Bike bell law in Germany: is a bell mandatory, and may it be electric?
If you ride on public roads in Germany, your bicycle needs a bell. That includes e-bikes, road bikes and mountain bikes. The harder question is whether that bell may be electric and how loud it should be. Here is what the German regulations say and what that means for the Velone V1.
Is a bell mandatory on a bicycle in Germany?
Yes. Section 64a of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) requires every bicycle to carry at least one bright-sounding bell. The type of bike makes no difference: city bikes, road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes and pedelecs all need one as soon as they are ridden on public roads and paths.
Riding without a bell can earn you a small fine. The practical reason matters more: on shared paths, a bell is the one signal pedestrians recognise at once.
Are electric bike bells allowed in Germany?
The rules are stricter than many product pages suggest. §64a StVZO asks for a "bright-sounding bell" and adds that no other devices for sound signals may be fitted to a bicycle. Horns and sirens are therefore ruled out.
Electronic bells are not mentioned in the regulation. In our understanding, an electronic bell therefore does not replace the mandatory mechanical one. Our recommendation is simple: if you ride on public roads in Germany, keep a classic bright-sounding bell on your handlebars, whatever electronic device you mount next to it.
Other countries have other rules. Some only require an audible warning device without prescribing how it is built. If in doubt, check the rules of the country you ride in.
Is there an approved loud bike bell?
Unlike bicycle lights, bells do not get a type approval mark in Germany, and the StVZO sets no minimum or maximum volume in decibels. What counts is the character of the sound: bright, and recognisable as a bicycle bell.
For e-bikes and city commuters it pays to have a bell that cuts through traffic noise and headphones. A large mechanical bell with a clear tone meets the regulation and is far louder than the small bells fitted to many bikes at the factory.
What does the electronic bell on the Velone V1 do?
The Velone V1 is a multifunction bike computer with a built-in electronic bell. You trigger it on the device while riding, set its volume in the app, and can switch it off completely in the app. The same speaker sounds the clock alarm, the timer and the anti-theft alarm.
We do not claim that the V1's electronic bell replaces the bell required by §64a StVZO. For riding on German public roads we recommend fitting a mechanical bell as well and disabling the electronic bell at your own discretion. The V1 front light is not yet StVZO-certified either; certification is in progress.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a road bike or mountain bike need a bell in Germany?
- Yes, as soon as it is ridden on public roads. §64a StVZO makes no exception for sports bikes.
- Does the bell requirement apply to e-bikes?
- Yes. Pedelecs assisted up to 25 km/h count as bicycles in German law and need a bright-sounding bell.
- Can I fit a horn to my bicycle in Germany?
- No. Under §64a StVZO, no sound-signal devices other than the bell may be fitted to a bicycle.
- Can I switch off the Velone V1 bell?
- Yes. The electronic bell can be disabled in the Velone app; every other function keeps working.
This article reflects our understanding of the rules and is not legal advice. The current legal text always takes precedence.