Motorcycles

Riders and passengers must wear an approved helmet that meets one of the following standards -

• AS 1698-1988; or
• AS/NZS 1698:2006 (or any later version of that standard); or
• ECE 22.05 (or any later version of that standard). 

If a face shield or visor is fitted to the helmet, it must meet the same requirements specified in the standard for the helmet to which it is attached.

All helmets must be marked to show that they comply with the relevant Australian Standard or ECE 22.05.

The marking requirements vary according to which standard the helmet meets and the date on which it was manufactured (if made in Australia) or the date on which it was imported into Australia (if not made in Australia). For further information on the marking requirements for helmets, see protective clothing for riders. 

In Victoria, you can park your motorcycle on a footpath, unless there is a sign saying you can't. When parking you must not get in the way, or block the path of pedestrians, delivery vehicles, public transport users or parked cars.

On-street motorcycle parking bays are available in Melbourne's Central Business District and other urban areas throughout Victoria. 

The responsibility for the enforcement of footpath parking lies with Councils. To find out more about your local parking laws, visit Local Councils. Penalties will apply if you park in motorcycle excluded areas.

You are allowed to ride your motorcycle in a transit lane.

Unless signage permits, or other road rules allow it (e.g. when turning at an intersection), you can't ride your motorcycle in:

• tram lanes 
• bus lanes
• bicycle lanes
• other lanes for special vehicles.

Allowing motorcyclists in bus lanes can provide improved mobility for motorcyclists without impacting the efficiency and reliability of buses. However, motorcycles are currently only allowed to travel in the Hoddle Street southbound bus lanes where identified motorcycle safety risks have been mitigated.  

Hoddle Street bus lane

Motorcyclists are permitted to use the Hoddle Street bus lane, between Eastern Freeway and Victoria Parade (southbound), on a permanent basis.

This site was selected as key motorcycle safety risks could be addressed through safety treatments which included:

• warning signs to look out for motorcyclists in the bus lanes 
• signalised intersection at Hoddle Street and Abbot Grove. 

If you are riding with a pillion passenger they must:

• sit behind you 
• sit with a leg on each side of the motorcycle
• face forward
• keep both feet on the footpegs provided for them.

You must not ride a motorcycle with:

• more than one pillion passenger 
• more passengers in a sidecar than it is designed to carry 
• an animal between you and the handlebars (except for working farmers who can ride with the animal for up to 500 metres)
• a child under 8 years old unless they are in a sidecar.

When riding with other motorcyclists, you can only ride beside 1 other rider. This is called riding '2 abreast'. If you are riding 2 abreast, you can't ride more than 1.5 metres apart.

Miniature motorcycles cannot be used on public roads, footpaths or nature strips.

This is because they do not meet the standards needed to be registered as a vehicle.

If someone rides a miniature motorcycle without a valid motorcycle licence they are committing 2 offences - driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without a licence.

Motorcycle lane splitting is when motorcycles travel at a high speed between moving traffic. Lane splitting is illegal and the Victorian Government does not support motorcyclists, and drivers, who split lanes.

Lane filtering is when a motorcyclist rides between lanes in slow or stationery traffic at speeds up to 30km/h.   

You can only filter when it’s safe and where there is enough space and time to safely merge back into traffic stream.

It is legal in Victoria. Only fully licensed and p plate motorcyclists are legally allowed to do this.

Keep out of blind spots of all vehicles as drivers may not be able to see you. 

Avoid filtering near trucks and buses. 

It’s illegal to lane filter on your Learners. 

For more information visit our Motorcycling filtering webpage.