Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002 (WA)

Western Australia

Road Traffic Act 1974

Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002

These regulations were repealed by the Road Traffic (Repeals and Amendment) Regulations 2014 r. 3 as at 27 Apr 2015 (see r. 2(b) and Gazette 17 Apr 2015 p. 1371).

Western Australia

Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002 Contents1. Citation 12 — Commencement3. Interpretation 14 — Application5 — Adaptations for bicycle riders with physical disabilities6 — Brakes7 — Bell8 — Handle bar9 — Rake and angle of front forks10 — Width of load14 — Child‑carrying seats15 — Offences16 — Exemptions and ordering off roadNotesCompilation table 5Defined terms

Western Australia

Road Traffic Act 1974

Road Traffic Act 1974

Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002

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 vehicle with 2 or more wheels that is built to be propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary motor) and —

• (a)

  includes a pedicab, penny‑farthing and tricycle; but

• (b)

  does not include a wheelchair, wheeled recreational device, wheeled toy or any vehicle with an auxiliary motor capable of generating a power output over 200 watts (whether or not the motor is operating);

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

wheeled recreational device has the meaning given in the Road Traffic Code 2000 regulation 3(1);

wheeled toy has the meaning given in the Road Traffic Code 2000 regulation 3(1).

• (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.

[Regulation 3 amended in Gazette 30 Aug 2011 p. 3515‑16.]

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 180 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.

[Regulation 8 amended in Gazette 30 Aug 2011 p. 3516.]

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.

[11‑13. Deleted in Gazette 30 Aug 2011 p. 3516.]

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 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.

[Regulation 14 amended in Gazette 30 Aug 2011 p. 3516.]

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

1          This is a compilation of the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002 and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table.

Compilation table

Citation	Gazettal	Commencement
Road Traffic (Bicycles) Regulations 2002	9 Aug 2002 p. 3893‑902	1 Nov 2002 (see r. 2)
Road Traffic (Bicycles) Amendment Regulations 2011	30 Aug 2011 p. 3515‑16	r. 1 and 2: 30 Aug 2011 (see r. 2(a)) Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 31 Aug 2011 (see r. 2(b))
These regulations were repealed by the Road Traffic (Repeals and Amendment) Regulations 2014 r. 3 as at 27 Apr 2015 (see r. 2(b) and Gazette 17 Apr 2015 p. 1371)

Defined terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined term Provision(s)

bicycle............................................................................................................................ 3(1)

Vehicle Standards........................................................................................................ 3(1)

wheeled recreational device....................................................................................... 3(1)

wheeled toy................................................................................................................... 3(1)