Table of Contents

6.1 RULES FOR PEDAL CYCLISTS

Bicycle parts: saddle, handlebars, bell, headlamp, carrier, pump, front and rear mudguards, front and rear brakes, rear reflector, pedals, wheel rims, tyres, and bearings.

• All cyclists are especially vulnerable on the road since they have little protection and, unlike pedestrians, share the road with larger vehicles.
• As cyclists, it is in your interest to behave judiciously to avoid causing or being involved in collisions.
• If your side of the road is divided into lanes by road markings, your correct position is on the left side of the appropriate lane. If no lanes are marked, you should ride on the left side of motor traffic.
• Keep a regular course and do not "weave" in and out of traffic.
• When traffic becomes congested, do not endanger yourself and others by riding down the space between stationary vehicles in order to gain a forward position.
• Never ride more than two abreast—SINGLE FILE IS MUCH SAFER.
• Do not risk injuring pedestrians and children by riding your machine out of a gate and across a sidewalk—wheel it on to the road before you mount.
• Do not hold on to the other cyclists or vehicles.
• Avoid towing or being towed.
• Sit only on the saddle of your cycle.
• If you are wearing long trousers, cycle-clips will prevent them from catching on projecting parts of the machine.
• In windy weather, be prepared for sudden gusts that may cause you to swerve.
• Where a cycle track is provided you are required to use it and forbidden to use the road.
• Always wear a crash helmet of the correct size that is fastened securely.
• Cyclists MUST wear appropriate reflective clothing for safety and visibility.
• At night, cyclists MUST have a white front light lit and may have one or more red lamps fitted to the rear of their cycles.
• Keep both hands on the handle bars except when signalling or changing gear.
• Always keep both feet on the pedals.
• Keep a safe following distance when riding behind another vehicle.
• Do not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain.
• Pedal cyclists MUST NOT carry any load or passenger greater than 40 kilogrammes in mass on their cycles.
• Cyclists under the age of 16 MUST NOT carry passengers.
• Cyclists MUST NOT carry loads that project more than 60 centimetres in front or more than 90 centimetres to the rear of the wheels of their cycle or more than 30 centimetres on either side of the wheels of their cycle.
• Where provided, cycle tracks MUST always be used.
• Always be aware of traffic coming up behind you.
• The bell should be in good working order and placed in such a way that you can sound it and brake at the same time. It is the only warning device you are allowed to carry.
• You are required to display red reflective material on the rear mudguard as near to the bottom as possible. This is to make you to be visible at night. It is dangerous to disobey this rule.

Red reflective material must be fitted as near as possible to the bottom of the rear mudguard for night visibility.

• An additional red tail-light is strongly recommended.
• The reflective material must be at least 35mm wide and of such length that not less than 4000 square millimetres of uninterrupted reflective surface is visible.
• Pedal cycles having only one rear wheel must be equipped with two brakes which operate on the rear and front wheels.

Pedal cycles only sign: R111

Pedal cycles only sign

Pedal cycles and pedestrians only sign: R112, R113, R114 and R115

Pedal cycles and pedestrians only sign: R112, R113, R114 and R115

6.2 RULES FOR MOTOR CYCLISTS

• Motor cyclists and their passengers MUST always wear protective crash helmets. Helmets MUST comply with regulations and should be fastened securely.

• At night, always wear reflective clothing for visibility.

• Passengers should be carried only in the side car or astride the pillion. A maximum of two passengers can be carried in a side car, and only one passenger can be carried on the pillion and foot rests are necessary.

• A motorcyclist MUST ensure that his or her motorcycle is fitted with not more than two headlamps and at least one tail lamp and one rear stop light.

• A side car MUST be fitted with at least one tail lamp.

• Have effective silencers and avoid causing distraction or offence by noisy acceleration.

• Failure to keep a motor cycle in good condition can have very serious consequences for the unprotected rider. These are the items to which you should pay particular attention: (i) The brakes must work properly and be effective. (ii) The bearings should not be slack. (iii) Wheels should be properly aligned and straight, with no spokes missing or loose. (iv) The tyres should be in good condition and properly inflated. (v) Mudguards should be firmly secured. (vi) The chain should be sufficiently taut. (vii) The pedals or foot- rests should be secure. (viii) The pillion or carrier should be firmly fixed in position. (ix) The saddle should be properly adjusted to suit you. (x) The handlebars should be properly adjusted and secure. (xi) A motor cycle must have indicators, a stop light and a red reflex reflector. (xii) A motor cycle with an engine capacity of 350 cubic centimetres or more must be fitted with crash bars. (xiii) A red tail light is necessary at night. (xiv) A white light in front is also necessary at night.

  Motorcycle rear-lighting requirements: a motorcycle must have indicators, a stop light, and a red rear reflector; the pillion/carrier and controls (saddle and handlebars) should be properly adjusted and secure.