HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY AND VICTORIA HEAVY VEHICLE STANDARDS (BUS BICYCLE RACK) EXEMPTION NOTICE 2026 (No.1)
- Purpose
The purpose of this Notice is to exempt a heavy vehicle to which it applies from certain requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (the VS Regulation).
Note: This Notice is not an access authorisation and only provides Vehicle Standards exemptions. It does not authorise access to the road network. To gain access to the road network, a vehicle must comply with a current access authorisation, either under notice or permit.
- Authorising Provision
This Notice is made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) as in force in the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.
- Title
This Notice may be cited as the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria Heavy Vehicle Standards (Bus Bicycle Rack) Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1).
- Commencement
This Notice commences on 1 March 2026.
- Expiry
This Notice expires on 28 February 2031.
- Definitions
- Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.
- In this Notice –
Fleet number means the last three numerals of a bus’s registration number.
Bicycle rack means a rack capable of carrying two bicycles fitted to the front of a bus.
Bike rack bus means:
- For buses operated in the ACT, a bus operated by ACTION and fitted with a bicycle rack.
- For buses operated in Victoria, a bus operated by an accredited bus operator defined in the Bus Safety Act 2009 (Vic) and fitted with a bicycle rack.
- Application
- This Notice applies in the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria only.
- This Notice applies to a bike rack bus that does not comply with an Australian Design Rule (ADR) requirement as mentioned in Section 8 of this notice as a result of the fitment of a bicycle rack.
- Exemption from Prescribed Vehicle Standards
A bike rack bus is exempt from Schedule 1, section 2 (1) of the VS Regulation insofar as it requires compliance with an ADR listed in Column 3 of Table 1, from the subclause listed in Column 4.
Table 1. ADR components
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Item | Component | Component ADR | Exempt subclause of ADR |
1 | Installation of Lighting and Light Signalling Devices | 13/00 | Inward light projection angles in accordance with clauses, 6.1.5, 6.2.5, 6.3.5 and 6.5.5.1 Appendix A |
2 | General Safety Requirements | 92/00 | External protrusions in accordance with clauses 5.1 (a) |
3 | Vehicle Configuration and Dimensions | 43/04 | Total length of vehicle in accordance with clause 6.1.1.1 |
4 | Vehicle Marking | 61/03 | Visibility of number plate in accordance with clause 9.1.3 |
Note: The Australian Design Rules may be updated from time to time. The exemptions listed above are current at the time of publication and apply equally to both earlier and later iterations of an ADR that a vehicle is required to comply with.
- Conditions
- A vehicle operating under this notice must maintain sufficient light projection so as to provide adequate visual awareness of the area immediately forward of the vehicle in all operating conditions.
- A vehicle operating under this notice in the ACT must display the fleet number on the right and left side of the front of the bus beneath the corner of the windscreen.
- A vehicle operating under this notice in Victoria, the accredited bus operator must attach an additional number plate to the bike rack that is visible when the rack is in the deployed position.
Dated 16 February 2026
Peter Austin
Director Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Overview
The Australian Capital Territory and Victoria Heavy Vehicle Standards (Bus Bicycle Rack) Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1) was enacted to address the gap in vehicle standards compliance for buses fitted with bicycle racks, particularly those operated by ACTION in the ACT and accredited bus operators in Victoria. This Notice, made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), exempts specific buses from certain requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation. The policy objective is to facilitate the operation of these buses while ensuring safety standards are maintained. This exemption Notice applies only to the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, and it comes into effect on 1 March 2026, expiring on 28 February 2031. It provides exemptions from certain Australian Design Rules, such as those related to lighting, external protrusions, vehicle configuration, and vehicle marking, due to the fitment of bicycle racks. However, buses under this exemption must meet specific conditions, such as maintaining adequate light projection and displaying the fleet number or an additional number plate. This Notice does not grant road access but provides exemptions from vehicle standards only.
Scope and Application
This Notice, made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, applies specifically to bike rack buses operating within the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. It provides exemptions from certain Australian Design Rule requirements for buses fitted with bicycle racks, as detailed in Table 1. This exemption does not extend to authorisation for road access; separate compliance with current access authorisations under notice or permit is still required. The Notice aims to facilitate the operation of these buses while ensuring safety standards are met through specific conditions, such as maintaining adequate lighting and displaying fleet numbers or additional number plates as stipulated. The exemptions apply to both earlier and later versions of the Australian Design Rules, ensuring consistent application regardless of updates to the rules. This Notice will be in effect from 1 March 2026 until 28 February 2031, subject to its terms and any applicable conditions.
Key Provisions
This Notice, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria Heavy Vehicle Standards (Bus Bicycle Rack) Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1), provides exemptions from certain requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation for bike rack buses in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria (paragraphs 1-13). This includes exemptions from compliance with specific Australian Design Rules (ADRs) as detailed in Table 1 of the Notice, such as inward light projection angles, external protrusions, vehicle configuration and dimensions, and vehicle marking (paragraphs 5-6). These exemptions are applicable only to buses fitted with bicycle racks that do not fully comply with the mentioned ADRs due to the fitment of these racks (paragraph 7).
The Notice imposes several obligations on the parties it governs (paragraph 8). Firstly, the bus must maintain sufficient light projection to provide adequate visual awareness of the area immediately forward of the vehicle in all operating conditions (paragraph 9). Secondly, for buses operating in the ACT, the fleet number must be displayed on the right and left side of the front of the bus beneath the corner of the windscreen (paragraph 10). Thirdly, for buses operating in Victoria, the accredited bus operator must attach an additional number plate to the bike rack that is visible when the rack is in the deployed position (paragraph 11).
There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned in the Notice for breaches of its provisions (paragraph 12). However, it is important to note that this Notice does not provide access authorisation to the road network. To gain access, a vehicle must comply with a current access authorisation, either under notice or permit (paragraph 2). The Notice's exemptions are specific to vehicle standards and do not cover broader regulatory compliance or roadworthiness requirements (paragraph 13).