continue lighting when you stop pedaling.
• Induction: It works thanks to magnets placed on the rim. When these magnets rotate, they create an electric current that turns on your bike light. Like dynamo lamps, some induction lights are now equipped with capacitors. These allow you to remain visible when you are stationary.
• For electric bikes: specifically designed for electric bikes, this type of lighting is powered by the battery of your electric bike.
• As a bonus, bicycle indicators: combined with a brake light or placed on your rearview mirrors, this type of lighting signals to other road users that you're changing direction. Particularly useful in the city, bicycle indicators make driving easier and increase your nighttime visibility.

💡 Good to know : you've probably already come across a bike with lights that emit flashing lights . According to article R313-25 of the Highway Code , these are only allowed on the rear of the bike. The front light must remain fixed.

Even if you opt for high-performance, long-lasting lighting like dynamo-powered lamps, we still recommend regularly checking that they are working. If you often ride at night , this quick check becomes essential.

Clothing and accessories to choose for cycling at night

In addition to the reflective vest, there are many optional items of clothing and accessories that allow you to gain visibility when cycling at night.

We are thinking in particular of:

• to reflective waterproof jackets;
• visibility bands to slip onto your arms or ankles;
• to reflective cycling gloves
• reflective headbands and backpack covers;
• to LED backpack lights;
• to the danger diverters;
• to bicycle helmets equipped with lights, brake lights and/or indicators;
• reflective stickers to stick on your bike frame, baby seat or helmet;
• etc.

💡 Good to know: If you usually transport your children or an adult on a cargo bike at night, their visibility is also essential. If your passengers are behind you, make sure they are wearing at least a yellow vest and, if possible, other visibility accessories . We also recommend wearing a helmet, even for children over 12 years old.

At Galian, we designed the Formidable, a cargo and longtail bike with high-performance lights . Visible from afar while respecting French legislation, these are the most efficient on the market! For your lateral visibility, our Cargotail has reflectors on its spokes and the logo positioned on each door is reflective. With it, riding at night is no longer a problem!

➡️ You've got it: good visibility for a bike at night is essential for your safety and that of your passengers. From reflective clothing to powerful bike lights, there's no shortage of accessories and devices for riding safely at night . It's up to you to choose what's best for you!