Bicycles

Bike riders and sharing the road

Tips about how drivers, pedestrians and bike riders can share the road safely.

Sharing the road with pedestrians

There are road rules for drivers and cyclists to follow when interacting with pedestrians.

For example:

Drivers and cyclists must give way to pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing, and must not overtake another vehicle which has stopped at a pedestrian crossing.
When approaching a pedestrian crossing, drive or ride at a speed that lets you stop safely.
When turning at any intersection (except a roundabout), you must give way to any pedestrians crossing the road you are entering.
At roundabouts be aware of pedestrians needing to cross, slow down and give them the space and time they need.
When entering or leaving a driveway, you must give way to pedestrians and bicycles on any footpath, path or nature strip you cross.
In a shared zone, cyclists must give way to pedestrians.
On a shared path cyclists must give way to pedestrians and stay to the left. Slow down and call out or ring your bell to let them know you are there.
You must give way to any pedestrian at or near the stop sign or line. This includes pedestrians as well as bicycles crossing in front of you.

Sharing the road with pedestrians who are visually impaired

It's important to recognise that people who use canes or dogs may take longer to cross the road. Also be aware that a person with a vision impairment may not make eye contact, or respond to visual gestures.

Unlike a motor vehicle, a bicycle doesn't emit loud enough sounds to alert the pedestrian to their approach.

Ringing your bike's bell or using your voice lets the pedestrian know the bicycle is nearby. Please slow down and give plenty of space if you are overtaking.

People who are vision impaired have less information when making decisions about where and when to cross the road. Other senses such as hearing can assist, but don't compensate for the loss of vision.

Blindness and low vision isn't always well understood within the community. It's important that all road users know how to identify people who are vision impaired, so they can act accordingly.

Helpful information

Cycling on the footpath

If you're aged 13 and over, you can only ride on the footpath if:

you're accompanying a bike rider under the age of 13
suffer from a disability and carry a relevant medical certificate
otherwise exempted.

Any bike rider aged 13 and above can accompany a child under 13 riding on the footpath.

Bike riders must always give way to pedestrians on footpaths and shared paths.

Image of bicycle riders ridng on the footpath

Cycling on shared paths

There are specific rules for cyclists when using shared paths:

On footpaths or shared paths cyclists must give way to all pedestrians. Pedestrians include people using vision aids, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and wheeled recreational devices. Wheeled recreational devices include rollerblades, skates, skateboards and scooters.
A cyclists using a footpath or shared path must keep to the left of the path unless it's impractical to do so.
Cyclists are required to have a bell or similar warning device on his or her bicycle. When overtaking other path users a bike rider should use this warning device or his or her voice to warn others.

For more information about the road rules, see bicycle road rules.

Sharing the road with drivers

Make sure you use hand signals when required to let others know when you are going to change direction.

Obey road rules and stop at red lights and stop signs.

When approaching a corner, give way to vehicles already indicating and turning left (they may be about to stop to give way to a pedestrian, or be a long vehicle that needs time to turn).

Image of a car and bicycle giving way to a car that is already turning left

Ride in bike lanes where they are provided, unless it's not practical to do so.

Use lights front and back at night and at times of low light. It's safer to use lights during daylight too.

Sharing the road with trucks

Trucks have huge blind spots and may not see you at all if you are positioned down either side of them, or directly in the front of them.

Try to avoid being in their blind spots when approaching an intersection or when stopped in a bike box.

Image of two trucks, one with a traffic light ahead and one without. A cyclist is behind the truck with shading showing the blind spot that the driver has.

When trucks are turning, keep out of their way. Stay behind them so you can see what they're doing, and keep out of their blind spot.

Image of truck with Truck turning? wording in red above the truck and the words Stay back in black letters above the image of a bike

Wait behind trucks when they're turning left, don't lane filter into their blind spot.

Trucks can be very long, and double the length of the first section you see. They can have a trailer attached of almost the same length, otherwise known as a 'dog'. Image of a truck and trailer combination with the words Beware of the dog in red at the top

Sharing the road with tram passengers

Cyclists must stop behind a tram that has stopped at a tram stop, to allow passengers to get on and off safely.

Image of a tram, with a bicycle and car stopped behind it. The words At tram stops stop behind and let passengers get on and off safely

Cycling in bus lanes

Cyclists can ride in a bus lane unless otherwise signed. However, if there's a bike lane beside the bus lane, cyclists must use the bike lane.

If you're riding in the bus lane, you must give way to buses at all times and keep left.

Safety tips:

Wait behind the bus if it's coming to a stop and don't attempt to go past it.
Cyclists travelling in a bus lane can proceed on the 'B-signal' during bus lane operating hours. Outside the bus lane operating hours, only buses can proceed on the 'B-signal'.
Be alert at bus stops and watch out for passengers getting on and off buses, stop behind the bus until it has moved off.
Be alert to other road users entering the bus lane, eg at an intersection or to turn off the road
Before changing lanes and turning, always check behind and signal your intentions to other road users.
Choosing a less busy parallel road or path where it exists may be a safer option.

Other sharing the road reminders

The road rules are the same

The road rules are the same for cyclists and drivers, except for a few differences. There are some additional rules for cyclists.

Signal when turning

Bike riders must signal when turning right. They should ride predictably, make eye contact with drivers and indicate all changes of direction.

Taking up an entire lane

Bike riders can take up an entire traffic lane.

This may be necessary on narrow traffic lanes where there isn't enough space for another vehicle to overtake a bicycle safely within the lane.

Using on-road bike lanes

Bike riders must use on-road bike lanes unless it's not practical or unsafe to do so.

Cycling codes of conduct

The purpose of these codes of conduct are to:

encourage bike riders to ride in a safer manner
increase their compliance with the road rules
show respect for other road users.

Sharing roads and paths

On 17 July 2013, the Amy Gillett Foundation launched a consolidated cycling code of conduct titled "Sharing roads and paths" (PDF).

The code brings key cycling related road rules and responsibilities together into one easy to use guide aimed at informing all road users on how to share spaces safely with bicycle riders.

Code of conduct for training cyclists

Cycling Victoria have also developed the code of conduct for training cyclists (PDF).

It's designed to encourage safe riding by bike riders, particularly when riding in groups.

Code of conduct for bicycle riders

A new code of conduct for bicycle riders (PDF) has been developed following the implementation of the minimum passing distance law.

This document provide tips and rules for safe bicycle riding, particularly when commuting.