I first started cycling on a road bike exactly a year ago. I am now an avid cyclist and I am out cycling every weekend and on some weeknights. I wanted to find out what are the applicable Malaysian road traffic laws to cyclists.
The main law is under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Road Transport Act) and the subsidiary laws in the Road Traffic Rules 1959 (Road Traffic Rules).
Out of interest, the Road Traffic Rules were enacted under the earlier Road Traffic Ordinance 1958. The Ordinance was repealed by the passing of the Road Transport Act but where the Rules continued to be maintained.
The Road Transport Act regulates vehicles on roads in general and has laws to protect third parties against the risks arising.
Bicycles do fall within the ambit of the Road Transport Act, and can fall within the definitions of:
“vehicle” means a structure capable of moving or being moved or used for the conveyance of any person or thing and which maintains contact with the ground when in motion
“micromobility vehicle” means any vehicle that is propelled by electrical means, an internal-combustion engine or human power or a combination of electrical means, an internal-combustion engine or human power, and having a maximum speed of 50 km/h
(Author’s note: I know of several Malaysian cyclists that would exceed this speed of 50 km/h!)
With that introduction, I set out the key 10 laws for Malaysian cyclists.