The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is soliciting public comment on a proposal to amend its bicycle regulations in 16 CFR Park 1512 based on input provided earlier this year from the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association.


The proposed amendments would make minor changes to certain requirements to reflect the development of new technologies, designs, and features in bicycles and clarify that certain provisions or testing requirements do not apply to specific bicycles or bicycle parts. The proposal also would delete an outdated reference and correct typographical errors in the bicycle reflector performance test.

The proposal can be viewed and comment may be made electronically at http://www.regulations.gov by referencing docket number CPSC-2010-0104.


The proposed changes are designed to address bicycle manufacturers complaints that certain aspects of 16 CFR part 1512, which was first passed in 1978, no longer reflect technological change in bicycle design and materials.


 

Additionally, the enactment of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), Pub. L. 110-314, 122 Stat. 3016, has resulted in new testing and certification requirements for children’s products and new limits on lead in children’s products and on phthalates in children’s toys.

 

The proposed rule would amend 16 CFR part 1512, which will clarify certain safety requirements for bicycles. The proposal would clarify that certain provisions or testing requirements do not apply to specific bicycles or bicycle parts, delete an outdated reference, and correct typographical errors in the bicycle reflector performance.

 

The proposal also would facilitate the testing and certification required by section 14 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), 15 U.S.C. 2063, as amended by section 102 of the CPSIA. Section 14 of the CPSA requires manufacturers and private labelers of a product subject to a CPSC rule, ban, standard, or regulation to certify compliance of the product with such rule, ban, standard, or regulation.

Among CPSC’s proposal are the following:



  • Sidewalk Bicycles: Would exclude recumbent bicycles from the definition of sidewalk bicycles.
  • Track Bicycles: Would update the definition of track bicycles to reflect new technology and designs.
  • Recumbent bicycles: Create a new definition for recumbent bicycles.
  • Steering systems: Would add language to clarify that requirements on handle bar stem insertion marks apply only to quill-type handebar stems.
  • Quick release clamps: Update requirements to reflect use of carbon frames.