Road signs for cyclists
It is not so rare to meet a cyclist on the road. But everyone who decides to join this wonderful group of people needs to know the basic rules of the movement. Failure to follow the signs may result in not only a fine or warning, but also serious health consequences.
Peculiarities
Oddly enough, people who constantly move here and there on bicycles suffer less from prohibitions and are less likely to face problems due to their violation. They are well aware of the basic rules and nuances of driving in a particular city or region.
However, the risk becomes much higher if the person gets on the bike for the first time. Or when someone skates occasionally. And it is very difficult to change from a car (motorcycle) to a bicycle on weekends.
Prohibitory designations
To begin with, it is worth dealing with the prohibiting symbols. These include:
- sign 3.1 - "Entrance blocked" (complete inaccessibility for any transport);
- sign 3.2 - "Movement Prohibition";
- sign 3.9 - “The way for bicycles and mopeds is closed”.
Graphically, these signs look like this:
- a white dash in a red circle;
- a red circle with a thin black border, inside the circle there is a white circle;
- the same as in the previous paragraph, but with a stylized image of a black bicycle.
It should be borne in mind that the sign 3.2. does not apply to vehicles transporting disabled people of groups 1 and 2. It is easy to remember it, it is enough to keep in mind the poetic phrase “you cannot ride in the red circle”.
But the list of signs that do not allow a bicycle to pass does not end there. Symbol 5.1 is also important to know. - "Highway"... These are two wide white stripes on a green background, crossed in the middle by a narrow white stripe. There is also a green area in between the stripes.
On sections marked with sign 5.1, it is prohibited to drive all vehicles that are unable to accelerate to 40 km / h. Therefore, ordinary cyclists will have to find another way. Drivers of e-bikes capable of traveling at speeds of up to 50 km / h will be a happy exception. They can ride in the general stream according to the rules intended for mopeds, but only as long as the electric motor is running.
Important: in places with such markings, reverse driving is unacceptable. Not less important than the sign “No cycling” and sign 5.3, which allows passage only for cars.
On such sections, you cannot use vehicles whose speed is limited to 40 km / h or less. As with symbol 5.1, fast e-bikes are permitted here. But reversing again falls under the ban.
Road restrictions
In the traffic rules of the Russian Federation there are a number of signs, the meanings of which boil down to the fact that riding a bicycle is allowed in some cases. This includes, for example, symbol 4.5.1. - "Walking path". They mark the place from which the space allowed for pedestrians is counted. The designation looks simple: it is round, inside the sign on a blue background a white stylized figure is drawn. It is allowed to move on the pedestrian path:
- cyclists under 14 years old - always;
- cyclists over 14 years old accompanying junior riders;
- cyclists over 14 years old, carrying a preschool child in the second seat;
- cyclists after 14 years old if it is impossible to move along all other sections and routes designated by traffic rules.
The "Pedestrian Zone" sign will also delight fans of two-wheeled vehicles. But only on condition that they are not yet 14 years old. This designation looks like a white figure of a pedestrian inside a blue circle. Of course, the signs allowing the passage of a bicycle are not exhausted. And the most pleasant of them are yet to come.
Permissive signs
Sign 4.5.4. ("Pedestrian and bicycle path") has a circular shape and is divided into two parts by a strip. In one part, an image of a pedestrian is placed, and in the other, a bicycle. The action of the sign is counted from the place of its installation and continues until the sign appears, establishing a different mode of movement. But most often the pedestrian and bicycle path ends with the same sign as it begins, only with a crossed out red stripe.
You can drive directly on the road if sign 5.11.1 - "Road with a lane for route transport" is installed... In this case, cyclists need to use only a dedicated lane, the traffic along which is directed against the main stream. This is shown by dividing the blue field into two parts, on one of which a bus with an arrow is placed. Sign 5.11.2 - “Cyclists' lane” has a similar meaning, but instead of a bus, a “bicycle” icon is placed in front of the arrow. The end of the permitted lane shows the same symbol, only with a strikethrough image.
There is also a sign "Bicycle area". It looks like this:
- white rectangle in a thin black frame;
- there is a blue circle inside;
- there is a white bicycle in the circle;
- above the circle, at the top of the sign there are large letters "ZONE".
The site ends with the same sign, only with a gray circle, which is crossed out diagonally. Throughout the zone, bicycle owners have priority over mechanical transport. As for the sign “bicycle in a red triangle”, it is addressed not to cyclists, but to drivers. This is a cycle path warning.
Important: at the intersection of the carriageway, priority is given by law to motorists.
As for the signs on a black background with the main yellow part, they are installed during repair or restoration work. The meaning will be the same as for similar symbols in the standard color. And a few more subtleties:
- when driving in the bicycle zone, you can turn left and turn around;
- you can drive on it no faster than 20 km / h;
- pedestrians can cross bicycle zones and paths (just cross, not move along them!) anywhere, but without priority;
- in the cycling area, the cyclist is more important than the motorist or motorcyclist.
See the lecture on traffic rules for cyclists below.
