Sharing the road with cyclists: the road rules you need to know

Sharing the roads with cyclists is an everyday occurrence for many, especially in the current climate of high fuel prices, which has given the two-wheeled alternative a fresh surge in popularity.

While most drivers are aware of their state or territory's road rules for driving a car and riding a (non-electric) bike, some rules aren’t as widely known, which could put you at risk of a fine or worse, contribute to an accident.

RACV Head of Policy, James Williams, says there are several Victorian road rules that are less well-known, including:

Cyclists should avoid sitting in front of a dedicated left-turn-only lane or in front of a truck, as they may find it hard to see you.

?“Up to two cyclists may ride side-by-side (two abreast) on any road, and they must be no more than 1.5 metres apart,” said Williams.

“More than two abreast is not allowed, except when briefly overtaking, and this applies on all traffic lanes and all types of roads (there is no exclusion for narrow roads, high-speed roads, or roads with centre lines).”

It is illegal for a cyclist to ride on the road if a bike lane is available, except when impractical or unsafe to do so.

“For example, if there is a parked car blocking the bike lane,” said Williams.

But if there is no bike lane, it is legal for cyclists to take up the entire lane.

“Bike riders can legally use an entire lane, especially where the lane is narrow or riding further left would be unsafe. Examples include car doors, potholes, drains, or being squeezed by passing traffic.”

“The last rule is undoubtedly the least understood and can be the most dangerous,” said Williams.

Another potentially dangerous context and a source of confusion can arise when cyclists and drivers share roundabouts.

Generally, Williams says, “Both the rider and the motorists must give way to whoever is already in the roundabout, whether to their left or right.”

“There is no concept of ‘right of way’ in the Road Rules,” he added.

“The rider must give way to the vehicle ahead of it if that vehicle has indicated its intention to turn left.”

When it comes to leaving space between a motor vehicle and a cyclist on Victorian roads, Williams says it can range from 1 to 1.5 metres.

“It is one metre when the speed limit is 60km/h or less and 1.5 metres on roads with a speed limit of 60km/h or more,” he said.

“To overtake a cyclist, a driver can only cross into the opposite lane of traffic, “if they have a clear view ahead, and it is safe to do so.”

Cyclists must follow the same traffic light rules as motorists, meaning they can't go through a red light in any circumstance, even if there is no traffic.

They can, however, move to the front of the line of traffic while waiting at a red light.

“A bike rider is allowed to move to the front of traffic at red lights if it’s done legally and safely, but they can also stay where they arrive at the intersection,” said Williams.

Like drivers, cyclists cannot use any unmounted mobile devices, including mobile phones and tablets.

The same rules apply to wearable devices such as smartwatches and smart glasses. Additionally, you can't:

In addition to the rules already mentioned, there are specific rules related to a range of other conditions and equipment, including using bike lights, towing bike trailers, using child bike seats, riding on a footpath, and signing and signalling.

While each state and territory’s bike laws vary slightly, there are some that apply nationwide, including:

In Victoria, you can access Victoria- specific rules, or find more information at the following sites:

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