According to the Law on Basics of Road Traffic Safety in BiH, which officially came into force on February 15, cyclists who do not respect the old and new articles of the law will face fines of 30 to 50 KM. The new law, among other things, prohibits the transport of a person under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances, the use of a cellphone and a headset in his ears, but permits driving without a helmet.
Some of the regulations have not been approved by cyclists who believe that the Act has been amended to make many people give upcycling and that some of them are not clearly defined.
By law, it is strictly forbidden to release the steering wheel from your hands, except in the case of announcing a change of direction, then removing the foot from the pedal, holding on to another vehicle, guiding or pushing other vehicles or animals, carrying objects that may interfere with steering, wearing headphones on both ear or use of mobile phones.
"Pedaling was put down and not sufficiently clarified, but it was probably thought that riding a bicycle was not a reckless act that could put the rider or other road users in danger. We put comments and remarks on the headset and mobile phone because it was, for example, car drivers allowed to use their phones if they use hands-free devices, while cyclists are not allowed to do so. Listening to music affects the collection of information when driving while in traffic and is justified, "Tihomir Dakic of the Environmental Center told Klix.ba Banja Luka.
One of the new regulations that have previously only been generally treated is the transportation of a person under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances.
"We think this provision is rigid. It is certainly not necessary to promote the use of alcohol and cycling, but it is still more useful for people to go on a bicycle than a car when they have had a glass more. That is, if you have a drink, your balance center is under influence and you are not able to ride a bicycle, the problem is that many in such a condition can drive motor vehicles on the roads and this is a real danger, "our interlocutor points out.
Wearing a bicycle helmet is optional, but the BiH Road Safety Basics Law prohibits the carriage of a child under eight without a helmet buttoned on and a special seat adapted to the child's age.
"Now all cyclists can decide whether or not to wear a helmet. This item has adversely affected the popularity of using a bicycle as a means of transport and has not in any way diminished the causes of road accidents that have had to be worked on at all times. "We believe that for rural areas, but also citizens of poorer financial standing, and that is quite a number in BiH, there is still a noun to set aside up to a hundred convertible marks for this allowance and the police should keep that in mind," Dakic points out.
Another obstacle that, according to the Environmental Center, lies between man and bike is the mandatory use of a reflective vest, which ensures adequate visibility in the period from dusk to dusk, as well as in case of reduced visibility during the day.
"In the first law passed in 2006, light-reflecting vests with reflective tape were not even mentioned, so that by 2010 they would be put as the only option and required to be worn by all cyclists. Thus, this provision greatly discouraged cyclists. especially in urban areas, where many people who were biking to work, to the theater, to the city, did not want to ride a bicycle but went by car or on foot. This year, we insisted on adding a section that describes retro-reflective equipment that increases the visibility of cyclists. especially when it comes to lateral visibility. This extension makes it easier to select equipment that is more affordable and easier to use on the market, encouraging people to use as much equipment as possible and be visible without affecting their comfort," he said.
The Giro di Sarajevo Association also notes that electric bicycles are now counted as bicycles if their rated power is no more than 0.25 kilowatts and if the speed does not exceed 25 km / h, which is a limit for cycle paths.
