Factsheet 1 – May 2007

Cycles: Road rules and equipment

Cyclists share the roads with motor vehicles. If you are a cyclist, then for your own safety, and the safety of other road users, you must follow the road rules for cycle riders, and you must have the right equipment.

What rules must I follow?

• Your cycle must have the right equipment (see below for more information).
• Where there is a cycle path, you may ride on the cycle path or on the road. Where there is no cycle path, you must ride on the road and keep as far left as you safely can. If specifically prohibited by a sign from riding on the road, you must ride on any cycle path or use an alternative road.
• You can only ride on the footpath if you're delivering newspapers, mail or leaflets.
• You may use a bus lane, as long as there isn't a sign forbidding this.
• If you're riding with other cyclists, don't ride more than two abreast. Ride in single file when you're passing other vehicles - including parked vehicles, or when you're impeding traffic behind you.
• Use a clear arm signal if you intend to turn, reduce your speed or stop.
• At intersections, you must follow the same road rules as motor vehicles, or get off your cycle and walk across.
• You can only carry a passenger if your cycle has a pillion seat and footrests for that passenger. A container or seat for an infant must protect their legs from the wheels.
• You can tow a trailer with your cycle, but you can't tow any other sort of vehicle. Your cycle can't be towed by another vehicle.
• If you carry a load it must be secure, must not touch the ground and mustn't extend more than one metre in front of or behind the wheels, or half a metre (50 cm) on either side (from the centre of the cycle).

What are the rules for wearing cycle helmets?

It's compulsory for all cyclists on New Zealand roads to wear cycle helmets. Your cycle helmet must:

• meet an approved standard (see below)
• be securely fastened.

Check that your helmet is the right size – it should fit snugly on your head with a minimum use of pads. It's not a good idea to buy a child a helmet that they will 'grow into'.

If your cycle helmet gets damaged, replace it with a new one.

Please note that if a police officer stops you and asks to inspect your helmet, you must give it to them.

Riding in the 'hours of darkness'

If you ride during the hours of darkness, you must:

• have cycle lights fitted (see below)
• switch your cycle lights on
• wear reflective material (if you don't have pedal reflectors).

What are the 'hours of darkness'?

Legally, 'hours of darkness' means:

• any period of time between half an hour after sunset on one day and half an hour before sunrise on the next day, or
• any other time when there isn't sufficient daylight for a person or vehicle to be clearly visible at a distance of 100 metres.

Courtesy on the road

Be considerate to other road users. If the road is narrow, check that you are not slowing the traffic flow, and let motor vehicles pass as soon as it's safe.

Equipment for cyclists

Your cycle must have the following equipment.

Brakes

Your cycle must have good brakes on the front and back wheels. (If the cycle was made before 1 January 1988, the law only requires a brake on the back wheel.)

Reflectors

You must have a rear reflector that is visible from a distance of 100 metres when light shines on it (eg a car's headlights).

You may have yellow or amber pedal reflectors on the forward and rearward-facing surfaces of each pedal.

Equipment you need in the hours of darkness

If you want to ride your cycle on the road during the hours of darkness, it must have:

• one or two white or amber headlights that can be seen from a distance of 100 metres. (One of these headlights may flash.)

and

• a red rear-facing light that can be seen from a distance of 100 metres. (This may be steady or flashing.)

Your responsibilities

It's up to you to:

• make sure your cycle is fitted with brakes, lights and reflectors that comply with the law
• wear your cycle helmet
• follow the road rules.

If you don't, you could get an infringement fine or be taken to court.

Manufacturers' and retailers' responsibilities

Manufacturers and retailers must make sure that any cycle they sell, and its equipment, complies with the law. Standards markings and information supplied by manufacturers can be used to show that a cycle and its equipment comply.

It's an offence to sell a cycle helmet that doesn't meet an approved standard.

Cycle helmet standards

Every cycle helmet must meet an approved standard. Your helmet should have a sticker inside it stating which standard it complies with.

The approved standards stickers are:

Complies with standard ASTM F1447-1994

 

 

 

 

 

Complies with standards AS/NZS 2063:1996, NZS 5439 or AS 2063.2

Complies with standard Snell B90 or B95

Complies with European standard EN 1078.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission's bicycle helmet safety standard is also approved.

Where you can find out more

• Read the road and equipment Rules in the 'Legislation' section of our website.
• See the walking and cycling section of our website.
• Read the Road code.
• Contact us:
  • Email: info@nzta.govt.nz.
  • Phone our contact centre: 0800 699 000.
  • Write to us: NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141.