Victoria changes key road rule to make motorcycling safer
Riders will have more freedom and safety on certain routes in MelbourneThe Victorian Government has tweaked a key road rule in a bid to protect motorcyclists in busy Melbourne traffic.
Motorcyclists will now be able to use selected bus lanes on the Eastern Freeway and Victoria Parade, helping to separate them from general traffic.
Signage will show where motorcycles are permitted to enter a bus lane, with the aim of providing a safer alternative to lane filtering.
The changes come after a trial which concluded that there were no negative safety impacts for riders or other motorists, and no impact on bus travel times. The trial also found that riders used these routes regularly and felt more confident using them.
Related: How to ride in heavy traffic
According to the Allen Labor Government, motorcycle safety is a key part of its Road Safety Strategy, which endeavours to halve road deaths and significantly reduce serious injuries by 2030.
“Motorcyclists are some of our most vulnerable road users, and we’re making practical changes to help them stay safer on our roads,” said Ros Spence, Minister for Roads and Road Safety.
“This is about helping riders avoid traffic, travel more safely, and get to their destination sooner.”
The Allen Government says motorcyclists are “overrepresented” in road trauma, and that they account for 21 per cent of lives lost on Victorian roads in 2025, despite making up less than 4 per cent of registered vehicles.
A report by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) says 60 motorcyclists lost their lives in road crashes in 2025.
The rule change initiative has been funded by the Motorcycle Safety Levy, which is paid for by riders and reinvested into safety improvements.
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