Are you a GB-based cyclist (or just visiting) and want all the relevant rules of the Highway Code condensed in one convenient place?
“Does the Highway Code apply to cyclists?” or “Why do cyclists ignore the Highway Code?” are two questions you’ll often see in below-the-line comments on newspaper articles or social media threads relating to people riding bikes on the road. The answer to the first, of course, is “yes,” and as for the second, we’ve previously reported on a study that showed that people on bikes were more likely than motorists to obey traffic laws.
But despite a number of changes made to the Highway Code(link is external) at the start of 2022 that were principally aimed at protecting vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians, including motorists having to allow bike riders at least 1.5 metres of space when overtaking them (rule 163), as we reported earlier this year, most people using the roads, whether in a motor vehicle or on a bike, remain ignorant of what the rules of the road are currently.
Regularly refreshing your knowledge of the rules is highly recommended, although you don’t have to spend long on social media, or reading below-the-line comments in the press, to realise that there is a lot of ignorance. Even people who drive for a living are among them, despite the fact that to have obtained a driving licence in the first place, motorists will have had to demonstrate their understanding of the Highway Code.
In this article, we look at what the rules are regarding cyclists using the road as well as how other road users are required to interact with them, put the rules into context, and explain what certain terminology used in the Highway Code means in practice. Where applicable, we have provided a single piece of commentary on several rules, rather than addressing each one individually.
Most adult cyclists do in fact hold a driving licence – in fact, research shows that they are slightly more likely than the overall population to have one – but it remains the case that while you can ride a bike on the public highway without having had to pass a test first to secure a licence, you still need to know what the Highway Code says. This article is in part aimed at people taking to the roads for the first time by bike, perhaps for commuting to work as a cheaper alternative to public transport.
First, it’s worth underlining that the Highway Code does not in itself constitute a piece of legislation; rather, the rules set out within it summarise, in plain language, existing law relating to the use of public highways within Great Britain (Northern Ireland has its own version(link is external) which differs in a number of aspects), as well as providing advice to road users.
Where a Highway Code rule is backed by legislation, there will be a link to the latter beneath, and we show these in the appropriate places below should you want to fully acquaint yourself with the letter of the law.
One important thing to be aware of when consulting the Highway Code is the difference between rules which are advisory, and therefore not compulsory, often preceded by the word “should,” and those that are a legal requirement, which are typically introduced with the word “must,” in bold and capital letters for emphasis.
While many rules within the Highway Code apply to all road users, and you should familiarise yourself with the full document, the primary focus of this article is on those rules (59 to 82(link is external)) that apply specifically to cyclists, and we will also look at those applying to other road users when sharing the road with people on bikes.
The general clothing issue is common sense, although it’s surprising how many people you see cycling in winter with coats that do obscure the rear light. As for flowing clothing, besides potentially getting caught in the chain, you don’t want to meet a similar end as the unfortunate Isadora Duncan, the dancer whose neck was broken in Nice in 1927 after her long, flowing scarf was caught in the open spokes of the car she was riding in.
Hi-viz or reflective gear, as well as wearing a helmet, are recommended by the Highway Code, but are very much a matter of personal choice. The latter in particular is the subject of a long-running and often heated debate. You may feel safer wearing one, but you won’t be breaking the law if you don’t.
Not only is riding with bike lights at night a no-brainer, it’s also the law, and cycling without them is one of the most common ways to get stopped by the police. Indeed, after the clocks change in the autumn, some police forces conduct operations aimed at ensuring cyclists are using front and rear lights in the hours of darkness.
Given their significant student populations and the timing close to the start of the academic year, such operations are pretty much part of the annual calendar in Oxford and Cambridge, with potential fines often rescinded provided the rider can subsequently provide a receipt proving they bought some lights within a certain number of days after being stopped.
A rear reflector and pedal reflectors are also required by law, though in our experience this is seldom – if ever – enforced. When buying a bike, they’ll usually be fitted, but with road bikes especially will often swiftly be dispensed with by the owner, particularly when swapping standard pedals for cleat-compatible ones.
Riding with a steady front light on unlit roads is essential for spotting hazards ahead such as potholes, which may be more difficult to see if relying on a flashing light. Some cyclists, even in lit urban areas, will use two lights front and/or rear, one flashing, one steady, to increase visibility; again, it is down to personal choice.
Ensure that your front light is dipped downwards not only to cover as much of the road surface as possible, but also to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers and riders – if you’ve ever encountered someone cycling towards you with a particularly powerful front light that’s pointing straight at your eyes, you’ll appreciate the importance of that.