Bicycles

Bicycle road rules

Learn about the key road rules for bikes, including lights, hook turns, riding near trams, mobile phone use and more.

If you're caught breaking these rules, you could be fined.

Bike lights

You must use lights when riding at night or in conditions of low light.

Your bike must have:

a white front light and a rear red light, both visible from at least 200 metres
a red rear reflector visible from at least 50 metres.

Always make yourself as visible as possible to other road users. Wear bright and light-coloured clothing and something reflective or retro-reflective. View useful cycling safety tips.

Bike trailers

To tow someone in a bike trailer, you must:

be at least 16 years old
ensure the trailer can safely carry your passenger
ensure your passenger is wearing a helmet.

Your passenger must be under 10 years old unless they have a medical certificate. The certificate must:

show they have a disability or medical condition that makes it reasonable for them to ride in the trailer
have an expiry date - if the medical condition or disability is temporary

You must take the certificate with you when take your passenger in the bike trailer.

Child bike seat

If you want to carry children on your bike, you must have an appropriate seat for them. Follow the age and weight restrictions described by the seat manufacturer.

Helmets

If you want to ride a bike or use a scooter, you must wear a helmet.

Hook turns

Cyclists can make a hook turn to turn right at any intersection unless there are signs saying you can’t. Hook turns are usually a safer way to turn right at intersections

When you do a hook turn on your bike:

Avoid sitting in front of a dedicated ‘left turn only’ lane.
Avoid sitting in front of a truck when you are preparing to do a hook turn. The truck driver may find it hard to see you.

In some locations (particularly in Melbourne’s CBD), all vehicles must do hook turns.

Left turning vehicles

Most vehicles have blind spots on their left-hand side so it's hard for drivers to see cyclists approaching from behind. The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spot so always be cautious.

You must not ride on the left-hand side of a vehicle that's already turning left at an intersectionas the driver may not see you. They may also have to stop to let pedestrians cross the road.

Minimum passing distance

A driver is required to be at least:

1 metre on roads with speed limits up to 60km/h
1.5 metres if you’re travelling over 60km/h.

View more information on minimum passing distances between cyclists and cars in drivers sharing the road with cyclists.

Mobile phone use

You can use your phone while riding your bike if:

the phone is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the bike
you don’t touch the phone, and the phone isn’t on your body (except your pocket).

You can use your phone to:

make or receive a voice call
use your phone’s audio/music functions
using your phone as a navigational device (GPS).

However, it's safer if you don't use your phone while riding your bike and keep it stowed in your bag or pocket.

On-road bike lanes

If you are riding on a length of road with a marked bike lane, you must ride in the bike lane unless it’s not practical (for example, the lane is blocked).

Riding with others

Two cyclists can ride side by side (‘two abreast’), no more than 1.5 metres apart:

on single-lane roads
on multi-lane roads without a bike lane.

A third rider is allowed to overtake two cyclists riding side by side.

When riding side by side, consider other road users. It's safer to ride single file on narrow roads and if a vehicle is trying to go past.

Roundabouts

Single land aroundabouts
When using a single lane roundabout, stay visible to other drivers and ride in the middle of the lane.

Multi-lane roundabouts
When riding through a multi-lane roundabout, you can ride in the left lane, even if you are turning right but you must give way to vehicles exiting the roundabout as you go round.

Alternatively you can use the right lane to turn right. Make sure you signal your intentions and where possible, try to make eye contact with the driver.

Shared paths

Bicycle riders must give way to pedestrians on shared paths and cycle on the left hand side of the path. When overtaking other path users a bike rider should use their bell or voice to let others know they're there.

Signs and signals

Cyclists must follow all traffic control signs and signals including red lights, stop signs and give way signs.

At crossings showing a green bike light, you can ride over the crossing. At crossings showing only a pedestrian light, you must dismount and walk across the road.

Tram stops

When tram passengers are getting off a tram directly onto the road, you must stop behind the tram until the doors close and the road is free of pedestrians.

Useful links

Laws for bikes

The rules for hook turns are published in the Road Safety Road Rules 2017:

Rule 35 - optional hook turn by a rider of a bicycle or an electric scooter