bikes on back of van (1 Viewer)

[Wildbill]

might be a stupid question we were coming back home from sour sons after dropping off the grand children at Ripen camp.
When a Belgian motor home passed with a striped triangle on the bike wrack do we need one of them
BIKE RACK REAR HAZARD WARNING SIGN
bill

 

[irnbru]

Yes if you are going to france, its a striped rectangle and £12 from ebay

 

[DP+JAY]

Should be a square & yes.

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[Chipster]

Pretty sure you only need one for Italy.

 

[Wildbill]

ok can I get one on the ferry as we travel tomorrow

 

[irnbru]

Never saw them on the dfds ferry last month but we did see a few foreign MHs travelling around without them which led me to think they were rather ignorant of the laws or knew they didn't need one.

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[Dave and Ginny]

I might be wrong, but I thought it wasn't required in France. I know it's required in Spain and Italy (and probably lots of other places).

I'm sure someone will confirm

 

[Chipster]

Yep. Spain and Italy. I've never used one taking bikes through France or Germany.

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/7707012/general_legal_requirements.pdf

 

[jonandshell]

We thought it was Spain too!
Never got stopped anywhere without one, no even in Spain!

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[old-mo]

ok can I get one on the ferry as we travel tomorrow

If you pass a Halfords or Car accessory shop buy one from them... They are or used to be dearer on the ferries..

 

[Wildbill]

don't need one for France or Belgium just fund out
In Spain and Italy any overhanging loads must be indicated by a square panel measuring 50cm x 50cm with reflectorised red and white diagonal stripes which can be purchased from Fiamma stockists Panels are available in aluminium and plastic and in Spain you can use either however, in Italy the panel must be aluminium.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Have a nice holiday

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[Wildbill]

We thought it was Spain too!
Never got stopped anywhere without one, no even in Spain!

you rebill braking the law of Spain

 

[Wildbill]

Have a nice holiday

 

[Wildbill]

this all came abut that granddad needs more exercise so why don't you take your bike
so serviced them including a new kog for the wee mans and a new cycling helmet for me
then contacting the ferry company to change booking thinking this is going to cost me
nope not a penny no problem sir we will just up date your length
bill

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[Eeyore]

We have one on all the time when we've got bikes on the back, no matter which country. If it makes the back of the van more visible and stops cyclists from riding into the bike rack, or walkers walking into it, then it has to be a good thing and it only takes a moment to put on. Given all the cord used to tie ours on it might even foil a bike thief for a few minutes longer.

 

[Wildbill]

We have one on all the time when we've got bikes on the back, no matter which country. If it makes the back of the van more visible and stops cyclists from riding into the bike rack, or walkers walking into it, then it has to be a good thing and it only takes a moment to put on. Given all the cord used to tie ours on it might even foil a bike thief for a few minutes longer.

seems like sound advice thanks

 

[Wildbill]

bike security
What do funsters do to stop bike theft I have a good bike lock this seems to have worked for us in the uk but in all the time we have motorhome we have never taken bikes to the continent motor bikes yes but push bikes no and certainly not with a energetic eight year old
BILL

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[Don Quixote]

Yes it's Spain as well and right now it's "bonus" time for the police, so don't get caught without one as it's a swift 80 euro's fine on the spot.

 

[pappajohn]

you rebill braking the law of Spain

Like that's difficult......

You only need to cross the border and they'll find something to fine you for.

 

[gus-lopez]

We have one on all the time when we've got bikes on the back, no matter which country. If it makes the back of the van more visible and stops cyclists from riding into the bike rack, or walkers walking into it, then it has to be a good thing and it only takes a moment to put on. Given all the cord used to tie ours on it might even foil a bike thief for a few minutes longer.

+Here It needs to be used on the rack when it is not in use as the rack itself is classed as an "over hanging projection" as it is not part of the original specification & even though we have to have them homologated & itemised on the registration documents. It is all a nonsense really.

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[Eeyore]

bike security
What do funsters do to stop bike theft I have a good bike lock this seems to have worked for us in the uk but in all the time we have motorhome we have never taken bikes to the continent motor bikes yes but push bikes no and certainly not with a energetic eight year old
BILL

We've never had a suspicion of the bikes been tampered with on the back of the van but, last year we locked them up very securely in the compound of the McDonalds at La Linea while we walked into Gib. We parked them either side of a good sized tree and locked them together with a total of 4 good quality bike locks. We also were assured by the Mc Donalds gate gusrd that he would keep an eye on them.

When we got back they were gone- totally. The gate guard had not seen anything.

We reported it to the La Linea police who recovered them next day, and caught the young men who had stolen them. One of the bikes had had the saddle and post removed, both rear carriers were missing and the gear and brake cables were cut through on one of them. Both bikes are fairly aged Raleigh Shoppers and the policeman who recovered them, noticed that the men in question were riding " bikes that did not look Spanish".

We've left our bikes in La Linea before and ridden them into Gib ( where there are v. few places to leave them now that the police are unhappy with them left at the border by the bus stop).

Moral: get English looking bikes ( with Union Jack stickers) and don't leave them beside and international border, however well locked.

 

[xsparks]

Had a cycle stolen overnight in Calais a good chain and strong lock required nothing thin that will cut with croppers .

 

[Wildbill]

they are ferly old bikes not to worried but do have a alarm we can put on them to
bill

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[Glandwr]

I depends on how you are carrying the bikes. If you have a towbar mounted carrier with trailer board. I don't think you need them. If however they extend backwards beyond the lights I think you do.

Dick

 

[jumar]

bike security
What do funsters do to stop bike theft I have a good bike lock this seems to have worked for us in the uk but in all the time we have motorhome we have never taken bikes to the continent motor bikes yes but push bikes no and certainly not with a energetic eight year old
BILL

Put them in the Garage, if you have one, cover them if you haven't.
You can buy the Fiamma rear reflective boards at caravan shops in Spain and France, the metal ones, bit pricy, can be bought at large hardware shops in Spain.

 

[mitzimad]

I've got a lifting eye bolt on the back doors to chain the bikes to as the rack only clips to the doors but I will be fixing the rack better this winter as the edge of the door is starting to bend
Saw an Adrian pvc with a great rack fixes from hinge to hinge but was told it was over 1200 euros

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[Neilfg]

I depends on how you are carrying the bikes. If you have a towbar mounted carrier with trailer board. I don't think you need them. If however they extend backwards beyond the lights I think you do.

Dick

So if the bikes extend beyond the lights and licence plate, they are required but if they are behind lights and licence plate as in a towbar mounted rack then they are not required.

Does any one have any links to the guildlines? Because if I do not need to bother with it then it is one less thing to bother about.

 

[Judge Mental]

So if the bikes extend beyond the lights and licence plate, they are required but if they are behind lights and licence plate as in a towbar mounted rack then they are not required.

Does any one have any links to the guildlines? Because if I do not need to bother with it then it is one less thing to bother about.

Always used a trailer board on our door mounted Adria rack. Surely you want to be as visible as possible to prevent an artic banging into you..

Now have the best rack going..the swing out Busbiker NL. Fitted a ground anchor and use a quality motorbike chain and lock..

 

[Neilfg]

Always used a trailer board on our door mounted Adria rack. Surely you want to be as visible as possible to prevent an artic banging into you..

Now have the best rack going..the swing out Busbiker NL. Fitted a ground anchor and use a quality motorbike chain and lock..

Yes do want to be visible but, I have a good rack very visible plate and lights and a light coloured bike cover, the bike(s) sits behind the plate and lights. Not convinced that a red and white striped board would make anything more visible than it already is. Also as I understand it the direction of the stripes changes from country to country in the EU, I would want to change my cover (nothing wrong with the one I have) if I had to have a stripey board.

So if I do not need it then will leave it but would like to check the guidlines to make sure.

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