Laws around cycling on cliff paths and public roads (FOI)

​​​Request

A.

Is it legal to ride a bicycle on public cliff paths?

B.

Is it legal for cyclists to ride in line abreast (particularly in large groups) causing a functional obstruction on a public road?

Response

A. 

The legality of cycling on a cliff path depends on which area of the Island the cliff path is located.

Riding off road is not covered by the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law. 

This only covers riding on a road (including pavements / cycle tracks).

Other law​​s

Po​licing of Parks (Jersey) Regulations 2005

Regulation 6: A park authority may establish a cycle track within a park to which the road traffic law will apply.

It is an offence to ride a cycle in a park, in an area not so designated.

Some areas of cliff path are classed as parks, eg Noirmont and Portlet Common’s, Les Landes. 

Cycling would not be allowed unless an area was designated as a cycle track. A full list of parks and cycle tracks can be found on the Jersey Law website.

Policing of Parks (Jersey) Regulations 2005 and the Cycle track (Jersey) Order 2011

The environment department is in consultation with the Islands cyclists and walkers to determine a solution to this issue. The aim is to agree suitable areas for use and / or create areas for off road cycling.

B.

Road Traffic​ (Jersey) L​​aw 1956

Article 49: Prohibition on riding or propelling bicycles more than two abreast

(1) It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  more  than  two  bicycles,  whether  or  not  propelled  by mechanical power, to be ridden or propelled abreast on a road.

The Highway Code:

Jersey has adopted the UK Highway Code with amendments for Jersey roads and legislation.
While not legislation, The Highway Code dictates the standard to which drivers and riders will be judged.

Section 66 states that you should: ​

• keep both hands on the handlebars, except when signaling or changing gear
  
• keep both feet on the pedals
  
• never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
  
• not ride close behind another vehicle
  
• not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain
  
• be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted
  

Comment: Cycling is a popular sport and past time enjoyed by thousands of people in Jersey. 

A cycling group may ride two abreast on the road but should consider cycling single file when oncoming traffic could be affected. 

Overtaking a group of cyclists should be completed with due care and attention. 

The distance to be travelled by a motor vehicle in an overtaking manoeuvre would be double if the group were to always travel single file and consequently, more dangerous.

It is important that all road users, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, have consideration for each other.