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Cycling and skating

If a cyclist or person using a scooter, skateboard or rollerblades is involved in an accident, they must:

  • stop and help 
  • exchange their name and address with other people involved in the accident 
  • report the matter to police.

Bicycle laws

Most of the road rules that apply to driving cars and other vehicles also apply to bicycles. See ‘Driving’ (link below).

There are also laws that apply specifically to cyclists, including:

  • you (and any passengers, if you have them) must wear an approved helmet and it must be done up securely, unless you have a written exemption for VicRoads to say you do not have to wear a helmet
  • bicycles must be ‘roadworthy’ – they must have at least one working brake and a working bell, horn or other ‘warning device’
  • you must not carry more passengers than the bike is designed to carry – ‘dinking’ is against the law
  • if you are riding at night or in bad weather, you must have working lights and reflectors on your bike
  • you must use bike lanes if they are available, unless it is impracticable to do so
  • if you are over 12 you must not ride on the footpath
  • on footpaths and shared paths (where there are also people walking), you must keep to the left and give way to pedestrians
  • most drink and drug driving laws do not apply to cyclists, but you must not ride if you are drunk.

Skateboard, rollerblade and scooter laws

There is a section in the Victorian Road Rules specifically for skaters and other users of ‘wheeled recreational devices’, like rollerblades and collapsible scooters. Users of these devices are considered pedestrians, rather than riders or drivers.

You can't use a skateboard, scooter, rollerblades or other 'wheeled recreational device' on roads with:

  • a median strip or dividing yellow or white line 
  • more than one marked lane
  • a speed limit of more than 50 kilometres per hour.

On other types of road, you must keep as close to the left hand side as practicable and must not travel more than two abreast with other pedestrians or vehicles, unless overtaking.

The law also says that:

  • skaters do not have to wear helmets
  • when travelling on a footpath or shared path, your must keep as far left as practicable and give way to any walking pedestrians
  • if you are using a bicycle path or a separated footpath (a path for walkers and riders/skaters) you must not be on the side of the path for pedestrians unless you are crossing the path by the shortest safe route and do not stay on the path for longer than necessary; you must also must keep out of the way of any bicycle
  • you can't be towed by a moving vehicle.

Skaters also have to obey the road rules that apply to pedestrians, including:

  • obeying traffic signals
  • crossing a road, railway line or tram tracks by the shortest and safest route
  • not causing a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver
  • not using a bicycle path or that part of a separated footpath designated for use by bicycles
  • not getting into, or out of, a moving vehicle.

More information

Driving

Fines (general information)

Young people and the police

Related publications

Fines: your options for dealing with fines

Related websites

VicRoads – cyclist safety

How we can help

Call VLA’s Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter. Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.

Who else can help?

Youthlaw is a community legal centre for young people up to the age of 25. Youthlaw can help with:

  • confidential legal advice, information and casework services
  • information about your legal rights and responsibilities.

See the Youthlaw website, call them on (03) 9611 2412 or email info@youthlaw.asn.au.