Under the Queensland Road Rules bicycles are considered vehicles so people riding bicycles must obey all the general road rules. As legitimate road users they have the same rights and responsibilities as other vehicle operators.
Rules that apply specifically to bicycles and cyclists are outlined below. The numbers in brackets refer to sections in the Queensland Road Rules that can be viewed for further information.
Riding a bicycle (s245)
While riding you must sit astride the seat and keep at least one hand on the handle bars at all times.
Wearing bicycle helmets (s256)
You and any passenger you are carrying must wear an approved correctly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet at all times.
The only time you are exempt from wearing a helmet is if you:
[ul]are carrying a doctor’s certificate stating that you cannot wear a helmet for a stated medical reason over a specified period
are a paying passenger on a three or four wheeled bicycle.[/ul]
Riding on the footpath (s28 )
In Queensland cyclists of any age are allowed to ride on a footpath unless prohibited by a ‘NO BICYCLES’ sign — you must give way to pedestrians and ride in a manner that does not inconvenience or endanger other footpath users.
Riding on a footpath or shared path (s250)
You must keep left and give way to pedestrians on footpaths and shared-use paths.
Riding to the left of oncoming bicycle riders on a path (s251)
You must always ride your bicycle to the left of other riders coming towards you on a bicycle path footpath separated path or shared path.
Carrying people on a bicycle (s246)
You can only double another person if:
the bicycle is designed to carry more than one person and has a passenger seat and each person wears a helmet.