In the UK, is there any (legal or similar) limit on bike+trailer length? With a couple of miles of quiet lanes, and around 10 miles of fairly straight bike path that takes me right to a river I'd like to go kayaking in.  I've got a trailer that my daughter is too tall for and which I could modify.  So I wondered about towing my kayak by bike.  The boat in question is already 2.3m long; when behind my hybrid it would mean a vehicle of over 4m.  This is only as long as a normal car. I have to admit, this is more for curiosity than something I'm likely to do, as there are awkward bits of bike path even for a normal-sized trailer

We've already discussed the practicality of towing boats behind bikes, this question is specifically about whether it's permissible (i.e. not forbidden either by law or by "...should..." clauses in the Highway Code).  I'm interested in the UK situation; answers for other jurisdictions won't get accepted but should get upvotes from me
I can't find a legal requirement specific to bicycles anywhere.  There are width restrictions but not height or length restrictions for bicycles.

It would be "reasonable" to have a trailer no-longer than a trailer towed behind a motor vehicle so there's an existing precedent already set.

Basically length is governed by the corners you want to go around.  So a silly-long trailer combination becomes impractical on a bike path with chicanes or a small road.

Taking reasonable precautions with flags and additional lighting (even in daytime) will mitigate risk.


From https://can.org.nz/node/12541


From https://www.cycletrailers.co.nz/

(I know the maker of these trailers personally but have no other connection)