The new walking and cycling map released

Canberra’s footpaths have always been shared paths. ACT Road Rule 250 says, “The rider of a bicycle who is 12 years old or older must not ride on a footpath if another law of this jurisdiction prohibits the rider from riding on the footpath … The rider of a bicycle riding on a footpath or shared path must keep to the left [and] give way to any pedestrian.”

As far as I know, there is no ACT law that prevents adults from riding on footpaths.

Zebras are permitted to use footpaths, but Rule 302 requires their riders to give way to pedestrians.

So if footpaths have been designated as shared, does that mean cyclists can ride across zebra crossings?

Not that cyclists or pedestrians should be using them, after all they are designated for zebras…

helium said :

..like the Australian Road Rules s250
http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/db_37271/current/pdf/db_37271.pdf

refers to ‘footpath’ or ‘shared path’

A shared path should be signposted as such:
“A shared path is an area open to the public (except a separated footpath) that is designated for, or has as one of its main uses, use by both the riders of bicycles and pedestrians, and includes a length of path for use by both bicycles and pedestrians beginning at a shared path sign or shared path road marking …”

Thanks for that. I knew I must have been looking straight past it, that’s why I asked. Interesting that the national road rules say that you are allowed to ride on a footpath unless another piece of law says you can’t, given that Queensland is the only other place I know where you are.

davo101 said :

boo said :

“Cyclists in the ACT are permitted to ride on footpaths. In NSW however, only cyclists under the age of 12 are permitted to ride on footpaths, as well as supervising cyclists of all ages. When riding on footpaths, cyclists are required to keep left and give way to pedestrians.”

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/roads-transport/cycling/cycling_information/road_rules

That may be what it says on the TAMS website but has anyone seen this in a legal document? I haven’t been able to find it. I was wondering if this is why all of the footpaths have quietly been re-designated shared paths.

..like the Australian Road Rules s250
http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/db_37271/current/pdf/db_37271.pdf

refers to ‘footpath’ or ‘shared path’

A shared path should be signposted as such:
“A shared path is an area open to the public (except a separated footpath) that is designated for, or has as one of its main uses, use by both the riders of bicycles and pedestrians, and includes a length of path for use by both bicycles and pedestrians beginning at a shared path sign or shared path road marking …”

boo said :

“Cyclists in the ACT are permitted to ride on footpaths. In NSW however, only cyclists under the age of 12 are permitted to ride on footpaths, as well as supervising cyclists of all ages. When riding on footpaths, cyclists are required to keep left and give way to pedestrians.”

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/roads-transport/cycling/cycling_information/road_rules

That may be what it says on the TAMS website but has anyone seen this in a legal document? I haven’t been able to find it. I was wondering if this is why all of the footpaths have quietly been re-designated shared paths.

“Cyclists in the ACT are permitted to ride on footpaths. In NSW however, only cyclists under the age of 12 are permitted to ride on footpaths, as well as supervising cyclists of all ages. When riding on footpaths, cyclists are required to keep left and give way to pedestrians.”

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/roads-transport/cycling/cycling_information/road_rules

arescarti42 said :

It’s probably just to clear up confusion. In the ACT you can ride a bike on the footpath, but in NSW its illegal.

I thought you were permitted to ride on the footpaths if you were 13 and under.

davo101 said :

Has there been a subtle change to the law since the last edition? It would appear that there are no longer any footpaths in the ACT they have all been reclassified as shared use paths.

Seems to be an error. The thin pink lines should be blue like on the Qbn map. Hopefully they corrected that before it went to print. haha

davo101 said :

Has there been a subtle change to the law since the last edition? It would appear that there are no longer any footpaths in the ACT they have all been reclassified as shared use paths.

It’s probably just to clear up confusion. In the ACT you can ride a bike on the footpath, but in NSW its illegal.

I’m a bit disappointed by the number of errors in the map though. In addition to not showing paths that are there, and showing paths that are not there, the rapid bus routes also appear to be missing stops.

I wish I’d known they were re-doing the map, I could have made some suggestions.

This map should also show the Canberra’s Centenary Trail