Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002

Western Australia

Road Traffic Act 1974

1.Citation

These regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002.

2.Commencement

These regulations come into operation on 1 November 2002.

3.Interpretation

(1)In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears —

bicycle means —

(a)any 2 wheeled vehicle, not being a scooter, that is designed to be propelled solely by human power;

(b)any 3 wheeled vehicle, intended for use on a road, that is designed to be propelled solely by human power; or

(c)a 2 wheeled or 3 wheeled vehicle that is a power assisted pedal cycle;

Vehicle Standards means the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules 2002.

(2)Unless the context requires otherwise, a reference in these regulations to the visibility of a light is a reference to its visibility, or its capacity to be visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, at any time between sunset and sunrise.

4.Application

These regulations apply to a bicycle if it is on a road.

5.Adaptations for bicycle riders with physical disabilities

If the Director General believes that a person with a physical disability cannot safely ride a bicycle unless the bicycle is constructed, equipped or adapted in a particular manner, the Director General may, by notice in writing to the person with the disability and the owner of the bicycle, vary these regulations in so far as they apply to the bicycle while it is being ridden by the person with the disability, by requiring that the bicycle be constructed, equipped or adapted accordingly.

6.Brakes

A bicycle must be capable of being braked by either or both of the following means —

(a)an effective foot brake operated by turning the pedals in the reverse direction;

(b)an effective hand operated brake fitted to the rear wheel having the operating handle fixed in a position providing for convenient operation.

7.Bell

A bicycle must have a bell or other effective warning device fixed in a convenient position.

8.Handle bar

The handle bar of a bicycle must extend not less than 200 mm nor more than 330 mm on each side of the centre of the bicycle and the height of the uppermost point of the handle bar must not exceed the height of the uppermost part of the seat by more than 300 mm.

9.Rake and angle of front forks

The horizontal distance between the axle of the front wheel of a bicycle and a line dropped vertically from the centre of the pivot head bearing on the front tube of the frame must not exceed 250 mm.

10.Width of load

The overall width of any equipment or load carried on a bicycle must not exceed 660 mm.

11.Reflector

(1)A bicycle must have affixed at all times a reflector that will effectively reflect red light when illuminated by the headlight of a vehicle approaching from the rear and that reflector must —

(a)comply with the requirements specified in rule 102(1)(a) and (2) of the Vehicle Standards and have a reflective area of not less than the area of a circle of 38 mm diameter;

(b)be mounted on the rear part of the bicycle at a height that is not less than 330 mm nor more than 1 m; and

(c)be mounted vertically and facing to the rear in such a manner that the light reflected from the headlight of a vehicle approaching from the rear is clearly visible to the driver of that vehicle.

(2)The reflector required by subregulation (1) may be in the form of a reflecting lens fitted to the rear lamp.

(3)If a bicycle is being ridden between sunset and sunrise, it must have affixed, to each wheel, 2 yellow side reflectors complying with the requirements for reflectors in Australian Standard AS 1927‑1998 (Pedal Bicycles — Safety Requirements) and Australian Standard AS 2142‑1978 (Specification for Reflectors for Pedal Bicycles).

(4)If a bicycle is being ridden between sunset and sunrise, it must have affixed, to both sides of each pedal, yellow pedal reflectors complying with the requirements for reflectors in Australian Standard AS 2142‑1978 (Specification for Reflectors for Pedal Bicycles).

(5)A bicycle must not have affixed a reflector capable of reflecting red light in the forward direction.

12.Lights

(1)If a bicycle is being ridden between sunset and sunrise —

(a)there must be attached to the bicycle a lighted front light showing an unbroken white light that is clearly visible at a distance of 200 m from the front of the bicycle; and

(b)there must be attached to the bicycle or its rider a lighted rear light showing —

(i)an unbroken red light; or

(ii)a red light that flashes regularly at the rate of not less than 60 per minute,

visible at a distance of 200 m from the rear of the bicycle.

(2)The vertical distance from the ground to the centre of each light referred to in subregulation (1) is to be at least 330 mm.

(3)In addition to the light required under subregulation (1)(a), a front light showing a white flashing light may be attached to a bicycle or its rider.

13.Colour of rear mudguard

If a rear mudguard is fitted to a bicycle the surface of the mudguard facing to the rear must be white or silver in colour.

14.Child‑carrying seats

Any child‑carrying seat on a bicycle —

(a)must be securely attached to the frame of the bicycle;

(b)must be soundly constructed without sharp edges or protrusions;

(c)must not be located forward of or on the handlebars;

(d)if attached in close proximity to a wheel must be fitted with a guard to prevent any part of the occupant of the seat from contacting any moving part of the bicycle; and

(e)must be fitted with —

(i)a footrest or other device to steady the occupant; and

(ii)a restraining device that cannot be easily or accidentally released by the occupant of the seat.

15.Offences

(1)A person must not ride a bicycle on a road unless it complies with these regulations.

Penalty: 4 PU.

(2)For the purposes of section 102 of the Act —

(a)the offence in subregulation (1) is prescribed; and

(b)the amount of the modified penalty for the offence if it is dealt with under that section is 1 PU.

(3)Despite subregulation (2), an alleged offender against subregulation (1) who is under 14 years of age is not to be dealt with by way of an infringement notice and modified penalty.

16.Exemptions and ordering off road

Parts 5, 6 and 7 of the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2002 apply to and in relation to bicycles as if —

(a)bicycles were motor vehicles; and

(b)these regulations were part of the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2002.

Notes

1This is a compilation of the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002. The following table contains information about that regulation.

Compilation table

Citation	Gazettal	Commencement
Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002	9 Aug 2002 p. 3893‑902	1 Nov 2002 (see r. 2)