Special road rules for bicycle riders

You may:

• Perform hook turns at intersections unless prohibited by a sign posting.  
• You do not need to give a left or stop signal, or signal when making a hook turn but it's strongly recommended you do.  
• Ride 2 side-by-side another bike but not more than 1.5 metres apart.
• Overtake 2 other bicycle riders who are riding side-by-side.
• Ride in a Bus Lane, Transit Lane or Truck Lane but not in Tram Only and Bus Only Lane (other exemptions may also apply).
• Ride to the left of a continuous white edge line.
• Overtake on the left of stopped and slow-moving vehicles. 

You must not:  

• Ride on a pedestrian crossing. Instead, walk your bike across. You can ride across if there's a bicycle crossing signal. You must obey the signals at crossings.  
• Be towed by or hold onto another moving vehicle.  
• Carry more people than the bike is designed for. If carrying a passenger, they must be wearing an approved, fitted and fastened helmet.  
• Ride a bicycle without at least one effective brake and fully functioning bell, horn, or similar warning device
• Ride at night or in hazardous weather conditions unless the bike has all of the following:  
  • a flashing or steady white light visible for 200 metres from the front
  • a flashing or steady red light visible for 200 metres from the rear
  • a red reflector visible for at least 50 metres from the rear of the bicycle when light is projected onto it by another vehicle’s headlight on low beam. 

To stay safe when riding, you must:

• Sit astride the rider's seat facing forward with at least one hand on the handlebars.
• Wear an approved bicycle helmet securely fitted and fastened on your head.
• Keep to the left of any oncoming bicycle rider or pedestrian on a footpath, shared path, or separated path.
• Use the bicycle lane where available unless it is not practical to do so.
• Wait in the storage box area at traffic lights when available.
• Give way to any vehicle leaving a roundabout when the rider is in the left lane of a multi-lane roundabout and is turning right.  

Speed

You should always adjust your speed to your environment. For example, sharing a path, you should ride at a speed that doesn't endanger yourself or those around you. Ride according to the path environment, your experience and skill level.

You must ride at a safe speed and always give way to pedestrians. If you are riding an e-bike, the motor should cut out when you reach 25km/h.

If your motor continues to operate at higher speeds, your e-bike is not permitted on NSW roads and public paths.  

Hand signals

Hand signals help tell other road users what you are doing and where you are going.

You are required by law to give a hand signal when turning right or merging to the right lane.

Use hand signals about 30 metres before you turn, change lanes or change lane position.

Making a hand signal does not guarantee your safety. Always assess the actions of other road users around you to make sure it is safe before turning or changing lanes.