Bike Rider Safety

Bike rider safety

Bicycles are vehicles, and under the law bike riders have the same rights and responsibilities as car drivers.

To stay safe bike, riders need to obey the road rules, ride predictably, share the road respectfully and safely with other road users, and maintain their bicycles properly.

In the five years to 2019, there were an average of ten bike rider fatalities and 337 serious injuries per year.

Bicycle safety tips

Keep safe on your bicycle. Obey the road laws and be alert to the traffic around you. Ride in the same direction as other traffic and keep your bicycle one metre from the kerb.

Before changing lanes and turning, always scan behind and signal your intentions to other road users.
Try to make eye contact with other road users to help them know that you are there.
Look out for other road users particularly when they are approaching you from behind or pulling out in front of you.
Look out for drivers and passengers getting in and out of parked cars and be aware of the risk of car doors opening.
Don’t ride on the inside of larger vehicles such as buses and trucks – the drivers can’t see you and these vehicles may be turning which will require more space than a normal passenger car.
Be careful riding over tram tracks, especially in wet weather.
Wear a correctly fitted, Australian standards approved, bicycle helmet.
Take extra care when cycling at night. It is harder for drivers to see you and for you to see hazards. Try to ride on well-lit roads and wear bright or light coloured clothing or a reflective vest. When riding at night or in conditions of low light, your bike must have a white front light, a rear red light, both visible from at least 200 metres, and a red rear reflector visible from at least 50 metres.
Ride defensively. This means being alert to other vehicles and acting predictably yourself.
When using a single lane roundabout, ride in the middle of the lane. This is so you are more visible to other road users and you are less likely to be cut off when other road users are exiting the roundabout.
When riding through a multi-lane roundabout you are permitted to ride in the left lane, even if you are turning right. If you do, you must give way to vehicles exiting the roundabout. Make sure you signal your intentions and where possible, try to make eye contact.
When using a shared path or separated footpath, ride in a manner and a speed that will enable you to give way to pedestrians. Always let people walking or slower bike riders know you are about to pass by ringing your bell or simply calling out.
We recommend that children under the age of twelve years ride under adult supervision.

For more information please visit https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/cyclist-safety/bike-rider-safety