Cycle carrier - do I need a tail board?

[CJH]

Yesterday I fitted my old towbar-mounted cycle carrier. It's been knocking around my garage for a good 10 years, and inevitably a few bits had gone the way of all those teaspoons, biros and odd socks. Notably the H-plate that mounts behind the towball had gone missing, but Halfords did me proud. They managed to source what they think is the last one in the country, and they got it to me within a couple of days and for only £7.50.



It works a treat, and my bike sits nice and secure on the back.



The reason for the post is to get opinions on whether I'll need a tailboard for lights and number plate. I've got a spare number plate, and I could probably mount that on the bumper for instance. If I raised the front of the bike onto the lower part of its frame (underneath the word 'Pinnacle'), or perhaps removed the front wheel, would I get away without the full tailboard?

[fairwynds]

Probably ok if you raised the bike as suggested. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, the Construction and Use Regulations and the Display of registration Marks Regulations refer to the specific angles/heights etc of obligatory lights and reflex registration plates, but for the life of me I can't recall what the specifics are.
Suffice to say, once the bike is raised up it looks as though this set up would be ok.
That said, if you've got a plug in lighting board, it wouldn't hurt to strap that on the back too....

[CJH]

Thanks - yes I'll try lifting the bike a bit. I don't really want to remove the wheel as then I'd have to find somewhere else to carry it. I may have a tailboard somewhere deep in the recesses of my garage. I wonder what are the chances that the wiring in the towbar socket works......

[itchyfeet]

I'm sure you will never get stopped as you see many people with bikes like thatbut I'm also pretty sure your vehicle is technically unroadworth as the lights and numberplate are obscured unless you move it up as said

If somebody ploughs into the back of you the may claim they could not see your lights as it is

Some european countries may be more fussy, I have the same dilemma as I have no towbar electrics

[bigherb]

I'm sure you will never get stopped

Don't bank on it especially on the M25.
If the rear lights and number plate are not obscured then you don't need a trailer board unless the load projects more than 1mtr and less than 2 meters behind the vehicle then it needs a visible marker, not necessarily a trailer board as long as the light and number plate can be seen a flag will do.

Or in Contsruction and Use speak
Marking of shorter projections
4. A projection to which this paragraph applies shall be rendered clearly visible to other persons using the road within a reasonable distance, in the case of a forward projection, from the front thereof or, in the case of a rearward projection, from the rear thereof and, in either case, from either side thereof.

[fairwynds]

If the rear lights and number plate are not obscured then you don't need a trailer board unless the load projects more than 1mtr and less than 2 meters behind the vehicle then it needs a visible marker......

Interesting to know how the courts would view this in the event of it being brought into question... Could be argued that the fitting of a (Fiamma style) bike rack becomes part of the 'vehicle' and as such does not form part of a (projecting) load? Any load (bicycle/box etc) fitted thereon would have to be marked in accordance with the projecting load rules. So if that was the case, you would have to fit lights permanently to the bike rack itself...?

[JamesKT25]

Long and short is YES you do, all brake lights and numberplates should be visible at all times.

[bigherb]

Could be argued that the fitting of a (Fiamma style) bike rack becomes part of the 'vehicle'

No it doesn't if it can be detached. if it is permanently fitted and forms part of the vehicle structure then C&U lighting regulations apply.