The cycling regulations of our country are often unknown to people, since many people often break them without knowing they are doing it.
Cycling regulations are the set of traffic regulations that must be followed by people who ride cycles in order to circulate safely both on urban roads and on interurban roads and that everyone must comply with to avoid putting traffic in general at risk.
The bad thing is that cycling regulations and all traffic regulations in general are constantly changing, therefore, there are regulations that were valid before and are no longer valid and other regulations are added. These constant changes make people not realize that they are often breaking the regulations in some way.
Ignorance of a law does not imply its non-compliance; therefore, it is important to keep up to date with regard to cycling traffic regulations, so that you avoid all kinds of fines and problems with justification.
What do you need for cycling regulations?
- Basic knowledge about road safety.
Instructions for cycling regulations
- Circulation on highways and motorways:
The traditional regulations prohibited bicycles from circulating on both highways and motorways, which, as you know, are fast-moving roads in which slow vehicles are not usually allowed to enter. However, there has been a recent rule that although it continues to prohibit the circulation of bicycles on highways, if the circulation of bicycles on highways is allowed, I say that it is prohibited by some type of traffic sign due to some type of special condition. Circulation on the highway will be carried out as on any road outside the town, respecting all traffic regulations and avoiding putting the lives of other drivers on the road at risk. - Speed limits:
A bicycle is considered a slow vehicle, being in the same category as a moped. A slow vehicle has a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour outside of town, unless there is a sign that says you have to drive slower. Within the town, we will go to what the signs indicate (never more than 45 per hour). However, there is an exception in the case of bicycles, since there are times when it is not possible to avoid traveling at more than 45 per hour, such as going downhill, and it is then allowed to travel at a higher speed. - Circulation outside the town:
Apart from following the safety regulations, to circulate with bicycles outside the town, the basic rules for the movement of slow vehicles must also be followed. These rules are to drive along the hard shoulder (to the right of the road) if it is passable and if it is not (for example on roads that do not have it or is very small) going along the edge of the road occupying the least possible. A bicycle can circulate together with others in a group, all being treated as if they were a single vehicle in terms of priority (for example, if a bicycle enters a junction and a platoon follows, the platoon also has priority). You must circulate with an approved helmet to circulate outside the town (inside the town it must be worn by children under 14 years of age) and finally you must take into account that it is the vehicle that has the least priority in a narrowing (because it is the easiest to stop). - Special lanes:
For some years, there have been special lanes for cycling, such as the famous bike lanes, bike sidewalks, cycle paths, cycle paths. All these special lanes are lanes that are located in a certain area of the urban area and in which bicycles have priority over other vehicles, and it is sometimes compulsory to use these lanes if you ride a bicycle. - Night circulation:
When traveling at night, there are rules regarding circulation using a bicycle. First of all, it must have reflective elements to be able to drive at night, such as the red rear light. If you drive at night, you must wear a reflective element such as the approved reflective vest. It is also advisable to carry some kind of light, such as a headlamp. - Breathalyzer:
Believe it or not, riding a bicycle is considered to be driving any type of vehicle, therefore, it is also prohibited to drive under the influence of alcohol, being obliged to submit to a breathalyzer when necessary and requested by police officers. Authority. The rate is the same as that of a normal driver, that is, 0.5 grams per liter of blood and 0.25 milligrams per liter of expired air. In case of exceeding the dose, the fine will be the same as in the case of driving a car, and may also lead to the loss of car license points if you have one and being unable to drive vehicles until you clear the drunkenness. It is also prohibited to circulate under the influence of some type of recreational drug such as cocaine, hashish and other types of prohibited drugs, having an exemplary punishment as well as driving cars.
Tips for cycling regulations
- The regulations may change: These regulations are the current regulations at the beginning of the year 2016; however, this could change after a few months or a few years. There are certain rumors that there are going to be changes, for example there are people who want to establish a driver’s license for bicycles (something that seems absurd to me by the way), compulsory insurance and other regulations related to alcohol and others. Therefore, this article could no longer be valid in a few months, if the regulations change. However, there are basic rules such as helmet use, speed and others that will probably never change.
- Responsibility of being a cyclist: Believe it or not, a bicycle can be just as dangerous as any other type of vehicle. Many cyclists, especially in towns, do not respect the traffic regulations, committing infractions such as skipping a traffic light or a stop sign, endangering traffic and the lives of drivers and pedestrians. It is your responsibility to respect all traffic regulations, the same as for car drivers, pedestrians and motorists; because if you respect the rules, you are contributing to keeps everything working properly.
