More languages...
| (03) 9269 0120Melbourne | 1800 677 402Rural areas |  Locate us |
Cyclists, passengers and traffic lights – new law
Date : 09 Nov 2009
The law about cyclists who carry passengers has changed. There are new rules to make it clearer where bicycles may wait at traffic lights where there are ‘bicycle storage areas’.
Bicycles must be properly designed to carry passengers (no ‘dinking’)
It is unlawful to give a person a lift on a bicycle unless that bike has been specially designed to carry a passenger. A bike designed for a passenger should have a passenger seat.
A bicycle may have child’s seat attached.
Passengers must remain seated unless the bike is properly parked.
Maximum penalty
The cyclist may be issued with an on-the-spot-fine of one penalty unit.
If the matter is heard in court a cyclist can be fined up to 3 penalty units if:
- they carry more people than the bicycle is designed to carry
- the passengers are not seated.
Helmets
Cyclists and their passengers must all wear approved bicycle helmets unless an exception applies to their situation.
Maximum penalty
The cyclist may be issued with an on-the-spot-fine of 1.25 penalty units.
If the matter is heard in court a cyclist can be fined up to 5 penalty units if the rider or their passenger are not wearing an approved helmet.
Area reserved for cyclists at traffic lights (bicycle boxes)
Special areas have been marked out at some traffic lights for bicycles to wait ahead of the rest of the line of traffic. These areas are marked with a bicycle sign painted on the road. They are called ‘bicycle storage areas’ in the Road Safety Road Rules 2009.
A driver must stop at the first line of the bicycle box. A cyclist must stop at the second line within the bicycle box. This lets the cyclist move to the front of the line of traffic so that drivers can see them.
Turning at intersections
When turning at intersections that have a bicycle box a bicycle, a rider must be in the:
- left side of the reserved area if turning left
- right side of the reserved area (where there is a bicycle box in the right lane) if turning right.
How cyclists must enter a bicycle box
Cyclists must approach a bicycle box from a bicycle lane when the traffic light has turned red. They must give way to motorists who are travelling through green or orange lights.
More information
Related websites
VicRoads – Cyclists (new window)
Related publications
Fines: your options for dealing with fines