Bicycle Regulations

Australian Bicycle Regulations

New South Wales 

  • Changes to the NSW road rules 1 July 2008
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  • Podcast, ABC Central West NSW - "When is a bicycle no longer a bicycle?"
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    When does a bicycle cease to be a bicycle? That's what we asked the RTA's Sally Tindall about in light of confusing regulations around registration of motorised bicycles and scooters.

  • NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, (2008) "Mopeds and Power-assisted pedal cycles", Vehicle Standards Information 27, 4 July 2008
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    To advise suppliers, owners and users of mopeds and power-assisted pedal cycles of the requiremnets of their construction, registration and use.

Victoria

  • Victorian Road Rules for Cyclists
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  • Vicroads (2002) "Driving in Victoria: rules and responsibilities" – provides information on the main road rules and driver responsibilities.  [PDF, 1.56MB, 104 pp.]
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Queensland

  • Queensland Road Rules for Cyclists
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  • Queensland State Government - Roads Rules: Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Road Rules) Regulation 1999, Reprinted as in force on 16 December 2005, Reprint No. 2F
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  • Queensland State Government - Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, Traffic Regulation 1962, Reprinted as in force on 7 July 2006, Reprint No. 4J
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South Australia

Western Australia

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International Bicycle Regulations

  • Welcome to the World Health Organization Helmet Initiative
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    The World Health Organization Helmet Initiative promotes the use of helmets as a strategy for preventing head injuries caused by bicycle or motorcycle crash or fall.
  • City of Chicago (USA) passes bicycle ordinance
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    The City of Chicago passed the Bicycle Safety Ordinance, a new law that establishes fines for turning left or right in front of a bicyclist, passing a bicyclist with less than three feet of space, and opening a vehicle door into the path of a bicyclist. Fines range from $150 to $500 and go up to $500 if the violation results in a bicycle crash.  According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2006 in Illinois, 24 bicyclists were killed and nearly 3,200 were injured due to a crash with a motor vehicle. The majority of these crashes happened in urban areas.  Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road brochure available for down load View PDF

 

International Blog - Cycling and the Law

  • Sarah Goodyear, 6 May 2009, StreetsBlog: New York "Cycling and the Law: Where Does Education Begin?"
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    Given the rising number of commuting and recreational cyclists in New York and elsewhere around the country, and the welter of conflicting laws in different states and municipalities, education of law enforcement (as well as drivers and cyclists) on cyclists' rights and responsibilities would seem to be an obvious area for police departments to focus on.

 

Bike Helmets

  • April Streeter, 14 May 2009, Yakkay Gives You at Least Five Reasons You Might Want to Wear a Helmet, Sweden TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation
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    I know, I know. In spite of what we've said, the helmet debate will never be over - it is paper versus plastic all over again, except with the added fear factor of saving (or not) the contents of your precious brain if your head is involved in an accident. Whatever you decide to do helmet-wise, don't let it stop you from riding! Safety for cyclists increases when there are more of us out there cycling. So for city riding, why not at least consider these five reasons to wear?
  • Lloyd Alter, 13 May 2009, Andrew Sullivan at the Atlantic on Bicycle Helmets, or Lack Thereof, Canada: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
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    So many people think helmets are ineffective, and they certainly didn't do much good in Star Wars. They also suggest that wearing helmets reduces the rate of ridership, but we covered that here, that is a discussion about bicycle helmet legislation, not bicycle helmets. If you don't want to wear one, fine.
  • April Streeter, 18 February 2009, Helmet Head Takes on New Meaning, or Another Way to Warm Up Winter Bike Commutes, Sweden TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation
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    No matter what anyone says, it's impossible for the vast majority of humans to look good in a bike helmet. That why gorgeous adult Danes (children must wear helmets) tend to just say no!
    It's nice to know that daring designers like Riding Pretty's Shelly Shroeder are out there finding ways other than plastic flowers and stickers to transform bicycle fashion. Shroeder's video is from last year, and is a prototype - since then she's done to-order helmet covers that harken back to the days when women riding bikes tended to swathe themselves head to toe to ride. Shroeder keeps coming up with new implementation of her helmet covers like the rain-proofing version above. She's also got a blog to talk about bicycle fashion and its lack.
  • Bonnie Alter, 16 May 2008, Beautiful Bike Helmets, UK: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation
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    Beautiful and bicycle helmet seems like an oxymoron but here's proof that it doesn't have to be. With Bike to Work Days being celebrated, pretty cycling hats likes these prove there is no excuse not to wear one with pride in front of your fellow workers and bikers. They are designed by an eco-conscious Japanese-born designer who got fed up with looking terrible on her bike so she created her own collection of helmets that are funky and still meet all the safety requirements. The helmets are factory-made and decorated with carefully chosen feminine, delicate colours and have "diamond" trimmed chin straps. The designs are cleverly positioned on the back and on the left-hand side so drivers and pedestrians can admire you as you go. Helmets are available in a full range of lovely colours and there is a "designer" label on the back of each one.
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