The Law

For Motorists

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For Motorists *

Key things to remember as a driver

Always use your common sense, obey the road rules and remember:

  1. Check your surroundings and the vehicles around you.

  2. If it is safe, indicate and pass the bicycle or personal mobility rider at the minimum distance.

  3. If it is not safe, slow down and wait until it is safe for you to pass.

You can find more information about the road sharing rules on this QLD Government website here

This short video explains the rules and how to help keep everyone safe.

Why a metre matters

Cyclists are vulnerable.  They don’t have an outer metal shell to protect them and getting clipped by a motor vehicle even at slower speeds can be dangerous to the cyclist. 

Cyclists rely on their judgement of constantly changing road conditions including loose gravel, glass, and debris on the road, and potholes.  The lanes they are travelling can end suddenly, be blocked by parked cars, opening doors or other obstructions.

Cyclists are not protected from weather, so conditions such as high wind, wet roads, storm runoff, as well wind gusts from passing vehicles, can force cyclists into other lanes of traffic or to the outer edges of the lane they are travelling in.

Demerit point schedule

For Bicycle Riders

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For Bicycle Riders *

Bicycles are a type of vehicle—when you ride a bicycle on a Queensland road, you have rights and responsibilities like all other road users.

Key rules for bicycle riders include:

Riding too close to a vehicle

You must keep at least 2m between you and the back of a vehicle when you follow that vehicle for over 200m.

Riding with care

When riding on roads and paths, you must ride with due care and attention and be considerate of other riders, drivers and pedestrians around you.

Some examples where a rider might not be riding with due care and attention include:

  • dangerously swerving in and out of pedestrians on a busy path

  • riding at an unsafe speed around a corner where pedestrians might be present.

Make sure you are riding to the conditions and avoid unsafe moves that could put you or others at risk.

Being a traffic hazard

You must avoid being a traffic hazard—do not ride into the path of a driver or pedestrian.