The ban on bicycles on highways has caused controversy. Without safe alternatives, cyclists face legal and practical barriers. The government is discussing the issue in the Cycle Committee, but the lack of infrastructure and clear criteria has raised criticism. What will be the future of sustainable mobility in the state?
Imagine cycling towards the coast and being prevented from continuing your journey. This is exactly what has been happening to many cyclists on highways in São Paulo, such as the Mogi-Bertioga highway.
Recent videos show the Military Highway Police stopping groups of cyclists in specific checkpoints, raising a controversy that promises to heat up debates about the use of bicycles on state highways.
At the heart of this controversy is the lack of clear regulations and safe alternatives for cyclists.
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The discussion gained momentum after reports that the São Paulo State Highway Patrol banned bicycles on stretches leading to the northern coast, without offering technical justifications or replacement infrastructure.
The topic is already on the agenda of the Ciclo Comitê Paulista (CCP), a forum that advises the state government on cycling mobility actions.
What is happening?
Two videos that went viral on social media at the end of 2024 brought the issue to the fore. In one of them, a military police officer prevents cyclists from continuing their descent along the Mogi-Bertioga highway.
The order was clear: “Not by bike. You can turn around.
Bicycle traffic is prohibited here.” In another report, five cyclists who were riding in single file were forced to turn back after being informed about the presence of prohibitory signs.
This situation has raised alarm bells in several cycling communities, especially because the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB) does not expressly prohibit the circulation of bicycles on highways.
Article 58 of the CTB establishes that bicycles must travel on the edges of the road when there is no shoulder or cycle path — exactly as the cyclists were doing.
Legal basis or abuse of authority?
According to Anderson Gianetti, lawyer and representative of cyclists at the CCP, the São Paulo government is basing its decision on article 195 of the CTB, which punishes disobedience to orders from traffic authorities.
Gianetti, however, argues that there is no specific regulation supporting the ban.
“Bicycles don’t even have a license plate or Renavam number so they can be fined,” says the lawyer. He classifies the action as a possible abuse of authority, considering that the rules were not formalized by decree and have no technical or statistical basis.
Furthermore, Gianetti questions the logic of the ban on highways such as Mogi-Bertioga and Tamoios, comparing them to tourist routes such as Caminho da Fé and Rota das Frutas.
These roads, often without shoulders or cycle paths, not only allow cyclists to circulate, but are also promoted as tourist destinations by the state government itself.
The confusing application of the Traffic Code
The São Paulo Public Security Department responded to the criticism by claiming that the Dom Paulo Rolim Loureiro Highway (SP-098), better known as Mogi-Bertioga, does not fall under article 58 of the CTB.
The agency cited Article 247, which requires bicycles to travel in a single file, as justification for impeding traffic.
However, Gianetti counters: “This article does not prohibit the circulation of bicycles; it merely determines that, in the absence of a shoulder or dedicated lane, cyclists must travel in a single file. This is exactly what cyclists do.”
The Secretariat's note also suggests the use of “safer alternative routes“, without, however, specifying what these routes would be.
Cyclists consulted say that such paths simply do not exist, reinforcing the feeling of helplessness and exclusion.
Why does this matter?
The decision to ban bicycles on certain highways exposes a series of structural and political problems.
The lack of cycle paths and adequate shoulders is nothing new, but the bans signal a reversal of priorities, favoring motorized vehicles over sustainable and accessible alternatives.
The case also raises questions about safety and mobility. Cycling on highways is a common practice among amateur and professional cyclists, both for leisure and training.
The lack of clear regulations and the lack of dialogue between the government and cycling communities make it difficult to find solutions.
The future of bicycles on São Paulo highways
The next CCP meeting, scheduled for February 14, 2025, promises to bring new developments.
Meanwhile, cyclists, advocates and sustainable transport enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting more objective answers and a more inclusive stance from the state government.
If bicycle use on highways is restricted without creating adequate infrastructure, the implications could be profound, for mobility, tourism and the environment.
What is at stake is not just the right to cycle, but also the promotion of a more sustainable lifestyle.
Do you think banning bicycles on highways is a solution or a step backwards? Share your opinion in the comments!
If it's a highway, it's not a bike lane! Either ban cars, trucks and buses, or ban bicycles! What you can't do is force motor vehicles to travel at a speed of up to 40 km/h so that the wind doesn't knock cyclists down! The vast majority of cyclists are there just to have fun, as opposed to drivers who are there to get between different locations.
They think that cycling is just for fun, go to the lowlands and see how many are going to work on the highway by bike, this principle is impossible.
My opinion is that the bicycle is a sustainable means of transport.