Bikes in France and Spain

[Dave_5040173]

I intend taking bicycles on the rear of the van to Europe and would like to know if it is compulsary to display the Red/White diaganol plate or is it only purely safety reasons. Also, is the wearing of lightweight cycling helmets compulsory there or again simply safety reasons. Dave

 

[Zafiral]

I am not sure if the diagonal plate is law in France and Spain. It is law in Italy if the bikes protrude futher than the rear lights even if the lights are still all visible.

I would definitely get one and also use here it cannot make things any worse.

 

[Lutz]

The red/white diagonal plate is required for Spain but not for France (the Spanish version is slightly different to the Italian one - the Spanish one has a black border, the Italian one doesn't). Besides, if the bicycles are wider than the car, then Spain requires two plates to be fitted, one each side.