Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Changes to Victorian Rules for cyclists. NB: whats a proper seat?
From VicRoads - Cyclists: From 9 November 2009, there will be some ....
The changes are about the helmet and using the proper seat for bicycle passengers, and for cyclists turning from, and stopping in, bicycle boxes at intersections with traffic signals.
Seat and helmet
A bicycle passenger must wear an approved bicycle helmet and sit on a proper seat when riding on a bicycle.
Area reserved for cyclists (bicycle box)
A driver must stop at the first line of the bicycle box while a cyclist must stop at the second line, within the bicycle box. See diagram right.
Turning at intersections
When turning at intersections with a bicycle box a bicycle rider:
* if turning left, must be in the left lane of the reserved area
* if turning right, must be in the right lane of the reserved area (where there is a bicycle box in the right lane).
What you have to do
If you are a bicycle passenger, make sure you are wearing an approved bicycle helmet and sitting on a proper seat.
If you are using the bicycle box ensure you keep clear of the pedestrian area.
What else can cyclists do to increase safety?
* wear a bright top when riding
* use lights at night at both the front and rear of the bicycle
* when riding two abreast along a road where there is a double or a single continuous centre line, drop back to single file to allow cars to pass safely.
Road safety reasons
Cyclists and their passengers are some of the most vulnerable road users. More than 1,000 cyclists are injured in crashes with motor vehicles each year. These new rules aim to improve their safety when riding with traffic.
If both cyclists and their passengers wear helmets, the risk of head injury is reduced in a crash.
Using a proper seat keeps the bicycle more stable and lessens the risk of crashing.
Bicycle boxes allow cyclists to wait ahead of traffic at signalised intersections and to get a head start on motor vehicles. This way cyclists can be more easily seen by drivers.
Click here to view the Frequently Asked Questions.
The changes are about the helmet and using the proper seat for bicycle passengers, and for cyclists turning from, and stopping in, bicycle boxes at intersections with traffic signals.
Seat and helmet
A bicycle passenger must wear an approved bicycle helmet and sit on a proper seat when riding on a bicycle.
Area reserved for cyclists (bicycle box)
A driver must stop at the first line of the bicycle box while a cyclist must stop at the second line, within the bicycle box. See diagram right.
Turning at intersections
When turning at intersections with a bicycle box a bicycle rider:
* if turning left, must be in the left lane of the reserved area
* if turning right, must be in the right lane of the reserved area (where there is a bicycle box in the right lane).
What you have to do
If you are a bicycle passenger, make sure you are wearing an approved bicycle helmet and sitting on a proper seat.
If you are using the bicycle box ensure you keep clear of the pedestrian area.
What else can cyclists do to increase safety?
* wear a bright top when riding
* use lights at night at both the front and rear of the bicycle
* when riding two abreast along a road where there is a double or a single continuous centre line, drop back to single file to allow cars to pass safely.
Road safety reasons
Cyclists and their passengers are some of the most vulnerable road users. More than 1,000 cyclists are injured in crashes with motor vehicles each year. These new rules aim to improve their safety when riding with traffic.
If both cyclists and their passengers wear helmets, the risk of head injury is reduced in a crash.
Using a proper seat keeps the bicycle more stable and lessens the risk of crashing.
Bicycle boxes allow cyclists to wait ahead of traffic at signalised intersections and to get a head start on motor vehicles. This way cyclists can be more easily seen by drivers.
Click here to view the Frequently Asked Questions.
Comment
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Comment by Michael on November 6, 2009 at 2:02pm -
Just as worrying is this change - "Scooter riders are required to wear an approved bicycle helmet."
Why?
1) Because the penalty for scooter riders points towards even stiffer penalties against cyclists - "failure to wear a helmet when riding a scooter carries a penalty of 1.25 penalty units which translates to $146 presently." The penalty for adult cyclists is $50 but watch out for the authorities ramping up their anti-cyclist fines across the board.
2) Because my two young daughters, who already refuse to ride their bicycles rather than wear helmets, will now have even less opportunity to get healthy exercise and my wife will probably start driving them to school and back because the distance is too great for them to manage on foot.
More car trips, more congestion, more road rage, more accidents - even less exercise.
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Comment by njptower on November 4, 2009 at 8:32am
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I wonder how many drivers will ever get to learn these new rules???
Licence fees should be paid each year ( photos every ten) and a questionnaire sent out with licence renewal, drivers must answer questions correctly or their licence is not renewed - a booklet would be provided that contains the answers, so it would be just a matter of looking through the book and ticking the correct multiple choice box.
The bicycle box explanation is unclear when there are say 5 or 6 bikes waiting at the intersection in the box, what happens?
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Comment by LongLoad on October 28, 2009 at 1:43pm -
My concern is about the following Suggestion:
* when riding two abreast along a road where there is a double or a single continuous centre line, drop back to single file to allow cars to pass safely.
As far as I can work out, the rules on riding two abreast have not hanged, but this suggestion may cause some confusion, both about riding side by side and being allowed to occupy a full lane for safety.
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Comment by Steve Jay on October 26, 2009 at 2:44pm -
Oh, and like I'll give a stuff about bike box rules while motorists ignore bike boxes completely and stop right over the top of them.
For every red I've run in my entire life when there was no other traffic around (the only time I trickle through a red) I've probably seen twice as many motorists disrespect traffic lights, other road users and cycling facilities every day.
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Comment by Steve Jay on October 26, 2009 at 2:40pm
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I think the "proper seat" thing refers to parents dinking kids. If it's an approved child seat that the kid fits in, and meets the weight restrictions, then it's a "proper seat." If the kid's being dinked on a rack or on the top tube, that's not a "proper seat".
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Comment by trundlebug on October 25, 2009 at 3:13pm -
Hear hear. About time someone did something about all those people riding around without seats.
?
The bike box bit is peculiar too. In the FAQ bit, it points out that you can still make a hook turn from the left lane or turn right from the right hand lane where there is no bike box. What's actually changed?
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