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Bicycle safety

Focus on safety first

Even if you are an experienced rider, you are exposed and vulnerable in the road environment and are at risk of serious injury or death if involved in a crash. Riding defensively and scanning the road can improve your safety. Learning how to share the road safely could save you your life.

Legislation

Under NSW Road Rules, children less than 12 years of age and an accompanying adult if supervising a child are allowed to legally ride on the footpath. This law was introduced because, while young children quickly develop skills required to ride, steer and stop a bicycle, their development limitations make it hard for a child to ride on a road shared with moving vehicles.

Under NSW Road Rules, a bicycle is considered a vehicle and subject to the same road rules as other vehicles. There are also additional road rules that apply only to bicycles of which you should be aware. For further information please refer to the Road Rules, Part 15 Additional rules for bicycle riders.

Some tips for riding your bicycle safely

Always wear an approved bicycle helmet, properly fitted and fastened to your head.
Always obey the road rules, including traffic lights, Stop signs and Give Way signs.
Ride in a predictable manner that does not require other road users to react suddenly to your movements.
Give hand signals when changing lanes or turning left or right.
Make yourself as visible as possible by wearing bright, light or reflective clothing.
Plan your route using quieter streets, bicycle paths or shared paths, wherever possible.
Maintain control of your bike at all times. It is an offence to ride with both hands off the handlebars, feet off the pedals or to carry anything which prevents you from having control.

To find further information about Bicycles please refer to the Roads and Maritime Services' (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) myResources. Bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers and motorcycle riders. When driving, be on the look out for bicycle riders as they are smaller than cars and harder to see.

Bicycle riders handbook

A handbook for bicycle riders | PDF 2.17MB - a useful guide to riding your bicycle safely on NSW roads.

Tips when driving near bicycle riders

Bicycle riders are more difficult to see than cars or trucks, especially at night. Take care to check for bicycle riders in blind spots.
When overtaking give bicycle riders a safe amount of space. This means at least one metre to the side in a 50 km/h zone, if the speed limit is higher, then bicycle riders need more space for their safety.
Always check for bicycle riders whenever you travel on the road particularly when turning at intersections.
Sometimes a bicycle can travel as fast as or faster than a car, particularly in slow-moving traffic. Never underestimate their speed and be sure not to cut them off by moving in front of them. Remember that it takes longer for a bicycle to stop than a car at the same speed.
Check in your rear view and side mirrors to avoid opening your car door into the path of bicycle riders. This can be dangerous and legally your fault.
At times bicycle riders may need a full width lane to ride safely due to rough road edges and gravel. Be prepared to slow down and allow the rider to travel away from the kerb.
Children on bikes can be unpredictable - be prepared to slow down and stop.
Bicycle riders are allowed to ride two abreast (side by side).

Playing safely

Stay close, stay alert

Young boy wearing bicycle safety helmet For young children to be able to play safely, an adult needs to supervise them closely and actively.

You need to make sure children are in a safe place to play, such as a backyard, fenced park or recreational area. They should always be supervised by an adult. Roads, carparks, footpaths and driveways are never safe places to play.

A young child's skull is soft and easily injured. So whenever children are riding wheeled toys or bicycles, it is important that they are wearing a correctly fitted helmet that complies with Australian Standards. It is the responsibility of the adult to ensure helmets comply.

When buying a helmet

Take the child to the shop with you, to make sure the helmet fits properly.
It should sit two child finger widths above the child's eyebrows, and be neither too tight nor too loose.
It should not be too heavy for the child's head and neck to carry.

Young children who wear helmets from the moment they start riding their first wheeled toy will be safer from head injury, and are more likely to continue the practice throughout their lives. Use these road safety messages:

"No helmet, no bike."
"When everyone has their helmet and shoes on, we can ride our bikes."
"If anyone isn't wearing their helmet or shoes properly, we'll put the bikes away."

When supervising children, use these opportunities to talk to them about:

How helmets and enclosed shoes keep us safe.
Why we must ride and play away from traffic - for instance, in the backyard or at the bike track.
Why footpaths and driveways are never safe places to play.

Why young children can never ride their bikes, scooters or skates without an adult closely supervising them.

Scooters and motorised toys also need to be supervised closely by an adult. They are harder to control and can put children into danger quickly.

Children playing safely

Make some family rules about safe play, talk about them with the children and then stick to them - every time they are using bikes, trikes or scooters.

Last updated 31.10.2011