The Highway Code provides rules that legally ‘must’ be followed and advice that ‘should’ be followed to keep cyclists safe on the roads. Breaking these rules is a criminal offence and can be used as evidence in both criminal and civil proceedings.
Remember, as a cyclist you share a responsibility with motorists to create a safe environment on the road.
It is illegal to:
Cycle on the pavement. You must also keep to the dedicated side in any cycle lanes running alongside a footpath/pavement
Go through a red light. Where there is an advanced stop line, this may be used by cyclists, but you must never cross the final stop line while the light is red
Carry a passenger unless your bike is specially adapted for this
Cycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Cycle in a way that puts others at risk. Cycling in any way that is considered furious, dangerous, careless or inconsiderate is an offence
Cycle without the correct brakes, lights and reflectors, as set out in the pre-run section
You should follow all road signs and traffic lights.
Besides the legal requirements, there are important advisories in the Highway Code that we encourage you to stick to in order to stay safe:
Wear a helmet that fits and is fastened correctly, and adheres to current standards.
Travel slowly and with caution through any shared spaces with pedestrians, and use your voice or bell to alert others to your presence, leaving plenty of space while overtaking.
Don’t ride between a bus and the kerb when the bus is at a passenger stop. Look out for pedestrians around the bus.
You shouldn’t cycle more than 2 abreast. Be considerate of the needs of other road users. Be aware of drivers behind you, and allow them to overtake (e.g. by moving into single file) when you feel it is safe to let them do so.
On narrow sections of road, on quiet roads or streets, at road junctions and in slower-moving traffic, you may sometimes ride in the centre of the lane, rather than towards the side of the road, to ensure you can see and be seen.
Take care when passing parked vehicles. Leave at least a door’s width between you and the car to avoid being hit by an opening door. Watch out for pedestrians coming out from between stationary vehicles
Be aware that large vehicles have blind spots and sometimes can’t see you. Be cautious when passing to the left of larger vehicles; you should only do so when they are moving very slowly or are stationary
Position yourself an arm’s width from the curb to ensure you are visible. You may move further out into the centre of the lane to prevent other road users from overtaking in a dangerous place, for example when approaching junctions.
Move left to allow other road users to overtake you where possible, but keep at least 0.5m from the curb to avoid putting yourself at risk.
Always check over your right shoulder before moving further out into the road in case of any overtaking vehicles.
Manoeuvres and junctions:
Check your surroundings carefully before setting off. Take particular care if you are in any way obscured from passing traffic. Failing to look properly is the most common contributor to collisions involving bikes.
Make eye contact with other road users before setting off or starting a manoeuvre, to ensure they are aware of your presence
Signal clearly before making a turn to show your intentions
At some junctions, you may need to wait for a gap in oncoming traffic to safely make your turn. Position yourself in a safe place while waiting, and only allow traffic to pass on the inside where it’s safe to do so. Otherwise, occupy the centre of the lane to prevent any dangerous overtaking (or undertaking) and to maintain visibility.
Remember, you may use pavements and pedestrian crossings while walking your bike, so if you are feeling unsafe at a junction or roundabout this can be a good alternative.
