Bike Safely

Kookie the Rookie is your smart travel buddy. He is here to help you feel safe and ready when you walk, ride, catch the bus, train or taxi. This is your place to learn what to do, one step at a time.

Before You Ride

  • Always wear your helmet (click the strap under your chin).
  • Check your bike: brakes work, tyres are pumped, chain works, light and bell works.
  • Wear bright clothes.
  • Put on sunscreen.

On the Road

  • Use bike lanes when you can.
  • Ride on the left side of the road.
  • Use hand signals to turn.
  • Stop at red lights and crossings.
  • If riding at night, use your lights.

Be Alert

  • Watch for parked cars and doors opening.
  • Listen for traffic and sirens.
  • Never wear earphones when riding.
  • Watch out for holes or bumps.
  • Use your bell only when there is danger.

Key Legal Rules

  • Helmet always.
    A bicyclist must wear an approved helmet, fit properly and fastened.
  • Bike = vehicle.
    You must obey the same road rules as other vehicles (stop signs, traffic lights, give-way, etc.)
  • Use bike lanes if present (unless impractical).
    Where there is a marked bicycle lane in your direction, you must use it unless there’s good reason not to.
  • Where there’s no bike lane, keep left.
    But also avoid hazards like debris, parked cars, drain grates, etc.
  • Hand signals.
    You must signal when turning right or merging to the right. Signalling early (around 30 m before turn) is encouraged.
  • No riding on pedestrian crossings.
    You should dismount and walk your bike across, unless there’s a specific bicycle signal that allows riding over that crossing.
  • Mobile phones.
    You can only use a phone hands-free (i.e. fixed mount). You can’t hold or touch your phone while riding.
  • Lights, reflectors, bell/horn.
    At night (or in poor visibility), you need a white front light, red rear light, and red rear reflector. Your bike must also have a bell or horn.
  • Bus lanes, tram lanes, “buses-only” lanes.
    You can use a bus lane (if it’s not “buses only” or tram-only). But be extra alert near intersections where vehicles enter/exit.
  • Tram tracks.
    You can’t ride along tramway lanes (i.e. “tram only” parts) — doing so can get you fined.
  • Right turn (hook turns and roundabouts).
    There are special rules (hook turns in some intersections). In multi-lane roundabouts, take care with positioning and give way rules.
  • Illegal to hold or be towed by a moving vehicle.
    You can’t hold onto a moving car or be towed.
  • Footpath rules.
    If you are 16 or older and not supervising a child <16, you generally can’t ride on a footpath. 
    On shared paths/footpaths, you must keep left, give way to pedestrians, and slow when overtaking.
  • E-bikes
    They must be pedal-assist (i.e. motor can’t be sole power). Rules for e-bikes are in NSW’s “Bicycles and e-bikes” section.
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