New 1.5 m passing rule: what it means for cyclists through TTM sites

What the new lane-use rules mean for TTM

New Zealand’s updated lane-use rules came into force on 1 October 2026, introducing several changes for road users, including a minimum 1.5 m passing gap when motor vehicles pass cyclists and other applicable road users travelling in the same direction and in the same lane.

For the temporary traffic management (TTM) sector, the changes have some important practical implications, particularly where cyclists and motor vehicles need to share the available road space through a worksite.

What does the 1.5 m rule mean for TTM?

The key principle is straightforward:

Where a cyclist and a motor vehicle are travelling in the same direction and sharing the same lane, the motor vehicle may only pass if a minimum 1.5 m gap can be maintained throughout the passing manoeuvre.

If that clearance cannot be achieved within the available lane width, the vehicle cannot pass the cyclist through that section of the site.

For TTM practitioners, this means thinking carefully about whether the layout is designed for vehicles to pass cyclists, or whether cyclists should effectively take the lane, with vehicles following behind until there is sufficient space to pass safely.

Narrow shared lanes: vehicles follow cyclists

Where cyclists are merged with traffic into a narrow lane that does not provide enough width for a compliant passing manoeuvre, vehicles should remain behind the cyclist through the restricted section.

Passing should only occur once sufficient space is available to achieve the required clearance.

This can be an appropriate way of accommodating cyclists through constrained sites, but the intended behaviour needs to be clear to everyone using the road.

Ryan Cooney, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Programme Director Road Works Safety, has suggested exploring more consistent signage for narrow-lane situations, including messaging that clearly tells drivers to follow cyclists and not overtake through the constrained section.

Temporary cycle lanes separated by cones

Where a properly delineated temporary cycle lane is provided, NZTA has clarified that the cyclist and motor vehicle are not considered to be travelling in the same lane.

In this situation, the 1.5 m minimum passing-gap rule does not apply in the same way.

That does not mean separation between cyclists and vehicles should be disregarded. An appropriate lateral gap should still be maintained, taking into account factors such as the temporary speed limit and the site environment.

What about the existing 4.25 m shared-lane approach?

This is one of the key considerations for the TTM sector.

A 4.25 m shared cyclist and vehicle lane does not automatically provide sufficient width for a motor vehicle to pass a cyclist while maintaining the new 1.5 m minimum gap.

Using indicative operating widths of:

• 1.0 m for the cyclist
• 1.5 m minimum passing clearance
• 2.5 m for the motor vehicle

would require approximately 5.0 m of width where passing is intended within the same lane.

The important point is not simply the nominal lane width. The requirement is that the 1.5 m minimum passing gap can be maintained throughout the manoeuvre.

If it cannot, the vehicle cannot pass.

Other changes TTM practitioners should know about

The 1 October rule changes extend beyond the minimum passing gap.

They also:

• allow children aged 12 and under to ride bikes on footpaths, along with parents or caregivers supervising them
• allow e-scooters to be ridden in cycle lanes
• require road users to give way to buses leaving bus stops, the roadside or a bus lane in areas with speed limits of 60 km/h or less.

For TTM, the footpath change is particularly worth noting.

When a footpath is closed or temporarily diverted through a worksite, the TTM design may now need to consider that the facility could be used by both pedestrians and people cycling, including children and their supervising parent or caregiver.

Help shape the signage guidance

We’d like to hear from the industry.

As these changes begin to bed in, NZTA and the TTM Industry Steering Group are interested in hearing what is happening on the ground and what signage could help make these situations clearer and more consistent.

In particular:

• What signage are you currently using when cyclists need to take the lane?
• What is working well?
• Where are you seeing confusion for cyclists, drivers or TTM crews?
• What signage or messaging would help drivers understand when they must follow a cyclist rather than pass?
• Do you have examples, ideas or lessons from sites that could help inform a consistent approach?

Send your feedback, examples or ideas to ttm@nzta.govt.nz or shannyn.hiroti@ttm-isg.org

Getting practitioners involved in this conversation will help ensure any future guidance is practical, reflects real site conditions and makes the expected behaviour clearer for both cyclists and drivers.

The takeaway for TTM

The introduction of the 1.5 m minimum passing gap reinforces something our industry already knows: people cycling need to be considered from the outset when we design and operate temporary traffic management.

For each site, consider:

• Are cyclists sharing the lane with motor vehicles?
• Is there genuinely enough space for a compliant 1.5 m passing gap?
• If not, is it clear that vehicles need to remain behind cyclists through the restricted section?
• Could a properly delineated temporary cycle lane provide a better solution?
• Does the layout and signage make the expected behaviour clear and intuitive for everyone?

Designing for these behaviours from the start, and sharing what is working across the sector, will help create safer, clearer and more consistent TTM environments for everyone using the road.

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