# Headlight and taillight required on bicycles **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 27, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238 "2023-03-27T19:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238/1 "2023-03-27T19:22:42Z")
One of the interesting parts of my kid getting her learners permit is that’s she’s been taking the practice tests to get ready and I get to brush up on the mundane rules that no one follows. Like for example, that it’s the law in NYS that a bicycle ridden after dark must have a headlight visible from 500’ and a taillight visible from 300’. I thought reflectors were law but I guess not. Who else would have got that one wrong with me? ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/f/5/f52d8a75261e9210194773839d3d8cfdcab192d7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238/2 "2023-03-27T19:26:47Z")
I love ambiguous ratings like “must be visible from 500/300 feet” visible to what? How do you test this? What if you’re on a bike visiting from a different state? NYS sucks. ---
**Author:** ![vq30de](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9dc877/32.png) [@vq30de](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vq30de)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238/3 "2023-03-27T23:35:02Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > I thought reflectors were law but I guess not. Who else would have got that one wrong with me? My $5k bike had zero reflectors and I thought that was odd ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238/4 "2023-03-27T23:46:02Z")
300’ is more than enough to line one up. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 12:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238/5 "2023-03-28T12:04:39Z")
Pretty sweet of NY to make 98% of bicycles illegal like that. NY also says bicyclist should ride with traffic. F-that. If I’m going to be riding 30 mph downhill in spandex, I want to see the guy that’s going to hit me staring down at his phone. (no, I am not a roadie cyclist. A lot of those guys suck) ---
**Author:** ![Motocrossx23](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/motocrossx23/32/5120_2.png) [@Motocrossx23](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Motocrossx23)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 12:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238/6 "2023-03-28T12:07:19Z")
I have some bontrager (sp?) lights on my hybrid bike, but only because it makes riding home late at night from our friend’s house way easier. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/headlight-and-taillight-required-on-bicycles/1414238/7 "2023-03-28T16:08:09Z")
your motorcycle doesn’t have lights?