Bike lanes and cars

Bike lanes are for bicycles. Motor vehicles, including motor bikes, cannot use marked bike lanes on the road except for certain reasons.

Types of lanes in Victoria

The legal status of a bike lane depends not on the road markings but the roadside signs - see our info sheet below on the the legal status of different types of lane markings used in Victoria.

Whether or not cars are allowed to park in bike lanes again depends of the parking restrictions defined by roadside signs and on the type of bike lane.

Some bike lanes operate as exclusive bike lanes only during clearway times. Outside clearway times cars can legally park over the bike lane. Signage should make it clear when parking is allowed.

If the bike lane runs along the edge of the kerb and parking signs restrict parking, then the vehicle is illegally parked it is in the bike lane.

If the bike lane runs along the edge of parked cars (a shared bicycle parking lane as shown here on Malvern Rd, Malvern) vehicles are not allowed to park in the lane (though they can stop or travel in lane for up to 50m if they are going to park in the parking lane).

Motor vehicles are also legally able to travel in a bike lane for up to 50m if they are entering or leaving the roads or getting ready to park (road rules 153 and 158).

What can you do?

If you believe vehicles are illegally parking (or driving) in a bike lane you can write to the relevant local council and request that they arrange for enforcement of the road rules on the section of bike lane.

You may also like to suggest the time of day that the problem occurs. See our Get it fixed page for local and state government contact details.