Sharing the road with bicycle and personal mobility device riders
When driving in Queensland, you may see bicycle riders and personal mobility device riders using the road in some areas.
Bicycle riders are allowed equal access and right to use the road in the same way as other vehicles. Unless a sign prohibits access to a road, riders can choose to use either the road or adjacent path, where provided.
Personal mobility device riders are allowed to access the road in some areas and have many of the same rights and responsibilities as bicycle riders.
[Video title, ‘Rules to Protect Riders’ animates on screen, with icons of an e-scooter, e-skateboard, e-bike and non-powered bike.]
Rules to Protect Riders
[Animated bike rider and e-scooter rider riding on a local street (no dividing line and limited traffic). Cars pass safely.]
People riding bicycles or personal mobility devices like e-scooters, are some of our most vulnerable road users. Follow these simple rules to share the road safely.
[Change to a Birdseye view of a local street with a bike rider and e-scooter rider riding on the far left. Cars are passing, leaving at least 1m distance between them and the riders. The animation could show the 1m distance with an arrow]
You must leave a safe passing distance when overtaking riders. On roads with a speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour or less, leave at least 1 meter. Safe overtaking rules apply on all roads, even where you don’t expect to see riders.
[Change to a faster speed road environment (speed limit 70km/h) with lane markings. This time only feature a bike rider as e-scooters cannot use these roads. Cars are passing, leaving at least 1.5m distance between them and the riders. The cars can cross the centre line to pass. The animation could show the 1.5m distance with an arrow]
On roads with a speed limit of more than 60 kilometres per hour, leave at least 1.5 meters . You can cross the centre lines while passing, so long as it is safe to do so. Be patient and wait until it is safe to pass.
[Change to a road with a side street. A bike rider is riding along the footpath and across the side road and a car wants to turn left into that road. The car stops and waits for the bike rider to cross before turning.]
When turning, give way to riders and pedestrians crossing the road you are entering. Remember to check your mirrors and blind spots so you can see riders that are approaching from behind.
[Change to an intersection with a slip lane. An e-scooter rider is riding across the slip lane and a car wants to turn left using the slip lane. The car stops and waits for the rider to cross before turning.]
You must also give way to riders and pedestrians crossing slip lanes, regardless of whether there is a marked crossing.
[Change to a zebra crossing. A bike rider and e-scooter rider are crossing. A car approached the crossing and stops and waits for the riders to cross before proceeding.]
Riders are allowed to use pedestrian crossings and drivers must give way to them. Always check for riders and pedestrians who are about to cross and remain stopped until they have made it across.
[Change to a local street. A bike rider and e-scooter rider are riding along the footpath. Cars are wanting to turn into or out of driveways and wait for the riders to pass before turning.]
Riders often use footpaths, so it’s important to check and give way before turning into and out of driveways. Wait for any riders and pedestrians to pass before turning.
Visit the Streetsmarts Queensland website for more information on sharing the road safely with riders.
[Authorised by the Queensland Government, William Street, Brisbane.]
Sharing the road safely
Be on the lookout
- Bicycle and personal mobility device riders are more difficult to see than cars or trucks, especially at night, dawn or dusk.
- Take care to check for riders in blind spots before changing lanes or turning, especially when turning at intersections and at roundabouts.
- Check in your rear-view and side mirrors to avoid opening your car door into the path of a bicycle or personal mobility device rider.
Expect riders to be fast moving sometimes
- Sometimes a bicycle or personal mobility device rider can travel faster than a car, particularly in slow-moving traffic. Never under-estimate their speed and do not to cut them off by moving in front of them.
Take extra care at night and in wet weather
- Wet weather can cause the road to become oily or slippery and reduce visibility, so be extra careful around bicycle or personal mobility device riders at these times.
- Be considerate and dip your headlights when approaching a bicycle or personal mobility device rider at night.
Be patient and prepare to slow down
- If it isn't safe to pass a bicycle or personal mobility device rider, wait until it is safe. This should not hold you up for long and it could save the bicycle or personal mobility device rider's life.
- Sometimes, bicycle riders may need the full width of a lane to ride safely because of rough road edges and gravel. Be prepared to slow down and allow the rider to travel away from the kerb. You must comply with the minimum passing rules.
- All riders can be unpredictable, especially children. Prepare to slow down and stop if necessary.
Driving near riders
Follow the road rules for drivers of all types of motor vehicles – including cars, motorcycles, heavy vehicles and public transport vehicles.
Giving way
Treat bicycle or personal mobility device riders like any other vehicle on the road. Give way to them when required and travel at a safe following distance.
You must give way to bicycle or personal mobility device riders, when:
- you are turning at intersections
- you are turning into and out of driveways and other road entries
- they are crossing marked pedestrian crossings
If you want to turn left and a bicycle or personal mobility device rider is ahead of you going in the same direction, turn behind the bicycle or personal mobility device rider.
Overtaking and cutting off the bicycle or personal mobility device rider is very dangerous.
Minimum passing distance rule
You are passing a bicycle or personal mobility device rider when you are both travelling in the same direction even if the bicycle or personal mobility device rider is in a separate lane including a bicycle lane.
You don't have to follow the passing rule if you're travelling in opposite directions.
Minimum passing distance
Motorists must stay wide of bicycle and personal mobility device riders by giving a minimum of:
- 1m when passing a bicycle or personal mobility device rider in a 60km/h or less speed zone
or - 1.5m where the speed limit is more than 60km/h.
Measuring the passing distance
Measure the passing distance from:
- the rightmost part of the bicycle or personal mobility device, including any trailer towed by the bicycle or personal mobility device, or the rider or any passenger in or on the trailer
to - the leftmost part of the motor vehicle, or something sticking out from the vehicle, for example, a side mirror.
You must comply with the minimum passing distance even if the bicycle or personal mobility device rider is riding around an obstacle.
Crossing the centre lines, lane lines or islands
When passing a bicycle or personal mobility device rider, and safe to do so, you're allowed to:
- drive over centre lines, including double unbroken centre lines, on a 2-way road
- straddle or cross a lane line, including a continuous lane line, on a multi-lane road
- drive on a painted island.
If it's not safe to pass a bicycle or personal mobility device rider, you must wait until it is safe to pass.
Using your indicators
You must indicate when passing bicycle or personal mobility device riders if you need to change your position on the road.
- Indicate 'right' for enough time to warn other road users that you are about to veer right to pass a bicycle or personal mobility device rider.
- Then indicate 'left' when you have passed the bicycle or personal mobility device rider and are returning to your original position on the road.
You must indicate if you need to change your position on the road, even if you do not need to cross the centre or lane lines.
Riders side-by-side
It's legal for 2 bicycle or personal mobility device riders to ride side-by-side on a road, as long as they are not more than 1.5m apart. If you want to pass 2 bicycle or personal mobility device riders that are riding next to each other, the minimum passing distance applies to the bicycle or personal mobility device rider closest to the right.
Read more facts and tips on staying wide of the rider .
When a crash happens
If you are involved in a crash with a bicycle or personal mobility device rider on a road or road-related area, you must immediately stop. You and the bicycle or personal mobility device rider must remain at the crash scene and give assistance to anyone who is injured if it safe to do so – this can include calling an ambulance.
Road-related areas can be:
- footpaths
- bicycle paths
- shared paths
- carparks
- other public areas where bikes can be ridden.
Exchange personal information
If you are involved at the crash, you must provide your contact details, including name and address, to:
- the bicycle or personal mobility device rider involved
- anyone else injured
- the owner of any property damaged.
If you or anyone else involved in the crash fail to exchange personal information, you must report the incident to the police through the Policelink website or call 131 444.
Penalties
Fines and demerit points may apply if you fail to follow the rules for passing a bicycle or personal mobility device.