Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation
Notes
Bicycles are not motor vehicles, but all the rules of the road that apply to all vehicles (as opposed to just motor vehicles) also apply to bicycles. Below are some of the laws that are specific to bicycles.
Use of lamps, etc.
55
- At any time on a highway during the period of night time or when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, objects are not clearly discernible on the highway at a distance of at least 150 metres ahead, a person shall not do any of the following:
- have a bicycle in motion on the highway unless the lamp or lamps with which the bicycle is required to be equipped are alight;
- have a vehicle in motion on the highway unless,
- in the case of a self‑propelled vehicle that is less than 0.8 metres in overall width, the vehicle is equipped with one headlamp that complies with the requirements of the Vehicle Equipment Regulation and that is alight,
- in the case of a self‑propelled vehicle that is 0.8 metres or more in overall width, the vehicle is equipped with 2 headlamps that comply with the requirements of the Vehicle Equipment Regulation and that are alight
- have a cycle on the highway unless the cycle is equipped with one reflector that is located at the rear of the cycle
Rights and duties of operator
75 Unless the context otherwise requires, a person who is operating a cycle on a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the duties of a person driving a motor vehicle under Part 1 and this Part and Division 2 of Part 5 of the Act.
Operation of cycle
77
- A person who is operating a cycle on a highway
- shall keep both hands on the handlebars of the cycle, except when making a signal in accordance with this Regulation or shifting the gears of the cycle,
- shall keep both feet on the pedals or foot rests of the cycle other than when stopped,
- shall not ride other than on or astride a regular seat of the cycle, and
- shall not use the cycle to carry more persons at one time than the number for which the cycle is designed and equipped.
- A person who is operating a cycle, other than a motor cycle, on a highway shall operate the cycle as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway unless that person is in the process of making a left turn with the cycle.
- Notwithstanding subsection (2), a person who is operating a cycle, other than a motor cycle, on a one-way highway in an urban area shall ride as near as practicable to either curb or edge of the roadway unless that person is in the process of crossing from one curb or edge of the roadway to the opposite curb or edge of the roadway.
- Notwithstanding subsection (2), a person who is operating a cycle, other than a motorcycle, on a highway that has shoulders
- in the case of a highway that has paved shoulders, shall operate the cycle on the right shoulder, and
- in the case of a highway that does not have paved shoulders, shall operate the cycle as far to the right of the roadway as practicable,
unless that person is in the process of making a left turn.
- A person who is riding as a passenger on a cycle
- shall not ride other than on a regular seat of the cycle that is designed to be used by a passenger, and
- shall keep both feet on the foot rests provided for the use of the passenger riding on the seat.
Travel single file
78 A person who is operating a cycle on a highway in the same direction in the same traffic lane, except when overtaking and passing another cycle,
- shall not operate the cycle adjacent to another cycle travelling in the same direction, and
- in the case of a cycle other than a motor cycle, where more than one cycle is travelling in the near vicinity of and in the same direction as another cycle, shall operate the cycle directly in line with and to the rear or front of the other cycle.
Vehicle Equipment Regulation AR 122/2009 also states:
Cycle headlamps
10
- A cycle must have at least one headlamp.
Horn, bell
60
A motor vehicle, power bicycle and bicycle must have a horn or bell.
Bicycle safety helmet
111
- No person who is less than 18 years old shall operate or ride as a passenger on a bicycle unless that person is properly wearing a safety helmet.
- A parent or guardian of a person who is less than 18 years old shall not authorize or knowingly permit the person to operate or ride as a passenger on a bicycle unless that person is properly wearing a safety helmet.
- No person shall operate a bicycle on which a passenger who is less than 18 years old is riding unless the passenger is properly wearing a safety helmet.
Bicycle equipment
113
- A person shall not ride a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle has the following:
- at least one headlamp but not more than 2 headlamps;
- at least one red tail lamp;
- at least one red reflector mounted on the rear.
- A person shall not ride a bicycle unless the bicycle has a brake.
