Bike Laws

[Bigbjorn]

I see that WA has now adopted the 1.0/1.5 metre clearance rules for overtaking cyclists. Fair enough. This is a big concession to cycling safety. Now for cyclists to reciprocate and show some road sense and courtesy in return.

This is my wish list which I don't consider outrageous.

Only primary school children to ride on footpaths and under supervision of a responsible adult.

Cyclists to keep as close to the left hand edge of the carriageway as safely possible.

Cyclists to ride in single file except when overtaking another cyclist.

In hours of darkness cycles to be brightly illuminated. LED lights make this possible. Lots of reflector tape front, back, and sides.

Cyclists, like caravanners, should get out of the way if they are impeding traffic.

A pet hate of mine are those weekend packs of lycra louts who infest our roads. Either a mobile road block or mobile traffic hazard depending on your point of view. Riding in single file would eliminate (mostly) this annoyance.

[101RRS]

Sits back eating popcorn - if this turns out like other bike vs car threads its gonna get interesting.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/973.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/21Unusq)7952e285cc5aac6d3dca305714dc8e04--children-movies-family-movies (https://flic.kr/p/21Unusq) by Garry Collins (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150171671@N02/), on Flickr

[Eevo]

Now for cyclists to reciprocate and show some road sense and courtesy in return.

lol.

[debruiser]

As a cyclist and land rover owner, I agree with your preposition.

I actually like the comparison to caravaners, it's good. As a cyclist I don't want to be in your way, however sometimes it is safer for us to use the whole lane to negotiate an intersection, just like a caravan ;)

I think the real point we should take from this is that our state laws are becoming more uniform! Thats a good thing. :)

[bee utey]

SA has had the clearance rules and footpath riding allowed since sometime last year. Despite the dire predictions of carnage on the carriageways, people have adapted and it's become a non issue. Only a few rubes and hard heads are left raging at the fact that cyclists now have slightly improved safety.

[rangieman]

Sits back eating popcorn - if this turns out like other bike vs car threads its gonna get interesting.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/973.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/21Unusq)7952e285cc5aac6d3dca305714dc8e04--children-movies-family-movies (https://flic.kr/p/21Unusq) by Garry Collins (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150171671@N02/), on Flickr
Why it is not worth wasting good popcorn on:wallbash:

[pop058]

Admin hat on.

This subject is very emotive and has been done to death. Keep the personal stuff out of the conversations and be civil or it will be closed.

[Grumbles]

A pet hate of mine are those weekend packs of lycra louts who infest our roads. Either a mobile road block or mobile traffic hazard depending on your point of view. Riding in single file would eliminate (mostly) this annoyance.

I encounter this quite frequently on local 100 kmh rural highways. Roads which are winding with kilometres of steep gradients and double white lines with packs of cyclists all pedaling flat out uphill at 10 kmh and no hope of overtaking them.

But its not just bicycles.

A new hazard though is the use of these same highways by roller skiers/skaters. Some use short one metre rollers but others use full length snow ski type rollers. The shire has erected caution signage to motorists stating that roller skiers use these highways. A roller skier uses the whole lane as he pushes with his sticks and has no brakes or steering control. Traffic builds up at a 3 kmh crawl when these guys hit any gradient rise in the road and overtaking them is impossible.

But yet another hazard is non wheeled athletes using these rural highways for training purposes. For example. I came around a tightening bend at 80 kmh rather than the posted 100 kmh limit and encountered a three deep football team spread across both lanes. At 80 kmh I was able to emergency brake and avoid them as they panicked to get out of the way. At 100 kmh it would have been like playing skittles. Thing is the shire has erected signage saying athletes train on these highways which the athletes then interpret as giving them priority use.

The message should be that rural highways [or is that all roads?] are not recreational/training zones.

[weeds]

Yawn........

[Pedro_The_Swift]

who really cares what you think bigbornbumkin?
If I'm out on holiday with my van on the back one of lifes little treasures is to hold important people like you up,,
Obviously I realise you are on a gazzilion bucks an hour and working hard in that tin can of yours, while me and the missus are pointing at funny looking trees and talking about what to have for lunch,
but you keep on ranting about how you'd like your world to be,, I'm sure someone(somewhere else maybe) is listening,,

[Pickles2]

I see that WA has now adopted the 1.0/1.5 metre clearance rules for overtaking cyclists. Fair enough. This is a big concession to cycling safety. Now for cyclists to reciprocate and show some road sense and courtesy in return.

This is my wish list which I don't consider outrageous.

Only primary school children to ride on footpaths and under supervision of a responsible adult.

Cyclists to keep as close to the left hand edge of the carriageway as safely possible.

Cyclists to ride in single file except when overtaking another cyclist.

In hours of darkness cycles to be brightly illuminated. LED lights make this possible. Lots of reflector tape front, back, and sides.

Cyclists, like caravanners, should get out of the way if they are impeding traffic.

A pet hate of mine are those weekend packs of lycra louts who infest our roads. Either a mobile road block or mobile traffic hazard depending on your point of view. Riding in single file would eliminate (mostly) this annoyance.
Agree 100% with you, simply because what you say is common sense, & of course a prerequisite is, that other road users display the same courtesies with respect to whatever vehicle they are responsible for.
Pickles.

[Geedublya]

"Only primary school children to ride on footpaths and under supervision of a responsible adult." I'm curious as to how the adult can supervise while not being allowed to ride on the footpath with their child? Personally I ride on the footpath with my daughter and realise I'm breaking the law but if the police wants to fine me and take it through the courts so be it.

[bee utey]

"Only primary school children to ride on footpaths and under supervision of a responsible adult." I'm curious as to how the adult can supervise while not being allowed to ride on the footpath with their child? Personally I ride on the footpath with my daughter and realise I'm breaking the law but if the police wants to fine me and take it through the courts so be it.

I'll defend to the death our newly found right in SA to ride on footpaths, because it is a better outcome for everyone. No matter what every dullard thinks, there aren't suddenly hordes of lycra heroes skittling OAP's like ninepins. Roadies will go fast like they always did, on the road, sensible people will avoid pedestrians like they always did, on the footpath, and a few dickheads will attract attention by not being respectful to anyone.

[trout1105]

In an ideal world people would use their common sense and be courteous to other users on the roads and there wouldn't be any problems.
Bike riders, trucks and caravans have just as much right to use the road as car drivers and they are Not the only road users without any consideration for others on the road.
If you come across bikes, vans or trucks slowing down your incredibly important journey then have a little patience and consideration for others and the world will still keep spinning and everyone will survive the ordeal [thumbsupbig]

[Mick_Marsh]

"Only primary school children to ride on footpaths and under supervision of a responsible adult." I'm curious as to how the adult can supervise while not being allowed to ride on the footpath with their child? Personally I ride on the footpath with my daughter and realise I'm breaking the law but if the police wants to fine me and take it through the courts so be it.
You will find, under the national road rules that have been out for quite some time, rule 250 makes your statement nothing but nonsense. (Unless your daughter is twelve or older.):

ROAD RULES 2014 - REG 250
Riding on a footpath or shared path
250 Riding on a footpath or shared path



(1) The rider of a bicycle who is 12 years old or older must not ride on a footpath unless:
(a) if the rider is an adult--the rider is accompanying a child under 12 years of age who is riding on the footpath and the child is under the rider's supervision, or

(b) if the rider is not an adult--the rider is accompanying a child under 12 years of age who is riding on the footpath under the supervision of an adult and the rider is also under the supervision of the adult, or

(c) the rider is a postal worker who is riding the bicycle in the course of his or her duties as a postal worker, or

(d) the rider is carrying a person who is under 10 years old as a passenger on the bicycle or in or on a bicycle trailer towed by the bicycle and the bicycle is not a pedicab.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note 1 :
"Bicycle trailer" is defined in rule 257 and
"footpath" and
"postal worker" are defined in the Dictionary.

Note 2 : Subrule (1) is not uniform with the corresponding subrule in rule 250 of the Australian Road Rules . However, the corresponding subrule in the Australian Road Rules allows another law of this jurisdiction to prohibit a rider of a bicycle who is 12 years old or older from riding on a footpath. Different rules may apply in other Australian jurisdictions.

Note 3 : A rider of a bicycle who is under 12 years of age may ride on a footpath unless such a rider is prohibited from doing so under rule 250-1 or rule 252.

(1A) A rider of a bicycle does not have to comply with subrule (1) if:
(a) the rider is carrying a medical certificate that states a medical practitioner believes the rider should be allowed to ride on the footpath because of a medical condition the rider has, and

(b) the rider is complying with any conditions stated in the medical certificate, and

(c) no other law of this jurisdiction states that this subrule does not apply.

Note :
"Medical certificate" and
"medical practitioner" are defined the Dictionary and
"medical condition" is defined in subrule (3).

(1B) Also, a rider of a bicycle does not have to comply with subrule (1) if the rider is accompanying another person who is exempt under subrule (1A).

(1C) However, the rider is exempt under subrule (1A) or (1B) only if the rider who is carrying the medical certificate immediately produces the medical certificate when an authorised person asks to see the certificate.
Note :
"Authorised person" and
"medical certificate" are defined in the Dictionary.

(1C-1) A rider is not exempt under subrule (1A) or (1B) if there is a bicycle path or shared path available near the footpath.
Note 1 :
"Bicycle path" is defined in rule 239.
Note 2 : This subrule is an additional NSW subrule. There is no corresponding subrule in rule 250 of the Australian Road Rules .

(2) The rider of a bicycle riding on a footpath or shared path must:
(a) keep to the left of the footpath or shared path unless it is impracticable to do so, and

(b) give way to any pedestrian on the footpath or shared path.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note 1 :
"Pedestrian" is defined in rule 18, and
"shared path" is defined in rule 242.

Note 2 : For subrule (2),
"give way" means the rider must slow down and, if necessary, stop to avoid a collision--see the definition in the Dictionary.

(3) In this rule:

"adult" means an individual who is 18 years old or older.
Note : There is no corresponding definition for this term for the purposes of rule 250 of the Australian Road Rules . The definition is required for the purposes of subrule (1) (a) and (b).

"footpath" does not include a separated footpath.

"medical condition" means a medical condition that makes it impractical or unsafe for a person who has the condition to ride a bicycle on the road.
Note : There is no corresponding definition for this term for the purposes of rule 250 of the Australian Road Rules . The definition is required for the purposes of subrule (1A).

Note :
"Separated footpath" is defined in rule 239.

[rick130]

And yet in the ACT, that place that everyone (including me!) bags out, cyclists and pedestrians share km after km of footpath with nary an incident.

Amazing what a little common sense and courtesy can achieve....

[Geedublya]

You will find, under the national road rules that have been out for quite some time, rule 250 makes your statement nothing but nonsense. (Unless your daughter is twelve or older.):


I hadn't seen that rule when searching the NSW road rules. Even so once my daughter is 13 I still won't be keen on here riding on the Pacific Highway which is the access road to my suburb.

[Zeros]

It's hilarious that anyone thinks someone else who is a legitimate road user should 'get out of their way' if they're not doing exactly as they want.

Going fast is no more or less important than going slow.

The speed limit is a maximum, not a required speed. All legal/legitimate road users whether a cyclist, caravan, or horse and cart, have the right to use the road at their own pace.

The 1.5 m rule is to stop speeding numpties from forcing cyclists onto the shoulder of the road. This is also why it's legal and safer for cyclists to ride two abreast in a lane. As with any other vehicle slower than you - wait for a safe time to overtake. That means safe for all concerned, not just the car driver.

Courtesy by all road users - none of whom are more important than any other - is not annoying; it's a beautiful part of being human in the contemporary world.

[fitzy]

Here’s one https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/1006.jpg
And here’s a group of them, although does anyone know the collective noun for themhttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/1007.jpg
And some more without their bicycles https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171129/e4ad66d5fb6e334ea34ba64b2313b4d3.png

[Eevo]

. Now for cyclists to reciprocate and show some road sense and courtesy in return.

and to pay tax, licencing, rego, insurance.

[Zeros]

and to pay tax, licencing, rego, insurance.

...why eevo? So we can pay more bitumen? 😳

[Zeros]

Here’s one https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/1006.jpg
And here’s a group of them, although does anyone know the collective noun for themhttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/1007.jpg

Bunch. Or in a race: Peleton. By the way, those guys would be able to sit on 50-60kmhr on the flat. Hardly slow.

[101RRS]

Mick - those rules you posted may very well be the rules but they are not law in the ACT - here bike riders of all ages can ride on footpaths and are allowed to ride across pedestrian crossings - they do not have to dismount. I have nearly bowled a couple of bike riders on crossings on slip lanes where they come in fast in your blind spot over your left shoulder and go straight across the crossing - even when you have actually stopped and checked first, their speed makes them not visible when you look but they are there when you start to move.

Absolute nonsense.

garry

[Zeros]

Just expect them to be coming at any time Garry; just like a cyclist has to expect a car to be coming at anytime.

[Eevo]

...why eevo? So we can pay more bitumen? 😳
all those bike signs cost money,

[Wraithe]

Bike riders scare the bejeezers out of me when I am a driving a truck... 1 - 1.5 mtres... nah I will give them the whole road... Had one fall in front of me one day, how I didnt hit him I will never know, but I stopped that truck quick...

I usually just sit back and wait for my chance to pass...

Down here, they are every where and respectful, but the 4wd drivers from perth are the ones to avoid, they dont give a damn... I seen better drivers in bumper cars at the side show than the perth drivers in there flash 4wd's with more gadgets than inspector gadget has....

The one time that I will get annoyed is when I visit family in the swan valley... West Swan rd has a bike/pedestrian path yet on the narrow road you will have a goose riding his bike along as if he owns the road... They should never have built the bike path(waste of money), the bicycle riders dont even use it... This road is about 10ft per lane so I can tell you, there is not much space when driving a truck...

[Zeros]

all those bike signs cost money,

Yeah, like pedestrian crossing signs, lights, etc! [bighmmm] We could charge pedestrians a tax for wearing thongs on the crossings! ...and bike tyres really wear the bitumen out!

[Eevo]

We could charge pedestrians a tax for wearing thongs on the crossings!

not a bad idea.

[Geedublya]

and to pay tax, licencing, rego, insurance.

Yeah I pay for 2 cars, 1 motorcycle, 1 box trailer and one caravan. So close to $3000/year in rego and third party insurance and then I have $3000 in comprehensive insurance and a combined car/motorcycle/boat/PWC licence which was $700 for 5 years. When riding my bicycle I'm not using any of those vehicles. How much do you pay?

[Zeros]

Yeah I pay for 2 cars, 1 motorcycle, 1 box trailer and one caravan. So close to $3000/year in rego and third party insurance and then I have $3000 in comprehensive insurance and a combined car/motorcycle/boat/PWC licence which was $700 for 5 years. When riding my bicycle I'm not using any of those vehicles. How much do you pay?

...well for a start, you should pay heaps for the extra oxygen you use riding a bike, but offset it with the carbon sink capacity of your lungs to filter the monoxide from all the Landies! [bigrolf][bighmmm] So I reckon you should pay nothing.

[Eevo]

Yeah I pay for 2 cars, 1 motorcycle, 1 box trailer and one caravan. So close to $3000/year in rego and third party insurance and then I have $3000 in comprehensive insurance and a combined car/motorcycle/boat/PWC licence which was $700 for 5 years. When riding my bicycle I'm not using any of those vehicles. How much do you pay?

3 cars, 2 motorbikes, 1 camper trailer. i think i win, but this isnt a ****ing contest.

[Mick_Marsh]

3 cars, 2 motorbikes, 1 camper trailer. i think i win, but this isnt a ****ing contest.
Pfft!
You just starting?
Registrations for two trucks, two 4wds, four cars and five trailers (unless I've forgotten any which is entirely possible).

[trog]

So , cycling in any form , road racing trundling to work or the shops , or even the kiddies commute to school is a dangerous thing . Besides being one of very , very few countries with mandatory helmet laws , perhaps also include knee and elbow pads then full face helmets? As these are slowly adopted bring in pilots for anyone wanting a ride . Front and rear flashing lights etc. Eventually it will become too hard to get the bike out . Then all those other countries that don't see the grave dangers to health and safety will do the same. Only the dieties know how the misguided souls in any other country can ride helmetless ( if they chose ) in city and rural areas. Let's show the world cycling can be defeated !

[pop058]

It's hilarious that anyone thinks someone else who is a legitimate road user should 'get out of their way' if they're not doing exactly as they want.

Going fast is no more or less important than going slow.

The speed limit is a maximum, not a required speed. All legal/legitimate road users whether a cyclist, caravan, or horse and cart, have the right to use the road at their own pace.

The 1.5 m rule is to stop speeding numpties from forcing cyclists onto the shoulder of the road. This is also why it's legal and safer for cyclists to ride two abreast in a lane. As with any other vehicle slower than you - wait for a safe time to overtake. That means safe for all concerned, not just the car driver.

Courtesy by all road users - none of whom are more important than any other - is not annoying; it's a beautiful part of being human in the contemporary world.

I don't think that is correct. IIRC all states have obstruction of traffic laws.

[Eevo]

Pfft!
You just starting?
Registrations for two trucks, two 4wds, four cars and five trailers (unless I've forgotten any which is entirely possible).


do you ride a push bike?

[Mick_Marsh]

do you ride a push bike?
Got three of them.
A Kia, a Peugeot and a Giant.

[Eevo]

Got three of them.
A Kia, a Peugeot and a Giant.
[bigrolf]

[rangieman]

Got three of them.
A Kia, a Peugeot and a Giant.
You might have 3 but do you even ride 1 [bighmmm]
A bit like all the cars you own [bigwhistle]

[Mick_Marsh]

You might have 3 but do you even ride 1 [bighmmm]
A bit like all the cars you own [bigwhistle]
I must admit, I don't drive the unregistered vehicles. And I no longer ride the Kia or the Peugeot.
I do go for a ride on the Giant every now and then. It has a speedometer and an odometer.

[rangieman]

I must admit, I don't drive the unregistered vehicles. And I no longer ride the Kia or the Peugeot.
I do go for a ride on the Giant every now and then. It has a speedometer and an odometer.
So Mick the MAMIL [bigrolf] That is just a pic i never want to see:Rolling:

[Homestar]

Pfft!
You just starting?
Registrations for two trucks, two 4wds, four cars and five trailers (unless I've forgotten any which is entirely possible).

Sounds like you got them that I know of, but if I work out there’s more, will I tell you.... 😏

[bee utey]

And here’s a group of them, although does anyone know the collective noun for them


A team. A team of bike racers on closed roads hopefully with full police protection from entitled morons in toy trucks. [smilebigeye]

[Mick_Marsh]

And here’s a group of them, although does anyone know the collective noun for them
An "impediment" of cyclists.