6 Things You might not know about Cycling in NSW - A push for lisencing
As a disclaimer to this post, yes, I'm a cyclist.
Ever seen that really dangerous cyclist weaving in and out between cars, or cyclist who cycle on pedestrian ways, or you narrowly missing that cyclist who didn't obey road signs? I'm sure as a driver, you would have seen that before. I'm also quite sure there have been a cyclist who have really annoyed you too.
Here are a six 6 things you might, or not know about cycling in NSW.
1. If you are over 12 years old, you cannot cycle on the pedestrian walkway.
Yes, it may be really annoying to drive behind a very slow cyclist. But they can't legally cycle on the pedestrian walkway either if they are 12 or over. Only if the pedestrian walkway is a shared path, then can a cyclist use the pedestrian walk way. The other scenario is that if you are supervising a cyclist under 12, you have to use the pedestrian walk way. If you have a passenger on your bicycle under 10 years old, you can use the pedestrian walkway too. This includes pedestrian crossings - unless you hop off the bike and push. Else, the road is the way to go.
2. Cyclist can cycle side by side provided they are less than 1.5m from each other.
I think this is one rule many drivers hate. But yes, they can legally take nearly the whole lane up, and it's really hard to overtake them safely this way.
3. Cyclist can use the transit lanes, bus lanes and road shoulders.
This is for the cyclist really. If you can, please use the lanes that drivers can't. It really helps with the traffic flow. But remember you cannot use the Bus Only lanes.
4. Cyclist must obey road signs, traffic lights, speed limits, etc.
I know this as a cyclist, especially when turning right at a busy intersection, it's so tempting to turn right on red just before the cars. I understand the whole mentality of "I must be more aggressive so that I can actually get across", but you can get fined for going against the traffic light.
5. Cyclist must have a bike that works safely!
Your bike MUST have at least 1 working break and a horn/ bell to warn other cyclist or pedestrians. If you are cycling at night, you MUST have a working front white light and rear red light - and they must be visible from 200m. You also MUST have a red red reflector, which can be seen when a low beam is cast from 50m.
6. Cyclist and their passengers must wear a helmet.
No matter how young or old, or if you wear head gear, you MUST wear a helmet. If you kid is on trainer wheels, they still have to wear a helmet. If you kid is a passenger on your bike or trailer, they must have a helmet on.
With all those rules, if you break any, you can get fined. Many people may not even know about these rules to the detriment very often of the cyclist. The odds of escaping serious injury to a cyclist in a bike vs motor vehicle accident are against the cyclist favour. I strongly believe that all cyclist should undergo a roads rule test and be issued a license when they pass. There should be demerit points for cyclist should fail to obey road rules too.
I do understand the argument of cycling should be for all in order to promote healthy lifestyles. But I think that cycling and breaking road rules promote serious injuries which is not healthy at all.
I also strongly hope to promote safe cycling that the government invest in more bike lanes.
References
Bicycle Laws and Penalties in NSW
To support my blog, please click on one of my sponsor's advertised links :)
Ever seen that really dangerous cyclist weaving in and out between cars, or cyclist who cycle on pedestrian ways, or you narrowly missing that cyclist who didn't obey road signs? I'm sure as a driver, you would have seen that before. I'm also quite sure there have been a cyclist who have really annoyed you too.
Here are a six 6 things you might, or not know about cycling in NSW.
1. If you are over 12 years old, you cannot cycle on the pedestrian walkway.
Yes, it may be really annoying to drive behind a very slow cyclist. But they can't legally cycle on the pedestrian walkway either if they are 12 or over. Only if the pedestrian walkway is a shared path, then can a cyclist use the pedestrian walk way. The other scenario is that if you are supervising a cyclist under 12, you have to use the pedestrian walk way. If you have a passenger on your bicycle under 10 years old, you can use the pedestrian walkway too. This includes pedestrian crossings - unless you hop off the bike and push. Else, the road is the way to go.
2. Cyclist can cycle side by side provided they are less than 1.5m from each other.
I think this is one rule many drivers hate. But yes, they can legally take nearly the whole lane up, and it's really hard to overtake them safely this way.
3. Cyclist can use the transit lanes, bus lanes and road shoulders.
This is for the cyclist really. If you can, please use the lanes that drivers can't. It really helps with the traffic flow. But remember you cannot use the Bus Only lanes.
4. Cyclist must obey road signs, traffic lights, speed limits, etc.
I know this as a cyclist, especially when turning right at a busy intersection, it's so tempting to turn right on red just before the cars. I understand the whole mentality of "I must be more aggressive so that I can actually get across", but you can get fined for going against the traffic light.
5. Cyclist must have a bike that works safely!
Your bike MUST have at least 1 working break and a horn/ bell to warn other cyclist or pedestrians. If you are cycling at night, you MUST have a working front white light and rear red light - and they must be visible from 200m. You also MUST have a red red reflector, which can be seen when a low beam is cast from 50m.
6. Cyclist and their passengers must wear a helmet.
No matter how young or old, or if you wear head gear, you MUST wear a helmet. If you kid is on trainer wheels, they still have to wear a helmet. If you kid is a passenger on your bike or trailer, they must have a helmet on.
With all those rules, if you break any, you can get fined. Many people may not even know about these rules to the detriment very often of the cyclist. The odds of escaping serious injury to a cyclist in a bike vs motor vehicle accident are against the cyclist favour. I strongly believe that all cyclist should undergo a roads rule test and be issued a license when they pass. There should be demerit points for cyclist should fail to obey road rules too.
I do understand the argument of cycling should be for all in order to promote healthy lifestyles. But I think that cycling and breaking road rules promote serious injuries which is not healthy at all.
I also strongly hope to promote safe cycling that the government invest in more bike lanes.
References
Bicycle Laws and Penalties in NSW
To support my blog, please click on one of my sponsor's advertised links :)
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