The new highway code, which comes into force on 1 June 2027, changes a lot, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians. For that very reason, it is important subject matter for those who drive a car: their rights determine what you should expect on the road.
In this article, we outline all the changes, explaining in each case what they mean in practice behind the wheel. Also relevant for your theory exam: anyone taking the exam after 1 June 2027 will be asked questions about these rules.
In brief Cyclists will henceforth be allowed to filter through traffic and cross diagonally at all-green crossings. Children up to and including 11 years old may cycle on the pavement, compared to under 10 years old today. The new R12 sign indicates a cycle path that cyclists are not obliged to use. Cycling groups start from as few as 10 participants. Speed pedelecs get access to pedestrian zones and play streets, where pedestrians maintain priority. For pedestrians, the main changes relate to crossing at all-green crossings and the lighting of groups. |
What changes for car drivers? The five changes you will notice first
Change | What does that mean for you? |
Cyclists may filter through traffic | In stationary or slow-moving traffic, cyclists can pass alongside your car. Check your mirrors and over your shoulder before opening a door or changing lanes. |
Diagonal crossing at all-green crossings | At intersections with all-green crossings, pedestrians and cyclists can cross diagonally instead of in two straight movements. So expect them in the middle of the intersection too. |
Children up to and including 11 years old on the pavement | Two years wider than today, where the limit is under 10 years. Anticipate that children may suddenly ride from the pavement onto the roadway, especially at driveways and crossings. |
Cyclists sometimes choose the roadway | With the new R12 sign, the cycle path is not compulsory. A cyclist riding on the roadway next to a cycle path is doing so completely legally. |
Speed pedelecs in pedestrian zones | They get access to pedestrian zones and play streets, with priority for pedestrians and children at play. |
New rules for cyclists from 1 June 2027
Where cyclists may ride
• Non-compulsory cycle path (R12): This new sign indicates a cycle path that cyclists may use, but do not have to. They can therefore also choose the roadway.
• End of a compulsory section: Signs D8, D10, D12 and D14 now indicate the end of a compulsory cycle path or other compulsory part of the road.
• Cycling on the pavement: Permitted up to and including 11 years old. Today the limit is children under 10 years old.
• Filtering: Cyclists will henceforth be allowed to filter between or alongside stationary and slow-moving vehicles.
• Riding faster is not overtaking: A cyclist riding faster on a cycle path than traffic on the roadway is not legally overtaking. This puts an end to a grey area.
Crossing and intersections
• All-green crossings: Cyclists may cross the intersection diagonally. This was already the practice in some places, but was not explicitly in the highway code.
• Left turn on red: A sign allows cyclists and speed pedelec users to turn left on red or amber lights, provided they give way. Similar signs for turning right and going straight ahead already exist today.
• New markings for cycle crossings: There will be a more subtle marking than the current block marking. The continuous cycle path is also explicitly mentioned as a possible crossing point.
Groups, equipment and children
Subject | New rule |
Size of cycling groups | From 10 participants (now 15) up to a maximum of 100. Groups of more than 100 must be split up. |
Marshals | For 10 to 50 participants at least 1 marshal, for 50 to 100 at least 2. |
Bicycle trailer | Cyclists with a bicycle trailer may ride side-by-side, if other conditions are met. |
Technical requirements | These no longer depend on the type of bicycle. Lights and reflectors are only compulsory in the dark and during limited visibility. |
Children under 3 years old | Only transport in an approved child seat. Not on a trailer bike, but allowed in a trailer with seats. |
Parking on the pavement | Only if a free passage of 1.5 metres remains, and never on tactile paving tiles. |
Temporary road markings | May all be yellow, including those for cycle paths. Today they must still be white. |
New rules for pedestrians from 1 June 2027
• Diagonal crossing: At all-green crossings, pedestrians may cross the intersection diagonally.
• New signs D10, D12 and D14: These indicate the end of a compulsory part of the public road.
• Lateral distance: If you as a driver cannot maintain the distance of 1 metre inside built-up areas or 1.5 metres outside, you must slow down and stop if necessary. In Flanders, you may then only drive past at walking pace.
• Groups in the dark: Groups of pedestrians choose between lights (front left, rear left and in the flanks) or a high-visibility vest for each participant.
Please note: lateral distance is not a new rule The distance of 1 metre inside and 1.5 metres outside built-up areas with respect to cyclists and pedestrians already exists today. What is new from 1 June 2027: that same distance will then also apply with respect to horse riders. Anyone taking the exam before that date must therefore already know the rule. |
What changes for speed pedelecs and mopeds?
Speed pedelecs
• Non-compulsory cycle path: They may use a non-compulsory cycle path.
• Compulsory cycle path: On a marked cycle path with the speed pedelec symbol, use is compulsory.
• New access: They get access to streets for local traffic, and to pedestrian zones and play streets. There, pedestrians and children playing have priority, and they must stop if necessary.
Mopeds
• Filtering between lanes: Moped riders may filter between two stationary or slow-moving lines of cars. This does not count as overtaking.
• Class A: May use a non-compulsory cycle path.
• Class B: Must ride on the roadway where the speed limit is 50 km/h or lower. Exception: a marked cycle path with the Class B symbol, which is then compulsory.
• Groups: From 10 to 100 participants, with specific rules.
• Parking on the pavement: Only with a free passage of at least 1.5 metres, and not on tactile paving tiles.
What do the new rules mean for your driving licence B theory exam?
The driving licence B theory exam tests not only what you are allowed to do, but also what other road users are allowed to do. Situational questions involving cyclists and pedestrians are a classic, and these changes make several of those situations different.
• Exam before 1 June 2027: You will be tested on the current rules. Cyclists are not yet allowed to filter, and cycling on the pavement applies to children under 10 years old.
• Exam after 1 June 2027: The new rules apply. Pay particular attention to filtering, diagonal crossing and the non-compulsory cycle path: these are situations in which you as a driver must react differently than today.
Always practice with the rules that apply on your exam day RAPP puts the new rules live from 15 May 2027. The current rules remain available until 1 June 2027, so that those taking the exam before that date practice with the correct material. Mock exams at 15 seconds per question, the correct scoring system for serious offences and automatic error analysis by theme. Start for free, 9.99 euros for 14 days of full access. No subscription. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will cyclists be allowed to filter from 2027? Yes. From 1 June 2027, cyclists may filter between or alongside stationary and slow-moving vehicles. For drivers, this means extra attention in your mirrors and blind spot, especially before opening a door. |
From what age may children cycle on the pavement? Today, children under 10 years old may always cycle on the pavement and elevated verges. From 1 June 2027, this is allowed up to and including 11 years old. They must not endanger other road users while doing so. |
What is an all-green crossing? An arrangement where all pedestrian and cyclist lights are green at the same time while car traffic is stopped. From 1 June 2027, the highway code explicitly states that pedestrians and cyclists may then cross the intersection diagonally. |
What does the R12 sign mean? That is the new sign for a non-compulsory cycle path. Cyclists may use it, but are equally allowed to ride on the roadway. A cyclist riding on the roadway there is therefore not committing an offence. |
How big can a cycling group be from 2027? From 10 up to a maximum of 100 participants. For 10 to 50 participants, at least 1 marshal is needed, for 50 to 100 at least 2. Larger groups must be split up. |
Are speed pedelecs allowed to ride in a pedestrian zone? From 1 June 2027, yes, as well as in play streets. Pedestrians and children playing have priority there, and the driver must stop if necessary. |
Is the lateral distance to cyclists changing? No, it remains 1 metre inside and 1.5 metres outside built-up areas. What is new is that the same distance also applies to horse riders. |
Conclusion
The new rules for cyclists and pedestrians affect you as a car driver mainly in three ways: cyclists filtering through traffic, pedestrians and cyclists crossing diagonally at all-green crossings, and cyclists deliberately choosing the roadway at sign R12. Anyone who recognises these three situations is prepared for both the road and the theory exam.
See also
• New highway code 2027: everything that changes for car drivers in Belgium
• New highway code 2027: what changes for the driving licence B theory exam?
Written by Daan Van Isterdael, co-founder of RAPP. He built the platform that helps more than 10,000 Belgian candidates pass their driving licence test.