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Road Rules for Bicycle Riders 

A bicycle is considered a vehicle in NSW and must follow the same road rules as other vehicles. There are also some special road rules that only apply to bicycle riders.  

Rules for bicycle riders

• You can ride side-by-side another bike, but no more than 1.5 metres apart. 

• You must use the marked bike lane in your direction if there is one, unless it's impracticle to do so. 

• You must give a hand signal when turning right or merging to the right lane. You should do this for about 30 metres before you turn, or change lanes or lane position. You don’t need to give a left or stop signal, or signal when making a hook turn but it's strongly recommended you do. 

• You can overtake 2 other bicycle riders who are riding side by side.  

• You can overtake on the left of stopped and slow-moving vehicles. 

• You can ride to the left of a continuous white edge line. 

• You can turn right from the left lane of a roundabout, but you must give way to any vehicle leaving the roundabout.  

• You must not ride on a pedestrian crossing. Instead, walk your bike across. You can ride across if there's a bicycle crossing signal. You must obey the signals at crossings.  

• You must not be towed by or hold onto another moving vehicle. 

• You must keep left of oncoming bicycle riders or pedestrians on a footpath, shared path or separated path. 

• You must not carry more people than the bike is designed for. If carrying a passenger, they must be wearing an approved, fitted and fastened helmet. 

• You must face forward on the rider’s seat, with one leg on each side and at least one hand on the handlebars. 

If you're 16 years or older and not supervising a child under 16 years riding a bike, you can’t ride on the footpath.  

 

Mobile phones

There are only 2 ways that you can use a mobile phone while riding.

• Hands-free – you can only use your phone hands-free (without touching it) to:

  • make or receive voice calls

  • play audio, for example, music and podcasts.

• In a phone holder – you can only use and touch your phone to:

  • make or receive voice calls

  • play audio, for example, music and podcasts

  • use as a rider/driver’s aid, for example, maps and navigation apps or dispatch systems.

You must not use a mobile phone while riding for any other function. This includes:

• texting

• video calls

• emailing

• social media

• using the internet

• photography.

When riding, you must not hold a mobile phone in your hand. It must not rest on your leg, be between your shoulder and ear or any other part of your body.

Helmets and equipment

Helmets

Bicycle riders must wear an approved helmet securely fitted and fastened. This includes children on bikes with training wheels and any child being carried as a passenger or in a bicycle trailer.

Research shows helmets can reduce serious head injuries by about 70% and reduce fatal head injuries by 65%.  

 

 

 

Source: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/bicycle-riders/road-rules-for-bicycle-riders

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