Cycles at Stations: Red Rear Light Safety Risk?

[snookertam]

I was taking my bike on the train today. As I was entering Preston station this evening (while it was already dark outside), a member of staff quite loudly and excitedly yelled something at me which I didn't manage to understand. I therefore approached him and asked what the problem was. He bluntly told me that I have to switch off the red rear light on my bike, without giving any kind of jusification. He also told two other members of staff, which were standing nearby, that my bike had the red light on.

Since my bike is built in a way such that the light constantly lights up when the front wheel is moving (using a dynamo without a switch), I continued my way through the station holding the front wheel up.

As I felt a little puzzled in this situation I did not manage to ask for the reason. I have taken my bike on the British rail network several times before without such issues. The behaviour of the staff member suggested that I have violated some very important rule (which I however could not find in a quick web search).

So, I'm asking, why was I told to switch off the light? Is it to not confuse train drivers?

Late to this so apologies, but if this is such a safety issue, then maybe the station operator can provide signage to this effect so that people with bikes can be informed.

Equally the staff could actually approach you as someone who is quite understandably unaware of the potential issue, given that nobody has previously advised you of the potential safety risk, and actually speak to you like an adult about it.

The biggest issue here is the manner in which operational railway staff speak to those who are not so familiar with the rules and safety requirements associated with rail operations. There are a number of examples where they seem to exist in a railway bubble, and have little ability to communicate with those outside of tbat bubble.

Ultimately if the red light is a potential safety risk, it is for the station operator to take steps to address the issue, not for members of the public to effectively be mind readers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jan 2026 ==

I'd suggest a couple of solutions:

Notices regarding this to be placed adjacent to bike racks at stations and racks on trains so that over time, the message is disseminated to those it concerns.

For vehicles that can't switch the red light off, scooters, electric bikes and so on, I'm sure a dense black sock and an elastic band would mask the output sufficiently.

There's no need to over-egg the issue. Yes, it could be a serious problem. No, it doesn't breach the equality act - it's a matter of safety. It just needs a bit of tact and common sense on both sides.

Indeed, however for a sizeable proportion of operational
Railway staff tact and common sense are not in plentiful supply.

 

[jon0844]

Generally yes. Doesn’t stop staff chasing me halfway across the station to mumble something about red lights. Not once have I had a member of staff clearly articulate what the problem actually was, though I know anyway and do make an effort not to activate the lights in a position where they’d be visible to a driver.

If you know the reason, why are you asking staff to 'clearly articulate' what the problem is? And why are you making them chase you all over the station? Do you know they're trying to speak to you?

It seems like you're just trying to be awkward and surely you have better things to do with your time?

 

[z444z]

If you know the reason, why are you asking staff to 'clearly articulate' what the problem is? And why are you making them chase you all over the station? Do you know they're trying to speak to you?

It seems like you're just trying to be awkward and surely you have better things to do with your time?

Never said I would ask them to clearly articulate anything. Never said I would make them chase me - they randomly pop up as I’m waiting for a lift or something and I recognise them from the gateline, or they’re out of breath lol. You’re making lots of assumptions from my short post.

 

[Oldandslow]

I'd still like to see ATOC or someone contacting the cycle industry. As I said, the direction of travel in road safety is if anything towards always-on lights. Individual cyclists have limited influence on this, and can only buy what is on offer.

 

[jon0844]

Never said I would ask them to clearly articulate anything. Never said I would make them chase me - they randomly pop up as I’m waiting for a lift or something and I recognise them from the gateline, or they’re out of breath lol. You’re making lots of assumptions from my short post.

That's all I can do.

You said they're chasing you halfway across the station, but now that they're just popping up as you're 'waiting for a lift or something'. We can only go by what you're saying and it doesn't help if you keep changing things.

If they're popping up rather than chasing you, I have to wonder why they're out of breath, but to be honest I have other things to do than speculate.

 

[z444z]

That's all I can do.

You said they're chasing you halfway across the station, but now that they're just popping up as you're 'waiting for a lift or something'. We can only go by what you're saying and it doesn't help if you keep changing things.

If they're popping up rather than chasing you, I have to wonder why they're out of breath,

I haven’t changed anything. From my perspective they pop up while waiting for a lift, but I can then figure out that they’ve come halfway across the station.

but to be honest I have other things to do than speculate.

It doesn’t seem like it…

 

[Full Standing]

Late to this so apologies, but if this is such a safety issue, then maybe the station operator can provide signage to this effect so that people with bikes can be informed.

I second that. I was thinking of suggesting this to National Rail (or whoever is responsible) should I find time for this.

Do you happen to know who to contact to make such (constructive) suggestions?

 

[andy50027]

I’d always favour Twitter to get their attention as your tweet is public and will be seen by others.

 

[Horizon22]

I second that. I was thinking of suggesting this to National Rail (or whoever is responsible) should I find time for this.

Do you happen to know who to contact to make such (constructive) suggestions?

It will just drown into the noise (signage) regarding the plentiful other safety pieces of information already around stations.

As has already been mentioned, a simple conversation from station staff is all that is needed.

 

[Smod]

As a cyclist, may I say that this had never occurred to me as an issue before. May I thank those drivers who have clearly and courteously explained why it is a problem. I'll certainly make sure my lights are out in the future.

 

[CarrotPie]

Equally the staff could actually approach you as someone who is quite understandably unaware of the potential issue, given that nobody has previously advised you of the potential safety risk, and actually speak to you like an adult about it.

The biggest issue here is the manner in which operational railway staff speak to those who are not so familiar with the rules and safety requirements associated with rail operations. There are a number of examples where they seem to exist in a railway bubble, and have little ability to communicate with those outside of that bubble.

Yes, quite...

 

[rower40]

At the north end of Derby platform 1, the signs next to the bike racks state (but I can’t recall the exact wording):
“Do not cycle on the platform”
And
“Please switch off all lights”

 

[Straus]

At the north end of Derby platform 1, the signs next to the bike racks state (but I can’t recall the exact wording):
“Do not cycle on the platform”
And
“Please switch off all lights”

Got to say, it's often tempting to jump on my bike at Euston when I'm right at the back of an 11 car Avanti - obviously never have though.

 

[D6130]

Got to say, it's often tempting to jump on my bike at Euston when I'm right at the back of an 11 car Avanti - obviously never have though.

But, of course, cycling on any platform in the UK is strictly prohibited by the railway byelaws....unless of course you were once a signalman at Nairn!

 

[CarrotPie]

But, of course, cycling on any platform in the UK is strictly prohibited by the railway byelaws....unless of course you were once a signalman at Nairn!

However, the Byelaws state that:

An authorised person acting in the course of that person’s duties shall not be liable for breach of any of the Byelaws numbered 2, 4(2), 6(3) and 6(5), 7, 9, 10, 11(1), 13, 14A, 14B, 15, 16(6), 17, 18, 19 and 20(1). [14B and 15 are relevant here]

So therefore that signalman is not liable for his breach of the Byelaws!

 

[D6130]

However, the Byelaws state that:

So therefore that signalman is not liable for his breach of the Byelaws!

Absolutely....which is why I quoted the exception at Nairn (and other places in the past!).