Road Traffic (Bicycles, Three-wheeled Pedal Cycles, Trishaws and Recumbent Devices — Road Conduct) Rules

Road Traffic Act

(CHAPTER 276, Section 140)

R 3

REVISED EDITION 1990

(1 February 2019)

[25 November 1955]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Bicycles, Three-wheeled Pedal Cycles, Trishaws and Recumbent Devices — Road Conduct) Rules.

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

Definitions

2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“full-day bicycle lane” has the meaning given by rule 7(11B) of the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules (R 33);

[S 804/2022 wef 16/10/2022]

[Deleted by S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

“hours of darkness” means the time starting 7 p.m. and ending 7 a.m. the following day;

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

“part-day bicycle lane” has the meaning given by rule 7(11AA) of the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules

[S 804/2022 wef 16/10/2022]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

“recumbent bicycle”, “recumbent device”, “three-wheeled pedal cycle” and “trishaw” have the meanings given by rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Bicycles, Three-wheeled Pedal Cycles, Trishaws and Recumbent Devices — Construction and Use) Rules 2024 (G.N. No. S 157/2024);

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

[Deleted by S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

Towing not permitted

3.—(1) A rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road —

(a)	must not tow another vehicle, with or without a person in or on that other vehicle; and
(b)	must not be towed by another vehicle. [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2) A rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road must not hold onto another vehicle while the vehicle is moving on the road.

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

Restriction on number of persons carried

4.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), no bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw or power-assisted bicycle shall be used to carry at one time more persons than the number for which it is designed.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), but subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), no person shall be carried as a pillion passenger on a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw or power-assisted bicycle unless the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw or power-assisted bicycle is designed such as to be provided with a seat for a pillion passenger.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(3) A child below the age of 12 years may be carried on a properly constructed seat or carrier affixed to a bicycle (except a recumbent bicycle), three-wheeled pedal cycle or trishaw.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(4) No person below the age of 16 years shall be carried as a pillion passenger on a power-assisted bicycle.

[S 773/2004 wef 01/01/2005]

(5) A rider of a recumbent device or recumbent bicycle on a road must not carry or ride with any passenger.

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

Riders to give signals

5. The rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle shall in order to inform traffic that he intends —

(a)	to ‘stop’ — hold out his right arm horizontally with the forearm vertical and with the palm of the hand to the front;
(b)	to ‘slow down’ — hold out his right arm horizontally with the palm of the hand downwards, and move the arm up and down several times;
(c)	to ‘proceed to the right’ — hold out his right arm horizontally with the palm of the hand to the front; and
(d)	to ‘proceed to the left’ — hold out his left arm horizontally with the palm of the hand to the front. [S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018] [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

Signals to be made in sufficient time

6. Signals under rule 5 shall be made in sufficient time to enable traffic to take appropriate action for the avoidance of danger.

Travelling abreast prohibited

7.—(1) No bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle shall be ridden on the right of a motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction except when overtaking that motor vehicle.

[S 773/2004 wef 01/01/2005]

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road with a single lane must not ride the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle (as the case may be) such that it remains abreast and to the right of another rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle in that lane.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(3) Paragraph (2) does not prevent the rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle overtaking the rider of another bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(4) The rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road with 2 or more lanes for the use of vehicles travelling in the same direction may ride the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle (as the case may be) in one lane such that it remains abreast and to the right of another rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle in that same lane and direction.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(5) The rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road with a bus lane must not ride the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle (as the case may be) such that it remains abreast and to the right of another rider of a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle in the bus lane during its hours of operation.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(6) [Deleted by S 804/2022 wef 16/10/2022]

Cycling groups

7A.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (2A), a person must not ride a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road in a cycling group that consists of more than 5 bicycles, three-wheeled pedal cycles, recumbent devices or power-assisted bicycles (or any combination of them).

[S 804/2022 wef 16/10/2022]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2) Without affecting rule 7, a person may ride a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road in a cycling group that consists of more than 5 but not more than 10 bicycles, three-wheeled pedal cycles, recumbent devices or power-assisted bicycles (or any combination of them) if —

(a)

the road has 2 or more lanes for the use of vehicles travelling in the same direction;

(b)

the person does not ride in a bus lane during the hours of operation of the bus lane; and

(c)

the number of bicycles, power-assisted bicycles and tricycles in the cycling group being ridden abreast of another bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle in the cycling group is not less than the following:

(number of bicycles, power-assisted bicycles and tricycles in the cycling group × 2) – 10.

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2A) Paragraph (1) does not apply to or in relation to —

(a)	a section of a road that is a full-day bicycle lane; and
(b)	a section of a road that is a part-day bicycle lane, on a Sunday at any time between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. [S 804/2022 wef 16/10/2022]

(3) When travelling on a road in a cycling group, a person (A) who rides a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle in the cycling group must (unless there is a reasonable excuse for A not to do so) maintain a distance from any person (B) in the cycling group who is in front of A that does not exceed the distance that is sufficient for A to manoeuvre safely on the road.

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(4) In this rule, “cycling group” means a group of persons —

(a)	with a common intention to meet in person for the purpose of riding any bicycles, three-wheeled pedal cycles, recumbent devices or power-assisted bicycles (or any combination of them); or [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
(b)	who have an agreement or understanding to ride any bicycles, three-wheeled pedal cycles, recumbent devices or power-assisted bicycles (or any combination of them) as a group. [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024] [S 1029/2021 wef 01/01/2022]

Bicycle lanes

7B.—(1) If there is a full-day bicycle lane on a road, a person must not ride a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a part of the road that is not the full-day bicycle lane (unless there is a reasonable excuse for the person to do so).

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2) If there is a part-day bicycle lane on a road, a person must not ride a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a part of the road that is not the part-day bicycle lane, on a Sunday at any time between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. (unless there is a reasonable excuse for the person to do so).

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

[S 804/2022 wef 16/10/2022]

Bicycle, etc., to be ridden on left side of road

8. A person who rides a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road must ride the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle as near as practicable to the far left edge of the road.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

Load limitations

9.—(1) A person must not ride a bicycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road carrying a load that —

(a)	is of such dimensions as to cause or be likely to cause danger, obstruction or annoyance to persons using the road; or
(b)	is not properly and rigidly secured to the bicycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle. [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024] [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2) A person must not ride a three-wheeled pedal cycle on a road carrying a load that —

(a)	is overhanging from the three-wheeled pedal cycle; or
(b)	is of a height that is more than one metre from the ground. [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024] [S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

Bicycle, etc., to be ridden in orderly manner

10. No bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle shall be ridden or propelled otherwise than in an orderly manner and with due regard for the safety of others.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

No riding against flow of traffic

11. A person must not ride a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, trishaw, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road against the flow of traffic.

[S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

[S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

11A. [Deleted by S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

12. [Deleted by S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

Requirements for use of power-assisted bicycle

13.—(1) No person shall keep or use a power-assisted bicycle on a road unless the power-assisted bicycle —

(a)	complies with the requirements specified in the Schedule to the Road Traffic (Power-Assisted Bicycles — Approval) Rules 2004 (G.N. No. S 768/2004); [S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]
(b)	has been approved and sealed in accordance with those Rules; and [S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]
(c)	has been registered and bears a registration number plate in accordance with the Road Traffic (Registration of Power‑Assisted Bicycles) Rules 2017 (G.N. No. S 451/2017). [S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018] [S 273/2018 wef 05/05/2018]

(2) No person below the age of 16 years shall ride a power-assisted bicycle on a road.

(3) [Deleted by S 65/2019 wef 01/02/2019]

Wearing of helmets

14. Every person who —

(a)	rides a bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on a road; or [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
(b)	is carried as a pillion passenger on a bicycle (that is not a recumbent bicycle), three-wheeled pedal cycle or power-assisted bicycle on a road, [S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

must wear securely on his head a suitable protective bicycle helmet.

[S 65/2019 wef 01/02/2019]

15. [Deleted by S 161/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

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