- Inicio
- Normativa ciclista
- Comparativa
Normativa ciclista comparada: España vs Italia vs Alemania vs Países Bajos vs Reino Unido
Cómo cambian las diez reglas que más importan entre los cinco países de los que vienen nuestros lectores. Cada celda enlaza con la fuente oficial.
| Tema | España | Italia | Alemania | Países Bajos | Reino Unido |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casco # | Mandatory on interurban roads at all ages, and on every road for riders under 16. In towns adults need one only if they ride professionally. 200 € BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, art. 118(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Mandatory only for riders under 18 on Type 25 e-bikes / pedelecs; otherwise recommended. Codice della Strada — art. 50(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Not mandatory at any age. Strongly recommended; courts have applied contributory-negligence reductions in civil claims. ADFC — Helmpflicht in Deutschland(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Not mandatory at any age on regular bicycles. Mandatory on speed pedelecs (S-pedelec, > 25 km/h) for all ages. Rijksoverheid — Helm op de fiets(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Not mandatory at any age. The Highway Code says cyclists "should" wear one. UK Highway Code — Rule 59(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Alumbrado # | Lights on between sunset and sunrise and in tunnels. On interurban roads at night or in poor visibility, at least one luminous or reflective element visible from 150 m (since 1 Oct 2026). A minor infraction: up to €100. BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, arts. 98 and 118(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | White/yellow front + red rear light + retroreflectors required half-hour after sunset to half-hour before sunrise, in tunnels, and in poor visibility. 26 €–102 € Codice della Strada — art. 68 / 152(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | White front + red rear active lights required after dark or in poor visibility. Battery lights legal since 2013; previously only dynamo permitted. 20 €–35 € StVZO §67(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | White or yellow front + red rear light required from dusk to dawn or in poor visibility. Battery lights legal; lights must be on the bike or the rider. 70 € Rijksoverheid — Fietsverlichting(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | White front + red rear light + red rear reflector + amber pedal reflectors required at night. BS-marked lights only; flashing legal since 2005. Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Tasa de alcohol # | 0.5 g/L blood (0.25 mg/L breath). Same as motor vehicles; enforced at random checkpoints. 500 €–1000 € BOE — Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015, art. 14(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | 0.5 g/L (criminal offence above 0.8 g/L), regardless of vehicle type — bicycles included. 543 €–6000 € Codice della Strada — art. 186(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | 1.6 g/L absolute limit on bicycles (vs 0.5 g/L for cars). Anything above 0.3 g/L can trigger negligence proceedings after an incident. StGB §316 (general DUI provisions)(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | 0.5 g/L (0.2 g/L for new drivers — under 24 months licensed). Bicycles included. 140 €–1000 € Wegenverkeerswet — art. 8(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Cycling under the influence is a separate offence (Licensing Act 1872 + Road Traffic Act 1988 s30) without a formal blood/breath limit; police use officer judgement. 0 €–1000 € Road Traffic Act 1988 — s30(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Circular en grupo # | Two abreast allowed on the hard shoulder and, where there is none or it is not usable, on the necessary part of the carriageway (since 1 Oct 2026). Single file where there is no visibility, when it affects traffic flow, and from sunset to sunrise or in poor visibility. 200 € BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, art. 36(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Single file outside urban areas at night and "whenever traffic conditions require"; otherwise two-abreast permitted only inside urban areas. Codice della Strada — art. 182(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Two-abreast formally allowed since 2020 if it does not impede traffic. Larger groups (≥16 cyclists) are a "Verband" and follow vehicle rules collectively. StVO §27(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Two-abreast permitted on roads and bike paths unless it impedes other traffic; single file otherwise. RVV 1990 — art. 3(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Two-abreast permitted; Highway Code recommends single file on narrow roads or in busy traffic. UK Highway Code — Rule 66(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Normativa e-bike # | Pedelecs (≤25 km/h, ≤250W) classified as bicycles. Faster / throttle-driven e-bikes (L1e-A/B) require registration, helmet, mirrors, lights, insurance. BOE — Reglamento General de Vehículos(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Pedelecs (≤25 km/h, ≤250W) classified as bicycles. Speed-pedelecs require moped registration + helmet + insurance. Codice della Strada — art. 50(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Pedelecs (≤25 km/h, ≤250W) classified as bicycles. S-Pedelecs (≤45 km/h) classed as mopeds: registration, AM licence, helmet mandatory. StVZO §63a(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Pedelecs (≤25 km/h, ≤250W) classified as bicycles. Speed pedelecs (≤45 km/h) classified as mopeds: registration plate, insurance, helmet mandatory. Rijksoverheid — Speed pedelec(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | EAPCs (≤15.5 mph, ≤250W) classified as bicycles. Faster / throttle-driven e-bikes need registration, insurance, helmet, licence. GOV.UK — Electric bikes: licensing, tax and insurance(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Circular por acera # | Forbidden unless the local municipal ordinance explicitly permits a marked cycle track on the sidewalk. BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, art. 121(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Forbidden for adults; under-12s on bicycles ≤ 0.50m wide may use sidewalks if accompanied by an adult. Codice della Strada — art. 182(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Forbidden unless the sidewalk carries a combined-use sign (Zeichen 240/241). Children under 10 must use the sidewalk; up to age 8 mandatory. StVO §2(5)(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Forbidden on regular sidewalks. Permitted only where marked cycle paths overlap (combined sign). RVV 1990 — art. 5(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Forbidden under Highways Act 1835 s72; £50 fixed-penalty in practice. Police are advised discretion for child / vulnerable cyclists. 50 € Highways Act 1835 — s72(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Uso del móvil # | Holding or operating a mobile while riding is prohibited; hands-free legal. 200 € BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, art. 18(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Hand-held mobile use while riding is prohibited. 165 €–660 € Codice della Strada — art. 173(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Hand-held mobile use while riding is prohibited. 55 € StVO §23(1a)(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Holding a mobile while cycling is prohibited (since 2019). 150 € RVV 1990 — art. 61a(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | No specific offence, but "cycling without due care" can be charged. Highway Code Rule 149 advises against use. UK Highway Code — Rule 149(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Señales con la mano # | Required before turning or stopping: left arm extended for left turn, right arm extended for right turn, vertical arm raised for stop. BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, art. 54(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Required before turning or stopping: extended arm in direction of turn; raised arm for stop. Codice della Strada — art. 154(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Required for turning, lane changes and stopping (StVO §9). Extended arm in direction of turn. StVO §9(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Required for turning and major lane changes. RVV 1990 — art. 17(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Highway Code rules 66 and 74 require signalling clearly before turning or stopping. UK Highway Code — Rules 66, 74(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Distancia de adelantamiento # | 1.5 metres of lateral clearance mandatory when overtaking a cyclist; on interurban roads the driver must also drop to at least 20 km/h below the limit (since 1 Oct 2026). 200 € BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, art. 85(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | 1.5 metres recommended (no fixed numeric requirement). Vehicles must overtake "with adequate lateral safety distance". Codice della Strada — art. 148(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | 1.5 metres inside urban areas, 2 metres outside urban areas (since 2020). Strictly enforced. 30 € StVO §5(4)(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | No numeric minimum in law. "Safe distance" standard; courts often interpret as ≥1.0 m. RVV 1990 — art. 11(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | 1.5 m at ≤30 mph, 2.0 m above 30 mph (Highway Code Rule 163, updated 2022). UK Highway Code — Rule 163(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Prioridad en rotondas # | Cyclists already in the roundabout have priority over vehicles entering — same as cars. Two-abreast permitted inside. BOE — Reglamento General de Circulación, art. 57(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Priority follows the signage at each entry — usually entering vehicles yield to those already in the roundabout. Codice della Strada — art. 145(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Entering vehicles yield to those in the roundabout (sign 215 + 205). Cyclists obey vehicle rules. StVO §8(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Inside urban areas, traffic in the roundabout has priority; outside urban areas, entering traffic has priority unless signed otherwise. RVV 1990 — art. 15(se abre en una pestaña nueva) | Give way to traffic from the right. Highway Code Rule 76 recommends cyclists either signal and proceed as a vehicle or use the outer edge. UK Highway Code — Rule 76(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |