Safe Bike Riding
The Motor Accident Commission and the South Australia Police work together to promote safe behaviour by all road users, ultimately aiming to reduce the number of crashes on SA roads and their impact on people's lives. Cycling has become an increasingly popular activity. In the last six years South Australians have bought more bicycles than motor vehicles with 95,000 cyclists riding at least once a week for recreation, transport and fitness.
We continue to work with our road safety partners to deliver programs that improve road user safety. For the first time, the Motor Accident Commission is supporting Bicycle SA's Red Aware road safety message for the 2010/2011 riding season. With more and more South Australians taking to their bikes each year, Red Aware is about encouraging all cyclists to ride responsibly as well as a reminder to motorists leave a metre between themselves and riders.
Download Safe Bike Riding Information PDF
When riding bicycles on a road or in a public place, there are many rules that have to be obeyed, just like driving a car. The following information sets out these rules and other Safety tips for safer bicycle riding.
Helmets
An APPROVED BICYCLE HELMET MUST BE WORN (one showing an AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND STANDARDS sticker AS/NZ 2063) whilst riding a bicycle on a road or in a public place. It must be worn in accordance with manufacturer's specifi cations.
That is:
- do not wear any type of hat (especially a baseball cap) underneath the helmet. Fit a visor to the helmet instead
- the front of the helmet should be just above the eyebrows, so that the forehead is covered
- the chin strap has to be done up tight enough so that it keeps the helmet in place (only two fingers should be able to fi t between your chin and the chin strap)
- make sure the helmet is the right size, a firm fit, not loose or too small that it doesn't sit right down on your head. A loose or too small helmet can wobble and fall off in the event of a crash
- keep the helmet in good condition. Damaged helmets have the potential to fall apart if involved in another crash. Regularly check for wear or damage to your helmet
- do not remove the foam packing from inside the helmet. Not only does this breach the Standards, but the padding helps to absorb the impact of a crash.
Equipment on a bicycle
When riding a bicycle on a road or a footpath it must
- have at least one effective brake and
- a bell, horn or similar warning device in good working order.
Riding on the Footpath
- A child up to 12 years of age is allowed to ride a bicycle on a footpath
- An adult is permitted to ride on a footpath if they are accompanying a child under the age of 12 years old who is also riding on the footpath
- Any rider of a bicycle may ride on a footpath if the footpath is marked with signage that is a designated bicycle track or shared path.
When riding on the footpath you must give way to pedestrians. You should sound a warning before you are about to overtake a pedestrian or slow rider, and pass them on the right hand side. Keep to the left unless overtaking. Look out for cars and pedestrians entering or leaving private property.
Bicycle Lanes
Bicycle Lanes are indicated by signs and/or road markings and operate 24 hours a day unless otherwise stated.
If there is a bicycle lane on the road, in the direction you are travelling, you must ride in that lane unless:
- it is impractical to do so because of roadworks or other hazards
- you are passing a slower rider in the bicycle lane.
Carrying Passengers or Other Goods
You must not carry more people on the bicycle than it is designed to carry - 1 person per seat.
You are not allowed to carry passengers on the handlebars or standing on bicycle pegs attached to the wheels.
The rider of a bicycle cannot tow a bicycle trailer with a person in or on the bicycle trailer unless the
- rider is 16 years or older
- the person in the trailer is under ten years of age and is wearing an approved helmet
- the trailer can safely carry the person.
Riding at Night
Legally, when riding at night or during periods of poor visibility, you must have a fl ashing or steady white light at the front and a fl ashing or steady red light to the rear. Both must be visible for 200 metres. You are also required to have a red refl ector that is clearly visible from the rear of the bicycle.
The rider is advised to wear bright coloured clothing.
BE SEEN - BE SAFE.
Other Road Rules
Bicycles are classifi ed as a vehicle and riders must obey the same Road Rules as drivers of motor vehicles.
If you are over 16 years old and commit an offence whilst riding your bicycle, you may incur demerit points on your driving licence. You will be disqualified from driving if you incur 12 or more demerit points in a three year period. If you do not hold a driving licence, the demerit points will still be recorded against you and remain for three years.
When riding on a road, you must keep as reasonably practicable to the left-hand side except:
- when making a right turn
- when overtaking.
When riding in a group you are only allowed two abreast, with a maximum of 1½ metres between each bicycle. On busy roads ride single fi le to avoid obstructing other road users.
Bicycle riders MUST give a right turn hand signal when about to turn right, change lanes or to U-turn.
Left turn and Stop signals are not covered in law, but are advisable for added safety, so as to indicate your intentions to other road users.
A bicycle rider is not allowed to be towed. Towing a skateboarder or person on skates by a bike rider is also illegal.
When crossing the road at a marked pedestrian crossing, you MUST get off and walk the bicycle across.