Last Sunday the regulations began to work. However, the fines for cyclists for not wearing the reflective vest and the lack of a decree have generated doubts and inconveniences for users.
The law of road coexistence that began to rule this Sunday, November 11, has generated several doubts and some criticism from cyclists, who have been forced to get off the road and comply with some rules such as a reflective vest, despite that these provisions were already in force in the transit law.
According to what is established in law, it is the Ministry of Transport that has to issue a regulation with “the technical specifications of the safety elements for occupants of cycles, such as helmet, reflective elements, brakes, lights and other accessories of security”.
However, this regulation has not been issued yet, so that for the moment the provisions of the traffic law in this regard continue to apply.
What’s wrong with the reflective vest?
In article 6 of the regulations for bicycles established in Decree 116 of the current traffic law, “from half an hour after sunset, until half an hour before departure and every time the weather conditions require, the drivers of bicycles traveling on a public road must wear a reflective vest, harness or belt.”
That is to say, that its use is not necessary throughout the day, but only in the schedules established in the aforementioned standard.
Meanwhile, as for the other elements of security, while the new decree is not issued, what is stated in article 5: “every bicycle must be equipped with plastic plates or reflective tape on the front and rear edges of each pedal Likewise, these will be located on the front and rear forks or, in the form of a circular arc, on the spokes of each wheel, in any case, red or orange reflective material cannot be placed on the front fork. ”