> Product safety  > Regulated goods  > Pedal bicycles

Compliance with consumer product safety standards is mandatory. This means that all suppliers of pedal bicycles and pedal cycle and helmets including manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers must ensure their goods comply with the mandatory requirements. Consumers also have a responsibility to purchase safe products and to use them in a safe manner.

These safety regulations on pedal bicycles complement the Commonwealth's Consumer Product Safety Standards.

Safety Standards

The mandatory standard is based on Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1927:1998 Pedal bicycles - safety requirements, published by Standards Australia.

The requirements of the mandatory standard apply to all manually powered, fully assembled or partially assembled bicycles.

Exclusions
Excluded from the requirements are:

• pedal bicycles with a wheelbase (the distance measured horizontally between the centres of the front and back axles) of less than 640 mm
• racing cycles
• custom-made cycles
• cycles designed to be hinged or folded for storage/portability and
• tandem cycles.

Requirements

To comply with the mandatory standard, bicycles must meet requirements for marking, labelling, instructions, design and performance.

Marking
Bicycles are to be permanently and legibly marked with the name and address (in Australia) of either the manufacturer, importer or other supplier and the identification number of the bicycle.

Labelling
Informative labelling is required where bicycle components need to be either adjusted, or attached and adjusted. Bicycles styled or constructed to look similar to off-road or stunt bicycles (eg 'BMX', 'mountain' bikes) but are not suited for such use must be labelled with the appropriate warning statement. (Refer to AS/NZS 1927:1998)

Instructions
Bicycles must be supplied with use and maintenance instructions. Where a bicycle is partially assembled, simple clear and adequate instructions for completion of the assembly are also required.

Design
These requirements apply to fully assembled bicycles. Partially assembled bicycles are also subject to these requirements and must be fully assembled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions prior to testing for compliance. The requirements cover sharp edges, fasteners, projections, control cables, toe clearance, ground clearance, wheels, protective guards, drive chain, steering systems, pedals, braking systems, seat pillar, warning device, reflector and lighting equipment.

The mandatory standard requires that a child's bicycle (wheelbase between 640 mm and 765 mm) be equipped with not less than two braking systems and one of these systems must be a back-pedal brake.

Performance
The mandatory standard requires that both fully assembled bicycles and individual sub-assemblies meet performance requirements.

Fully assembled bicycles
Fully assembled bicycles must meet performance levels for roadworthiness, steering stability, seat pillar and seat adjustment clamp strength braking.

Sub-assembled bicycles
Partially assembled bicycles must meet performance levels for wheels, handlebar assemblies, front forks, drive chains, pedals, brake friction pads, fork and frame assemblies.

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