Rio de Janeiro adds bike‑lane signage and expands motorcycle lanes to boost traffic safety

The Rio de Janeiro state legislature approved Law No. 11.240/26, authorising the installation of new traffic‑signage and crossing markings on coastal bike lanes, especially along the Leblon shoreline. The measure aims to organise the heavy flow of cyclists and pedestrians and to curb a rise in accidents – cyclist injuries rose 34% in a year, with electric‑bike crashes doubling, according to municipal health data.

The city government also announced a further 8 km of dedicated motorcycle lanes (motofaixas) on key corridors, including the Engenheiro Fernando Mac Dowell highway, Avenida Engenheiro Freyssinet and the Rufino de Almeida Pizarro elevated road. The expansion continues a programme that has already delivered 19 km of motorcycle lanes and targets 74 km by December 2026. Officials say the lanes will organise motorcycle traffic, improve road safety and reduce traffic‑related injuries.

Implementation of the bike‑lane signs will require coordination between the state government and the municipalities responsible for each stretch, while the motorcycle‑lane project is being overseen by the Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego do Rio (CET‑Rio) under president Marize Queiroz Ribeiro.