07/09/2026
Big changes are coming to New Zealand roads – and they're all about keeping everyone safer! 🚲🛴**
Following community consultation earlier this year, the Minister of Transport has announced new lane-use rules that will make roads and footpaths clearer, safer, and more family-friendly for everyone.
They take effect on 1 October 2026
Here's what's changing:
👨👧 **Family rides just got easier.** Children up to 12 years old can now ride bikes on footpaths, and parents or caregivers can ride alongside them – taking the stress out of riding with little ones on busy roads.
📏 **Respect the gap.** Drivers must now leave a minimum passing distance of **1.5 metres** when overtaking cyclists and other road users – giving everyone the space they need to feel safe.
🛴 **Scooters get their lane.** E-scooter riders can now legally use cycle lanes, keeping them out of footpath traffic and into a space designed for wheeled users.
🚌 **Buses get a boost.** Road users will now give way to buses leaving bus stops in areas with speed limits of 60km/h or less – helping public transport run more smoothly.
These updates respond directly to feedback from road users, councils, and advocacy organisations. They reflect the way people actually use roads and footpaths today, and they make the rules clearer for cyclists, scooter riders, pedestrians, and drivers alike.
Safer streets. Clearer rules. Better journeys for all. 🚦
Credit: Nelson Sustainable Transport - Nelson Transport Strategy Group Cycling Action Network NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Waikato & Bay of Plenty
