Study guide
10.2 Cyclists and Motorcyclists
Barbados Regulation Examination Exam
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1 Chapter 1: The Regulation Examination and the Licensing Path
1.1 The Regulation Examination: Facts, Booking and Study Plan 1.2 Learner's Permit Conditions and Supervision 1.3 Driving Test, Licence Classes, Renewal and Demerit Points
2 Chapter 2: Traffic Signs
2.1 Sign Shapes, Colours and Legal Force 2.2 Warning Signs in the Ninth Schedule 2.3 Regulatory Signs: Prohibitions and Mandatory Orders 2.4 Information Signs, Temporary Signs and Construction Zones
3 Chapter 3: Light Signals, Driver Signals and Police Directions
3.1 Traffic Light Signals 3.2 Driver Signals, the Horn and Police Directions
4 Chapter 4: Road Markings and Pedestrian Crossings
4.1 Road Markings and Lane Use 4.2 Pedestrian Crossings
5 Chapter 5: Road Position, Overtaking, Junctions and Roundabouts
5.1 Keeping Left, Being Overtaken and Overtaking 5.2 Junctions, Turning and Emerging 5.3 Roundabouts
6 Chapter 6: Speed Limits and Stopping Distances
6.1 Barbados Speed Limits 6.2 Following Distance and Stopping Distance
7 Chapter 7: Stopping, Parking and Lights
7.1 Stopping, Waiting and Parking Rules 7.2 Lighting-Up Times and Use of Lights
8 Chapter 8: Vehicle Condition, Loads and Occupant Safety
8.1 Vehicle Condition, Equipment, Loads and Towing 8.2 Seat Belts and Child Safety Seats
9 Chapter 9: Alcohol, Drugs, Distraction and Fitness to Drive
9.1 Alcohol, Drugs and the Breath-Test Law 9.2 Phones, Distractions, Fatigue and Fitness to Drive
10 Chapter 10: Sharing the Road
10.1 Pedestrians, Children and Processions 10.2 Cyclists and Motorcyclists 10.3 Animals, Animal-Drawn Vehicles and Slow Traffic 10.4 Emergency Vehicles, Buses and Public Service Vehicles
11 Chapter 11: Accidents, Insurance and Traffic Offences
11.1 Duties After an Accident 11.2 Insurance, Documents and Traffic Offences
12 Chapter 12: Defensive Driving and Emergencies
12.1 Defensive Driving and Hazard Perception 12.2 Rain, Night, Breakdowns and Emergencies
10.2 Cyclists and Motorcyclists
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
Every person travelling on a motorcycle, including a pillion passenger, must wear an approved helmet, and tinted visors that conceal identity are banned (reg. 146).
Cyclists must wear a bicycle helmet with the chin strap fastened, and parents must not let children under 16 ride without one (reg. 117A, fine BBD $300).
A bicycle needs efficient brakes, a bell within 10 cm of the handle grip, and at night a white front lamp, a red rear lamp, a red reflector and a white rear surface (regs. 122 to 125).
No one may ride, leave or carry a bicycle on a sidewalk, or hold on to a moving vehicle while riding or skating (regs. 126 and 118A).
Drivers should give cyclists and motorcyclists at least as much room as a car when overtaking, and look for them at junctions and before opening doors.
Last updated: October 2026
Two-wheelers are small, quick and unprotected. Barbados law sets equipment and helmet rules for riders, and good drivers take extra care around them.
Motorcycles
Helmets for everyone aboard. "Every person travelling on a motor cycle shall wear a helmet" approved by the Licensing Authority (reg. 146(1)). That includes pillion passengers . Barbados test papers ask whether a pillion passenger must wear a helmet. Yes.
No identity-concealing visors. No one travelling on a motorcycle, or in any other motor vehicle, may wear a helmet with a visor of tinted glass, plastic or other material that may conceal the person's identity (reg. 146(2)).
Passengers. On a solo motorcycle, carry a passenger only on a proper pillion seat. Barbados test material allows only one pillion passenger.
Licensing. Motorcycles are a separate licence class (s.68(2)(b)). A heavy motorcycle licence is available from 16 under s.69(2).
Lights. A two-wheeled motorcycle needs one headlamp at the centre of the front at night (reg. 22(9)).
Bicycles
Requirement Rule Regulation
Helmet Rider must wear a bicycle helmet with the chin strap securely fastened under the chin; a parent or guardian must not allow a child under 16 to ride without one; fine BBD $300 117A (2017)
Brakes An efficient braking system that stops the bicycle within a reasonable distance; police may stop and check 122
Bell A bell or approved warning device fixed to the handlebar not more than 10 cm from the grip , used when a warning is needed 123
Front lamp at night A lighted lamp at the centre front showing a white light 124
Rear at night A red rear lamp; a clean red reflector at least 40 cm above the ground; and a white surface of at least 30 square centimetres 125
- Sidewalks No riding, leaving or carrying a bicycle along a sidewalk 126
- Sale Bicycles sold must meet the brake, bell and lamp specifications (fine BBD $500) 117B
- Cycling offences
Reckless or dangerous cycling (reg. 118) and careless or inconsiderate cycling (reg. 119).
Cycling while unfit through drink or drugs (reg. 120); police may arrest without a warrant.
Unauthorised racing on a public road (reg. 121).
Holding on to a moving vehicle. No person riding a motorcycle or bicycle, or travelling on roller-skates or a skateboard, may hold on to a moving vehicle to be drawn along, and no driver may allow it (reg. 118A). The penalty is a fine of BBD $500 or 6 months.
A cyclist suspected of an offence must give their name and address to a uniformed police officer (reg. 127).
Sharing the road with two-wheelers
Look twice at junctions. Motorcycles approach quickly and are hidden by pillars, parked cars and vans.
Give room when overtaking. Pass cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders with at least as much room as you would give a car , and more in strong wind, on hills or on rough surfaces. Do not overtake where the road narrows or before a bend.
Left turns. Check your left mirror and blind spot for a cyclist before turning left, and never overtake a cyclist just before you turn left across their path.
Roundabouts. A cyclist may stay in the left lane while going right round (see 5.3).
Doors. Check before opening a door into the path of a cyclist (reg. 37).
Night. Look for small rear lights and reflectors on unlit roads, and dip your headlights for oncoming cyclists.
Why riders swerve
Riders may move out suddenly to avoid potholes, drains, gravel, broken glass or opening doors, and they are pushed about by wind and the slipstream of large vehicles. Leave a margin that allows for a wobble, especially when passing children on bicycles.
Motorcyclists: being seen
Most crashes between cars and motorcycles happen when a driver pulls out at a junction or turns right across a motorcyclist's path, saying afterwards, "I didn't see him." A motorcycle's narrow outline is easily hidden by a windscreen pillar, a mirror or a vehicle in the next lane, and its speed is hard to judge. Before turning or pulling out, look properly in every direction, move your head to see round the pillar, and take a second look along the road before you commit. When a motorcycle is close behind you, avoid sudden braking and signal early.
Exam traps
"A bicycle is narrow, so pass it closely." No: give at least as much room as for a car.
"Helmets are only for riders." Every person on a motorcycle needs one, and every cyclist on a road needs a bicycle helmet.
"Children can ride on the sidewalk." Regulation 126 forbids riding a bicycle on a sidewalk, whatever the rider's age.