Riders
Riders of all ages and levels of experience are exposed and vulnerable on roads and risk serious injury or even death if involved in a crash.
Bicycle riders
Riding bikes for recreation, fitness or as part of your daily commute is increasing in popularity across all of NSW. Willoughby City Council is steadily increasing facilities, with an increasing network of separated, shared and on-road bicycle paths available for bicycle riders to use.
Transport for New South Wales ‘Go together’ campaign shows bicycle riders and other road users how to respect each other’s space and ensure that everyone stays safe.
Bicycle riders must always wear an approved bicycle helmet and safety gear. Your bike must be fitted with a working horn or bell and have at least one working brake. If you are riding at night or in hazardous weather conditions your bike must also be fitted with lights and a red rear reflector. It is also useful to wear bright or light coloured clothing during the day at reflective clothing at night and footwear that fully encloses the toe and heel.
Bicycle riders must observe the NSW road rules.
Children under 16 years of age can ride bikes on the footpath in NSW. Adult bicycle riders who are supervising a bicycle rider under 16 years may also ride with the young rider on the footpath. When riding on a footpath, riders must keep left and give way to pedestrians.
If you're 16 years or older and not supervising a child under 16 years riding a bike, you can’t ride on the footpath.
Related Information
Motorcycle riders
Motorcyclists have emerged as a particular road safety concern for urban areas, including on the Willoughby LGA road network. On Willoughby roads, there were 117 motorcycle road user casualty crashes from 2015 to 2019 and 86% of these motorcyclists were male.
NSW statistics show that a motorcycle is four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than any other passenger vehicle. Even when not ‘at fault’ motorcyclists are vulnerable.
Transport for New South Wales has created Ride to Live, a resource to help motorcycle riders make good decisions and help keep them safe. It gives riders useful information about the risks on the road and how they can best manage them with information on rider skills, training and gear, as well as useful information from crash prevention to first aid. There’s something for road users of every level of experience.
Enjoy the road, but know the risks.
No matter what type of motorcycle you ride, or what kind of rider you are, almost everyone falls off sooner or later.
Choosing the right gear can help prevent or reduce the severity of injuries such as abrasions, friction burns, cuts and lacerations, including having skin and muscle stripped from your body.
But it can be confusing to tell what safe gear actually is. There is so much expensive and cool looking motorcycle gear in the market.
All helmets have to pass the Australian Standard AS 1698. Make sure you buy based on fit and comfort. Your helmet must be comfortable enough for you to wear correctly - even for extended periods.
But don’t spend all of your money on the helmet. Your gear budget should also include boots, gloves, pants and a jacket to help you ride in safety and comfort.
You cannot tell how well a product will perform in a crash just by looking at it in a shop or on a website. When looking for motorcycle gear there will always be pros and cons to weigh up – but it really comes down to safety and comfort. Check out the MotoCAP, a consumer information program designed to provide riders with scientifically-based information on the relative protection and comfort on a range of motorcycle protective jackets, pants and gloves available in Australia and New Zealand. MotoCAP tests gear using rigorous, scientific methods to provide ratings for motorcyclists to choose the right gear with the best protection and comfort for their ride.
It may take a while for you to find just the right gear for you. But it is worth pursuing and will give you – and your loved ones – peace of mind when you head off on your bike.
Always Gear Up To Ride.
Motorcycle lane filtering is when a motorcycle rider moves alongside vehicles that have either stopped or are moving slowly (less than 30 kmph). In NSW, a motorcycle rider can lane filter if:
- They have a full motorcycle rider licence
- They are travelling at less than 30 kmph
- The traffic is stopped or moving slowly
- It’s safe to do so.
Motorcycle riders must not lane filter next to kerbs or parked vehicles, or in school zones.