Riding on Road 2 Abreast

Hi Jason,

Here in Victoria, and I expect the rest of Australia, it is perfectly legal
to ride 2 abreast on public roads as follows;

Under the road rules, a cyclist must not ride alongside more than one other
rider, unless:

a. the rider is overtaking other cyclists who may be cycling beside each
other; or,
b. the rider is taking part in an on-road cycling event that has been
approved by the Chief Commissioner of Police.

If a cyclist is riding alongside another cyclist, the cyclist must not ride
more than 1.5 metres from the other cyclist.

<http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrninte.nsf/alldocs/1A9365777EC0EB45CA2
56B5F0003CDCC?OpenDocument&Area=[Cyclists]>

Sting>

"Jason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Am wondering if it's legal to ride 2 abreast on single lane roads? Eg. 2
bikes side by side. Thanks.

Cheers,
Jason

Jason said:

Hi,
Am wondering if it's legal to ride 2 abreast on single lane roads? Eg. 2
bikes side by side. Thanks.
Cheers, Jason

in western australia, yes. not sure about the rest of aus.

--

Sting said:

Hi Jason,
Here in Victoria, and I expect the rest of Australia, it is perfectly
legal to ride 2 abreast on public roads as follows;
Under the road rules, a cyclist must not ride alongside more than one
other rider, unless:
a. the rider is overtaking other cyclists who may be cycling beside
each other; or,
b. the rider is taking part in an on-road cycling event that has been
approved by the Chief Commissioner of Police.
If a cyclist is riding alongside another cyclist, the cyclist must not
ride more than 1.5 metres from the other cyclist.

OK, that's thoroughly confusing, but true. In English: You can ride tw
abreast, more if you're passing or racing/in an organised event w polic
permission. I thought you also couldn't ride two abreast where doubl
white lines are marked on a single lane road. Anyone know about this

-

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 27 Jan 2004 14:51:15 GMT

Roadie_scum said:

OK, that's thoroughly confusing, but true. In English: You can ride two
abreast, more if you're passing or racing/in an organised event w police
permission. I thought you also couldn't ride two abreast where double
white lines are marked on a single lane road. Anyone know about this?

It's not mentioned in any road rules I've seen.

You can search yourself on www.austlii.edu.au.

Zebee

Greetings,
Yes, it is legal and always has been, in the words of
the law, `when safe to do so'. This of course presents some problems,
how do you know it is safe? I travel with a rear vision mirror attached
to my glasses and pull in when I see a car coming up. I wouldn't
recommend trying to enforce your end of the law on a city road in peak
hour though.
Regards,
RY>

Jason said:

Hi,

Am wondering if it's legal to ride 2 abreast on single lane roads? Eg. 2
bikes side by side. Thanks.

Cheers,
Jason

Jason said:

Hi,
Am wondering if it's legal to ride 2 abreast on single lane roads? Eg. 2
bikes side by side. Thanks.
Cheers, Jason

From Tasmanian Dept of Transport web site

http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/road/transport_tas/cycling_walking.html-
#New%20Road%20Rules

New Road Rules

As part of the new National Traffic Code, some new road rules will
affect users of some alternative forms of transport. Important
changes include:

Two abreast bicycling and horse riding in single traffic lanes; Riding
of wheeled recreational devices or wheeled toys, such as skateboards and
rollerblades, on roads and footpaths.

As these were put into place to comply with national road rules I assume
they apply to all Australian States and territories.

These are the changes which came into effect:

Two abreast bicycle riding is now legal on Tasmanian roads where it is
safe to do so. (Hey hey, now we can hold up traffic forever!)

Cyclists must ride in bicycle lanes where these are provided on a
roadway, unless it is impracticable to do so. (The only designated
bicycle lane in Hobart, near Taroona is worse than useless - full
of stones, glass, potholes, parked cars and, in some places, is
the gutter).

Bicycle riders in the far left-hand lane of a roundabout with two or
more lanes must give way to any vehicle leaving the roundabout. (Wow it
took some intelligence to dream that one up - I thought that's what
everyone has to do).

P.S. Use of indicators on Tasmanian roads still appears to be optional,
especially when turning left in front of a cyclist!!

--

The rule that everyone seems to ignore is that, yes, it is ok to ride
two abreast, however in doing so they must not obstruct vehicle traffic.
This means that if you are two abreast and the traffic behind cannot
overtake because of you, the cops can take action if an irrate motorist
hasn't already.

BG

Sting said:

Hi Jason,

Here in Victoria, and I expect the rest of Australia, it is perfectly legal
to ride 2 abreast on public roads as follows;

Under the road rules, a cyclist must not ride alongside more than one other
rider, unless:

a. the rider is overtaking other cyclists who may be cycling beside each
other; or,
b. the rider is taking part in an on-road cycling event that has been
approved by the Chief Commissioner of Police.

If a cyclist is riding alongside another cyclist, the cyclist must not ride
more than 1.5 metres from the other cyclist.

<http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrninte.nsf/alldocs/1A9365777EC0EB45CA2
56B5F0003CDCC?OpenDocument&Area=[Cyclists]>

Sting>

"Jason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Am wondering if it's legal to ride 2 abreast on single lane roads? Eg. 2
bikes side by side. Thanks.

Cheers,
Jason

In article <[email hidden]>,

Brian said:

The rule that everyone seems to ignore is that, yes, it is ok to ride
two abreast, however in doing so they must not obstruct vehicle traffic.
This means that if you are two abreast and the traffic behind cannot
overtake because of you, the cops can take action if an irrate motorist
hasn't already.

Which law is that? The relevant regulation on obstruction in Victoria is:

125. Unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians
(1) A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a
pedestrian.
Penalty: 2 penalty units.
Note Driver includes a person in control of a vehicle--see the definition of drive in the
dictionary.
(2) For this rule, a driver does not unreasonably obstruct the path of another
driver or a pedestrian only because--
(a) the driver is stopped in traffic; or
(b) the driver is driving more slowly than other vehicles (unless the driver
is driving abnormally slowly in the circumstances).
Example of a driver driving abnormally slowly
A driver driving at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour on a length of road to which a speed-limit
of 80 kilometres per hour applies when there is no reason for the driver to drive at that speed on
the length of road.

-- Shane

Brian <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

The rule that everyone seems to ignore is that, yes, it is ok to ride
two abreast, however in doing so they must not obstruct vehicle traffic.
This means that if you are two abreast and the traffic behind cannot
overtake because of you, the cops can take action if an irrate motorist
hasn't already.

WTF ? I'm not aware of this rule. Can you give more info ?

Brian said:

The rule that everyone seems to ignore is that, yes, it is ok to ride
two abreast, however in doing so they must not obstruct vehicle traffic.
This means that if you are two abreast and the traffic behind cannot
overtake because of you, the cops can take action if an irrate motorist
hasn't already.

Quoted message said:

There is no such rule. It is L-A-W law that you are permitted to rid
two abreast. It is common sense to allow vehicles to pass if they ar
building up behind you, but there is no compulsion to do so

You can ride your bike in the middle of the lane and obstruct traffic i
you consider it is unsafe to ride "as close to the left as practicable
which is the rule for all vehicles, not just bicycles. As one othe
thread poits out it would be unreasonable to obstruct traffic unduly o
an 80kph speed limit zone, but again if there is a reasonable excuse fo
doing so then you would have a good defence if charged

I find if you stick to the left, in some situations, vehicles will tr
to pass when there is not enough room to do so safely. Best to ride i
the middle of the lane and remove the temptation to squeeze past. O
course, I always yield to the vehicles when the situation becomes saf
and also indicate quite clearly when there is a clear road ahead and i
is safe for them to pass

On our group rides we ride two abreast most of the time as the bunch i
moving along at between 40 and 50 kph in a 50 or 60 zone, so we are no
holding up traffic too much. When we get to hills where we might slo
down, we move to single file and clearly indicate to following vehicle
when they should pass if they appear to be uncertain. A bit of friendl
communication goes a long way

-

Spider1977 said:

I find if you stick to the left, in some situations, vehicles will try
to pass when there is not enough room to do so safely. Best to ride in
the middle of the lane and remove the temptation to squeeze past. Of
course, I always yield to the vehicles when the situation becomes safe
and also indicate quite clearly when there is a clear road ahead and it
is safe for them to pass.

Yep. I do exactly that on some of the mickey-mouse roundabouts where I
live. When it's safe, move into the middle of the lane as I approach the
roundabout to stop anyone trying anything silly. Then, on the exit, stay
as far left as I can. I'll take the entry, and the cars can have the exit.

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 29 Jan 2004 06:51:01 GMT

Spider1977 said:

You can ride your bike in the middle of the lane and obstruct traffic if
you consider it is unsafe to ride "as close to the left as practicable"
which is the rule for all vehicles, not just bicycles. As one other

You aren't allowed to ride widely separated, if there's 2 of you, you
can only be 1.5m apart. That's about the only restriction.

from the Australian Road Rules:

151 Riding a motor bike or bicycle alongside more than
1 other rider

(1) The rider of a motor bike or bicycle must not ride on a road that
is not a multi-lane road alongside more than 1 other rider,
unless subrule (3) applies to the rider.
Offence provision.
Note Bicycle, motor bike and multi-lane road are defined in the
dictionary, and rider is defined in rule 17.

(2) The rider of a motor bike or bicycle must not ride in a marked
lane alongside more than 1 other rider in the marked lane,
unless subrule (3) applies to the rider.
Offence provision.
Note Marked lane is defined in the dictionary.

(3) The rider of a motor bike or bicycle may ride alongside more
than 1 other rider if the rider is:
(a) overtaking the other riders; or
(b) permitted to do so under another law of this jurisdiction.
Note Overtake is defined in the dictionary.

(4) If the rider of a motor bike or bicycle is riding on a road that is
not a multi-lane road alongside another rider, or in a marked
lane alongside another rider in the marked lane, the rider must
ride not over 1.5 metres from the other rider.
Offence provision.

(5) In this rule:
road does not include a road-related area, but includes a
bicycle path, shared path and any shoulder of the road.
Note Bicycle path is defined in rule 239, road-related area is defined
in
rule 13, shared path is defined in rule 242, and shoulder is defined in
rule 12.`

Thanks Brian,

I [censored] myself reading that! What the hell are they going to do about peak
hour traffic? Whoever gets the job of writing tickets will get RSI, ALL the
cars are obstructing traffic 😉.

I am assuming that "obstructing vehicle traffic" would apply to all
vehicles, bicycles thru to trucks. I would like to see the section
reference for that one.

Kevin

"Brian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The rule that everyone seems to ignore is that, yes, it is ok to ride
two abreast, however in doing so they must not obstruct vehicle traffic.
This means that if you are two abreast and the traffic behind cannot
overtake because of you, the cops can take action if an irrate motorist
hasn't already.

BG

Sting said:

Hi Jason,

Here in Victoria, and I expect the rest of Australia, it is perfectly

legal

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to ride 2 abreast on public roads as follows;

Under the road rules, a cyclist must not ride alongside more than one

other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rider, unless:

a. the rider is overtaking other cyclists who may be cycling beside

each

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

other; or,
b. the rider is taking part in an on-road cycling event that has been
approved by the Chief Commissioner of Police.

If a cyclist is riding alongside another cyclist, the cyclist must not

ride

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

more than 1.5 metres from the other cyclist.

<http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrninte.nsf/alldocs/1A9365777EC0EB45CA2

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

56B5F0003CDCC?OpenDocument&Area=[Cyclists]>

Sting>

"Jason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Am wondering if it's legal to ride 2 abreast on single lane roads? Eg. 2
bikes side by side. Thanks.

Cheers,
Jason

For a comprehensive list of things you can and can't do on a bicycle g
to the following link, which takes you to the Tasmanian Traffic Act
This act conforms with the national road rules. I think these Acts ar
identical in each State

http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/view/+131+1999+AT@EN+200401290

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