Shared paths and off-road paths

Shared path means an area of road, separated from a roadway that may be used by some or all of the following persons at the same time: pedestrians, cyclists, riders of mobility devices and riders of wheeled recreational devices.

(TCD Rule)

A shared path may become a ‘multi-use path’ if it includes additional users, for example horse riders.

There are three ways that this combination of users can be accommodated:

• no formal separation or segregation of modes;
• directional separation – generally by non-physical methods, eg a painted centre-line, arrows, and / or behavioural messages (like ‘keep left’); or
• segregation of modes – by non-physical methods, eg a painted centre-line and pedestrian / cycle symbols which are more advisory than prescriptive and allow for occasional ‘digressions’ where people use the other path (stricter separation would result in an exclusive cycle path and a footpath).

Legislation

Subsection 11.4 of the TCD Rule states that:

(1) For a shared path used by cycles, a road controlling authority:

(a) must install appropriate signs or markings that comply with Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, defining the class or classes of path user:

(b) at the start of the shared path; and

(c) after each roadway or any other pathway with which it intersects; and

(d) must install signs or markings advising users that the shared path ends, unless signs or markings are installed to advise who may use any path that continues beyond the end of the shared path; and

(e) may install signs or markings at other intervals along the shared path.

(2) If pedestrians, cycles, wheeled recreational devices, or mobility devices are restricted to a specific side or part of a path, or where the path is separated for users travelling in different directions, a road controlling authority:

(a) must install signs or markings indicating the nature of the restriction:

(i) at the start of the restricted section of path; and

(ii) after each roadway or any other pathway with which it intersects; and

(b) must install signs or markings advising users that the restriction ends, unless signs or markings are installed to advise of any restriction or who may use any path that continues beyond the end of the restricted or separated section of path; and

(c) may install signs or markings at other intervals along the restricted section of the path.

(3) A road controlling authority may install on the same pole a combination of signs that relate to cycles, to pedestrians, to riders of wheeled recreational devices or to riders of mobility devices.

(4) A road controlling authority may install facilities for the parking, standing or storage of cycles, wheeled recreational devices or mobility devices on a footpath, footway, cycle path or shared path.

(5) When a cycle path or a shared path used by cycles crosses a roadway, a road controlling authority may, as appropriate, control either the movement of users of the path or traffic along the roadway by means of stop or give-way signs or by the installation of traffic signals, in the same manner as described in 10.5 [of the TCD Rule] for an intersection.

Signs

Cycle signs describes the types of signs that can be used for cycle paths and shared paths.

Cycle signs

The best practice guidance note provides guidance as to whether signs and / or markings are appropriate.

Signs and markings to designate paths for pedestrians and cyclists: best practice guidance note

Figure 8‑14: Shared path signs and markings

(a) Shared path signs

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(b) Shared path markings 

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