Deadline Draws Neigh for CEN Bike Standards

MAARSSEN, Netherlands (November 13th) - The Italian ANCMA (the National Association for bicycles, motorcycles and accessories) who is the major sponsor of the CEN, is pressing hard to get all members 'on the same line' before March 2004. The CEN norm will ultimately replace the DIN and ISO standards - although real differences in technical terms are not that big. The main advantage of the CEN system is that all over Europe the bike sector will be able to work with one standard. Also the CEN system takes into account outside factors when testing bikes and equipment. For now the standards divide bikes into four categories: 'bicycles for common use' , 'mountain bicycles', 'racing bicycles' and bicycles for young children'. These categories are now under Public Enquiry by the member states own National Standards bodies. The deadline for their comments and votes is March 2004. It is the intention of getting at least these four standards completed before the mentioned date. There are another three standards underway: for electrically driven bikes, accessories and terminology. All these regulations have the objective of setting one sole safety standard for bikes used in the European community. The key-words in the CEN concept are safety, quality and durability. (MH)