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Portugal & Rear Bike Racks

J

JockMacMad

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Just read the following interesting snippet in the 2012 AA Caravan & Camping Europe Guide :-

It is illegal to carry bicycles on the back of a passenger car.

That made me sit up what with my bike rack and all.
 
Re: Portugal & Rear Bike Racks

.. Cali's are registered by DVLA as a motor home ... Not a passenger car or a commercial vehicular :) .. So all is well
 
As choplee says, campers are OK.

Useful general legal stuff from the Caravan Club site:

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/planning-y ... uirements/

and specifically about bikes:

"Bicycles may usually be carried on the roof of a car, provided they are attached to an adequate roof-rack and the total height does not exceed 4m. However, the cross-Channel operator will need to be advised in advance of the total height of the vehicle as this may affect the cost of your crossing.

Bikes can also be transported at the back of a vehicle provided they do not obscure lights, indicators or number plates. Bike racks can only rest on the tow bar if the maximum weight allowed on the tow bar is not exceeded.

Portuguese regulations stipulate that bicycles may not be carried at the rear of a car, but they can be carried at the rear of a motorhome or caravan, provided that they do not extend beyond the width of the vehicle or more than 45cm beyond its length.

In Spain and Italy any overhanging loads must be indicated by a square panel measuring 50cm x 50cm with reflectorised red and white diagonal stripes which can be purchased from Fiamma stockists (http://www.fiamma.com). Panels are available in aluminium and plastic and in Spain you can use either however, in Italy the panel must be aluminium."

A couple of bikes and the carrier are well inside the tow bar limit of the Cali by the way

Chris
 
Re: Portugal & Rear Bike Racks

Nice bit of info Chris ..:) cheers :)
 
provided that they do not extend beyond the width of the vehicle or more than 45cm beyond its length.

Does that mean width including wing mirrors ? Mine sticks out beyond the body on both sides by a couple of inches.
 
Hmmm... not sure the 'stripy plate' is a legal requirement in Spain. It is in Portugal and Italy, but Spain is 'highly recommnended' but not a legal requirement.
Put it this way. In Northern Spain last year I was 'tailed' by a Police car for 2.5 miles - he never pulled me over. Have travelled to Spain pretty much every year for the last 20 years mostly with bikes - never pulled over or stopped. We have Spanish friends in Barcelona with a Cali - they told me it was strongly advised, but again not a legal requirement.
Anyway that's my experience..
 
Just read the following interesting snippet in the 2012 AA Caravan & Camping Europe Guide :-



That made me sit up what with my bike rack and all.
As this is an old post I wondered if anyone had visited Portugal with a bike rack recently. I’m in Spain at the moment and would like to visit Portugal for a week or so with a tow bar mounted 3-bike carrier which extends beyond the rear by about 750mm. According to the above it would be illegal in Portugal. I just wanted to know if anyone on here had ‘got away with it’ with a similar setup.
 
If the towbar rack or the original VW rack is allowed to be sold in Europe, and Portugal is in Europe, then I doubt there will be a problem.
If VW has approved his rack, and Thule or Atera their racks, who is Portugal to state that they can't be used in their country? If it has an official E approval and a number behind it, it is approved for Europe.
 
I’ve just been through Portugal with a VW bike rack with no problem.
The minor roads are generally pretty poor, and the driving standard pretty low.
Lovely otherwise.


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They also have a rule in Portugal that it’s illegal to use the outside lane of a roundabout unless you are exiting at the very next junction. They enforce it to.


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Thanks for the advice. I’m in Northern Spain now and people who have been to Portugal tell me it’s not a problem. I met a couple who’d been there for a month and not seen a single policeman!
On the way back home through France now as chickened out of Portugal. Maybe next time.
 
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