Editing Bicycle (section)

===Legal requirements===
{{Main|Bicycle law}}

Early in its development, as with [[automobile]]s, there were restrictions on the operation of bicycles. Along with advertising, and to gain free publicity, [[Albert A. Pope]] litigated on behalf of cyclists.{{sfn|Norcliffe|2001|p=108}}

The 1968 [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]] of the United Nations considers a bicycle to be a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle (whether actually riding or not) is considered an operator or driver.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=United Nations |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/1977/05/19770524%2000-13%20AM/Ch_XI_B_19.pdf |title=Convention on Road Traffic |date=1968-11-08 |location=Vienna |pages=69 |chapter=Transport and Communications}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rules of the road for bicycles |url=https://www.progressive.com/lifelanes/on-the-road/bicycle-traffic-laws/ |access-date=April 1, 2024 |website=www.progressive.com}}</ref> The traffic codes of many countries reflect these definitions and demand that a bicycle satisfy certain legal requirements before it can be used on public roads. In many [[jurisdiction]]s, it is an offense to use a bicycle that is not in a roadworthy condition.<ref name="Arthurs-Brennan 2019 r622">{{cite web | last=Arthurs-Brennan | first=Michelle | title=What can cyclist legally do, and not do, in Europe? | website=cyclingweekly.com | date=March 22, 2019 | url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/routes/overseas/can-cyclist-legally-not-europe-411273 | access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="United Nations Treaty Collection 1968 b248">{{cite web | title=Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, Chapter XI Transport and Communications, B. Road Traffic, 19. Convention on Road Traffic | website=United Nations Treaty Collection | date=November 8, 1968 | url=https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-19&chapter=11 | ref={{sfnref | United Nations Treaty Collection  | 1968}} | access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref>

In some countries, bicycles must have functioning front and rear lights when ridden after dark.<ref name="Home Page 2017">{{cite web | title=Bicycle road rules : VicRoads | website=Home Page | date=1 July 2017 |url=https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules/a-to-z-of-road-rules/bicycles | access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="Service-public.fr 2022">{{cite web | title=Accessoires obligatoires à vélo | website=Service-public.fr | date=16 August 2022 |url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34169 | language=fr | access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref>

Some countries require child and/or adult cyclists to wear helmets, as this may protect riders from head trauma. Countries which require adult cyclists to wear helmets include Spain, [[Bicycle helmets in New Zealand|New Zealand]] and Australia. Mandatory helmet wearing is one of the most controversial topics in the cycling world, with proponents arguing that it reduces head injuries and thus is an acceptable requirement, while opponents argue that by making cycling seem more dangerous and cumbersome, it reduces cyclist numbers on the streets, creating an overall negative health effect (fewer people cycling for their own health, and the remaining cyclists being more exposed through a reversed [[safety in numbers]] effect).<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 April 2017|title=Want Safer Streets for Cyclists? Ditch the Helmet Laws.|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-05/why-bike-helmet-laws-don-t-work|access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref>