Sharing our paths

Here are some tips and rules to help you use Darebin’s shared paths and footpaths.

Shared paths

Shared paths are marked with walker / bike signs. These multi-user paths are for people of all ages and paces including walkers, wheelchair users, joggers, people on bikes, children on scooters or roller-skates, families with prams and dog walkers.

Everyone needs to be thoughtful and mindful on a shared path to ensure the space is safe for all.

When riding:

• Give way to walkers and keep to the left unless it is impracticable to do ¹
• Ride at a relaxed speed
• Pass on the right and provide plenty of warning and ring your bell about 30 metres before passing. You can also use your voice to provide a friendly warning such as “passing on your right”. Slow down in case you have to stop quickly.
• Keep an eye out for children and dogs as their movements can be unpredictable.
• Encourage your children on bikes to keep to the left and to join you in warning other path-users of your approach.

When walking:

• Keep to the left of the path ¹
• Walk in a predictable manner and look out for bikes before changing direction.
• Keep your dog on a lead.
• Help your children to keep to the left, explaining that bike riders can come from both directions.
• Listen for bike bells and move to the left to allow bike riders to pass.

Riding on the footpath

You can ride on a footpath if you:

• are a child under the age of 13
• are a person 13 and over who is accompanying a child under the age of 13
• carry a medical certificate that says you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to ride on the road
• are accompanying a person with a medical certificate.

⁰¹ Victorian Road Safety Road Rules 2017