Road Traffic Act 1972

74 Bicycles, tricycles and invalid carriages

In the application of sections 68 to 73 of this Act (except so far as those sections relate to any head lamps required to be carried under section 68(2) thereof) to bicycles, tricycles and invalid carriages the following modifications shall apply:—

(a) in the case of a bicycle not having a side-car attached thereto, whether propelled by mechanical power or not, or of a tricycle not propelled by mechanical power, or of an invalid carriage, only a single lamp showing a white light to the front instead of two such lamps need be carried ;

(b) in the case of a bicycle or tricycle not propelled by mechanical power, or of a bicycle propelled by mechanical power and not having a side-car attached thereto—

(i) only a single lamp showing a red light to the rear instead of two such lamps, and

(ii) only a single red reflector instead of two such reflectors,

need be carried;

(c) in the case of a bicycle not having a side-car attached thereto, whether propelled by mechanical power or not, or of a tricycle not propelled by mechanical power, no lamp need be carried if the bicycle or tricycle is being wheeled by a person on foot as near as possible to the near or left hand edge of the carriageway;

(d) in the case of a bicycle or tricycle not propelled by mechanical power, no light required by the said sections 68 to 73 need be shown, if the bicycle or tricycle is stationary owing to the exigencies of the traffic or in order to comply with any traffic signal or direction, and the bicycle or tricycle is as near as possible to the near or left hand edge of the carriageway:

Provided that the provisions of paragraph (d) above shall have effect only until such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.