FAR North cycling advocates have applauded two legal changes which will come into effect tomorrow and believe that they will make the road safer for riders.

The New Year’s resolutions of a two-wheel kind will mean cyclists no longer have to dismount at pedestrian crossings and do not have to use bike lanes if they are unsafe.

Cairns cycling coach Peter Hutchinson said it was good to see ongoing reform after last year’s parliamentary inquiry.

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However, he said it would require both the State Government and Cairns Regional Council to better maintain bike lanes, particularly on high-speed roads such as the Captain Cook Highway, to keep them safe for cyclists and free of rubbish.

“To keep bikes in the path you’ve got to keep them clean,” he said.

“That’s the more important issue.”

Cairns councillor and cyclist Richie Bates labelled the new laws as largely “just common sense” and believed police were already taking into account the issues, particularly with obstructions in bike lanes.

media_camera FAR North cycling advocates have applauded two legal changes which will come into effect tomorrow and believe that they will make the road safer for riders.

He said some of it may be aimed at motorists who pull into bike lanes to take mobile phone calls, forcing passing cyclists to go around them.

The new pedestrian crossing rule dictates bikes must still initially stop at the crossings, but cyclists can now ride across rather than dismounting.

Mr Hutchinson said this may present problems for ­unskilled riders struggling to negotiate the spots and that it initially may be “a bit ­haphazard”.

The new laws come into effect at midnight and follow the passing distance legislation introduced for a two-year trial in April.

Cr Bates said it was promising to see the continued introduction of new legislation.

“It’s good to see governments of all levels pushing on with road reform, but I think they see the benefits, it’s multilayered,” he said.