Bicycle Network: Behaviour

Respecting the law

Bicycle Network Victoria supports the efforts of the police to enforce the traffic regulations as these regulations are the rules for sharing the road. When followed, they help reduce and prevent collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles.

Bicycle Network Victoria also works to change the traffic regulations as they relate to bike riders and especially to modify inappropriate regulations which undermine our effort to build a culture of compliance.

Traffic Regulations at crossings

Currently the road rules state that bike riders are not allowed to cross a "zebra" and other uncontrolled crossings while riding their bike.

Rule 248 No riding across a road on a crossing

The rider of a bicycle must not ride across a road, or part of a road, on a children’s crossing, marked foot crossing or pedestrian crossing.

Penalty: 1 penalty unit.

Note Children’s crossing is defined in rule 80, marked foot crossing is defined in the dictionary, and pedestrian crossing is defined in rule 81.

Changing the law

VicRoads research has shown that although there are bike riders using these crossings (without dismounting) there have been no major incidents.

Bicycle Network Victoria supports a change in the law to allow bike riders to ride across "zebra" and other uncontrolled crossings. This will provide improved neighbourhood routes to schools and continuous routes on shared paths that cross local roads. While using these crossings bike riders should give way to pedestrians, as with all shared paths.

Trial

VicRoads are currently looking at running a trial on the Capital City Trail. The trial would involve installing uncontrolled crossings at a number of minor roads so the shared path traffic has right of way over the road users.