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Background
This Commission Decision was drawn up following an announcement by the European Standardisation Committee ("CEN") that four European standards are to be revised, namely:

• EN 14764:2005 for city and trekking bikes
• EN 14766:2005 for mountain bicycles
• EN 14781:2005 for racing bicycles
• EN 14872:2005 for luggage carriers

Note: EN 14765:2005+A1:2008 specifies safety requirements and test methods for bicycles for young children (excluded from the New Toy Safety Directive) but is not supported by a Commission mandate and therefore it was also necessary to set safety requirements for the development of standards for bicycles for young children in this Decision.

Before the revised versions of these standards can be published in the Official Journal, the European Commission was first required to set the specific safety requirements that the European standards should satisfy, and give a mandate to the European standardisation body to draw up those standards.

In its Decision published on 2 December 2011, the Commission outlined these safety requirements.

Summary of Requirements
The requirements of the European Decision are divided into three parts as detailed below:

Part I: Section 1 of the Decision sets the safety requirements applicable to all types of bicycles

Part I: Section 2 Additional safety requirements applicable to specific bicycles

Part II: Specific safety requirements for luggage carriers for bicycles

In addition to the aspects covered by the current standards, the following new requirements will be introduced:

Part I: Section 1 of the Decision sets the safety requirements applicable to all types of bicycles:

• Users must be informed of the risks and dangers likely to occur and how to prevent them.
• Bicycles shall be equipped with lighting equipment and reflectors which comply with the provisions in force in the country where the product is marketed.
• The manufacturer must provide an indication of the maximum permissible load for which a bicycle is designed (e.g. weight of rider and passenger, luggage, luggage carrier etc.) and whether or not a bicycle is suitable for the fitting of a luggage carrier and/or child seat.
• The fully assembled bicycle must have stable handling which must be maintained when a luggage carrier is fitted.
• The requirement to minimize the effects of weather on the braking system will also apply to bicycles for young children.
• Entrapment - Bicycles shall not pose any risk of entrapment that can be avoided by design. Any risk of entrapment shall be mentioned in the user manual or warnings on the bicycle.
• Fasteners, screws, spokes, nipples, etc., shall be made of suitable materials and shall be secured to avoid unintentional loosening.
• Chemical properties - Parts which come into contact with users shall not cause toxicity hazards.
• Visual tools, such as pictograms and illustrations, shall feature prominently in the safety information.
• Safety information shall include instructions on how to position reflectors and lighting for maximum visibility in accordance with local legislation.
• The frame of the bicycle shall be conspicuously marked with the name and address of the operator who assembled the bicycle, or its representative.

Part I: Section 2 Additional safety requirements applicable to specific bicycles
Bicycles for young children:

• The force of the front brake shall be limited to prevent loss of control due to locking wheels.
• No entrapment hazard shall be posed in any possible position of the seat.

Part II: Specific safety requirements for luggage carriers for bicycles

• Stability - Luggage carriers shall be designed to provide sufficient stability for normal use.
• All fixing devices shall be accurately sized.
• The product shall ensure the bicycle remains visible when used in dark or poor visibility conditions.
• Product safety information - Specific product information shall be included whether the luggage carrier is sold separately or mounted on the bicycle.

Full text of the legislation from the Official Journal of the European Union
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:319:0106:0111:EN:PDF

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