Polish police enforce new bicycle fines and seize stolen bikes

Polish police are intensifying enforcement of updated 2026 bicycle regulations. Fines for infractions such as riding on sidewalks, endangering pedestrians or not using a helmet can reach up to 3,000 zł, with mandatory helmets for riders under 16 and required equipment including front and rear lights, a working brake, and a bell. Routine checks, such as the recent operation in Gorzów Wielkopolski, target these violations.

In a separate case, officers from the Bytom police department recovered four stolen bicycles and arrested a 36‑year‑old resident of Chorzów. The suspect, already wanted by a Chorzów court, was linked to multiple thefts in Bytom and Katowice, with the stolen bikes valued at roughly 900–1,000 zł each. He faces up to five years in prison for the thefts.