Heading
Close X
Menu
1. Hierarchy of Road Users
Pedestrians, cyclists & horse riders are at the top of the Hierarchy of Road Users.
2. People crossing the road at junctions
When people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way.
If people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way.
People driving, riding a motorcycle or cycling must give way to people on a zebra crossing and people walking and cycling on a parallel crossing. A parallel crossing is similar to a zebra crossing, but includes a cycle route alongside the black and white stripes.
3. Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces
People cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in shared spaces/routes and people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them.
People cycling are asked to:
4. Positioning in the road when cycling
Cyclists now can ride in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions or road narrowing.
Cyclists must keep at least 0.5 metres (just over 1.5 feet) away from the kerb edge (and further where it is safer) when riding on busy roads with vehicles moving faster than them.
Cyclists should be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups.
Cyclists can ride 2 abreast - and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders.
Cyclists are asked to be aware of people driving behind them and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when it’s safe to do so.
Cyclists should take care when passing parked vehicles, leaving enough room (a door’s width or 1 metre) to avoid being hit if a car door is opened and watch out for people walking into their path.
5. Overtaking when driving or cycling
You may cross a double-white line if necessary (provided the road is clear) to overtake someone cycling or riding a horse if they are travelling at 10 mph or less.
Road users must leave at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and giving them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
Road users overtaking people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles must allow at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space.
Road users must allow at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space and keep to a low speed when passing people walking in the road.
People cycling may pass slower-moving or stationary traffic on their right or left if they deem it to be safe.
6. People cycling at junctions
The code will be updated to clarify that when turning into or out of a side road, people cycling should give way to people walking who are crossing or waiting to cross.
When people cycling are going straight ahead at a junction, they have priority over traffic waiting to turn into or out of a side road, unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise.
7. People cycling, riding a horse and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts
People driving and or riding a motorcycle should:
8. Parking, charging and leaving vehicles
Where people driving or passengers in a vehicle are able to do so, they should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on their right-hand side. This will make them turn their head to look over their shoulder behind them to help avoid hitting anything/anyone outside with the car door.
When using an Electric Vehicle Charge Point, people should:
For more information, please click here.
