Bicycle riders and bicycle lanes

Sharing the road with bicycle riders requires extra caution, as they are more vulnerable to injury than drivers. Give them plenty of space - they have the same rights and responsibilities as you.

Bicycles are smaller and harder to spot than cars, making them more likely to be hidden in your blind spot. Stay alert for them, especially when turning, entering an intersection, or preparing to change lanes. Intersections are particularly risky for cyclists, as vehicles turning left or right may cut across their path.

By law, when passing a bicycle rider, you must maintain the following distances:

• At least 1 meter on roads with speed limits up to 60 km/h

• At least 1.5 meters on roads with speeds over 60 km/h

Many roads feature broken white lines or continuous single or double lines in the center. While you should never cross these lines to overtake a motor vehicle, you may cross them briefly to pass a bicycle rider - only if the road ahead is clear and it is safe to do so.

Bicycle lanes

Bicycle lanes are reserved for bicycle riders only but parking is permitted unless signs state otherwise.

If you need to turn left from the road, pass a vehicle turning right, change traffic lanes, enter a parking space, or pull over to park, you may use the bicycle lane for up to 50 meters, but only if necessary.

Always be considerate of bicycle riders. You must look for riders in the bicycle lane and only enter the lane when it is safe to do so.