The safest ways to transport your bike in a vehicle
According to the Association of Bicycle Brands of Spain (AMBE), the sale of bicycles has not stopped growing since 2017, reaching a growth of 78% in recent years and surpassing one million two hundred and sixty thousand bikes.
This is because the number of bicycles sold has exceeded one million two hundred and sixty thousand.
The data expose the social uproar caused by this practice, which entails the daily sale of approximately two hundred bicycles and almost nothing else.
If it used to be challenging to get in a car without running into a cyclist, now we have to consider the users who get on their bikes first thing in the morning to get somewhere and make the most of their spare time.
The sale of mountain bikes has increased by 16.3%; this indicates that an increasing number of people are viewing time spent in nature as the ideal excuse to get away from their routine and the bustle of the city; however, how do we get to the mountain on many different occasions? By car.
Others use the bicycle as a means of transportation daily to get to their jobs, while others use it to flee the city, which requires that you first move around by car before you can use the bicycle to escape the city.
As a result, we see more and more vehicles equipped with tow ball bike racks, roof bike racks, and tailgate bike racks.
For this, you will need to be familiar with the various modes of transportation systems and know which one is most suited to your vehicle.
Additionally, you will need to be familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of each mode of transportation, and you will need to be able to contribute to increased safety while taking into account the characteristics of the vehicle.
Should the bicycle be transported inside or outside of the vehicle?
Before going into further detail, you need to be aware that there are primarily two ways to transport a bicycle in a car: inside or outside the vehicle.
But which approach is the most effective, and what does the law have to say about each of these scenarios?
If you decide that the transport will make use of the trunk itself (conditions),
Suppose the capacity of the storage compartment and the bicycle measurements permit it.
In that case, you must consider certain factors that, according to the law, we are obligated to comply with to avoid putting our safety at risk or incurring a fine.
To ensure our safety, we are required to keep our freedom of movement, the field of vision, and attention focused on the road at all times.
And that of the other occupants; this means that we need to correctly and safely secure the bicycle inside the car to prevent it from moving around or hitting the passenger compartment while driving or that it may hit an occupant if we apply the brakes.
As a result, you must never place any loose objects inside the box. Because of this potential scenario, the law allows us to fold down the seats when necessary.
In addition, you need to keep in mind that none of the bicycle’s components cover the windows in any way.
If you determine that the mode of transportation includes a bike rack (conditions),
If, on the other hand, we are unable to transport the bicycle in the trunk of the vehicle due to size considerations or need the rear seats, we will be forced to make use of a bike rack, which, as we will see in the following section, there are several different types.
In any event, we need to consider several various indications.
The V-20 sign must be displayed behind any load that extends beyond the back of a vehicle because this is required by law.
If the bicycle takes up the car’s width, it will be signaled with two signs (one at each end).
Additionally, bicycles are not permitted to extend out from the sides of the vehicle in any way, including the rearview mirrors.
Second, the system will not be able to cover any lighting or signaling devices.
If this is the case, we will have to install the license plate and any other devices that will be hidden by the system on the portion of the bike rack that is exposed to view.
In a nutshell, the installation needs to be risk-free and adhere to the correct operation guidelines to prevent accidents like falls on the road or dragging.
How to transport bicycles in a car, including the various systems available and the regulations governing their use.
In the following sections, we will describe in greater detail the various strategies that can be utilized to transport our bicycles in the automobile in a manner that is both secure and compliant with the law.
In addition, we will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each strategy, allowing you to select the method that is most appropriate for you in light of the dimensions of your bicycle and the specifications of your automobile.
1. Within the car’s trunk
Putting the bike in the trunk is one of the most common solutions and the first one that comes to every driver’s mind when he’s faced with the challenge of transporting a bicycle.
However, the law states that cars (which are utilitarian) are not considered cargo vehicles; consequently, you are not permitted to carry (in this case, bicycles) inside as if they were cargo vehicles.
As we’ve already mentioned, this is one of the most common ways to transport your bike from place to place.
If you have a car with a large trunk, you might have to take off all of the bike’s wheels or just one of them to secure it inside the vehicle.
If our vehicle does not have sufficient space, you can always fold down the rear seats; however, this will cause the load to be transported inside the passenger compartment, which increases the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
In this context, the law mandates that you secure the bicycle using a rope that does not stretch and attach it to the interior anchorages of the vehicle.
When transporting a bicycle inside a vehicle, one of the most significant benefits is that the vehicle’s aerodynamics are not affected in any way.
If the bike is transported inside the car, the amount of air that is expelled by the bodywork and the amount of fuel used will remain the same.
On the other hand, disassembling the bike and folding down the seats requires additional time and effort. This is a nuisance (if necessary).
2. A bike rack for the roof
If, after spending a significant amount of time struggling with our trunk, we determine that it is not possible to transport the bicycle inside our vehicle, this is the most cost-effective alternative.
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